Pick-a-Shelf discussion

Or the beginning, or page 46 or 46% through, or somewhere, but there is SOMETHING in the book that is quote-worthy, so leave it here for us all to enjoy.

I'll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip pg. 30

Mother keeps saying I'm nuts to talk to him in sentences, that all he understands are short, one-word commands, and that people like me who talk to animals have personality defects. She's all heart.

from In One Person:

p. 46:

"Agatha Christie is rolling in her grave, Father," was all my disapproving aunt Muriel could say.
"I daresay she is, Harold!" my grandmother joined in.
"Agatha Christie isn't dead yet, Vicky," Grandpa Harry told Nana Victoria, winking at me. "Agatha Christie is very much alive, Muriel."
Oh, how I loved him -- especially as a her !

too good not to post, p. 165:

If you were, like me, at an all-boys' boarding school in the fall of 1960, you felt utterly alone -- you trusted no one, least of all another boy your age -- and you loathed yourself. I'd always been lonely, but self-hatred is worse than loneliness.

Susan wrote: "from In One Person:

If you were, like me, at an all-boys' boarding school in the fall of 1960, you felt utterly alone -- you trusted no one, least of all another boy your age -- and you loathed yourself. I'd always been lonely, but self-hatred is worse than loneliness."

Och, that is just so Sad!

Susan wrote: "from In One Person:

p. 46:

"Agatha Christie is rolling in her grave, Father," was all my disapproving aunt Muriel could say.
"I daresay she is, Harold!" my grandmother joined in.
"Agatha Christie..."

Wow, Susan. What a great, powerful, but at the same time, sad quote.

I've not finished reading yet - in fact, I've only just started this morning but I can't help myself... this is on the first page (the page before Chapter 1)

from The Chimney Sweeper's Boy:

Many things he felt and thought were not acceptable among men. Not right for a man. For instance, if he were to found that family a woman would be prerequisite. He knew the pattern, how it should be. He must meet a girl and fall in love, court her, become engaged to her, marry her. It seemed insurmountably difficult. He liked girls but not in that way. Without knowing much, he knew what he meant by 'that way', kissing, touching, all the things they talked about endlessly, monotonously, at school. Those others longed to do such things to girls, some said they had, but he clearly understood that for him to do it, even to get to the point of doing it, would be an endurance test, a labour comparable to taking an exam in French, his worst subject, or taking part in a hated cross-country run.
How did he also know that it would not be the real thing?

Tien wrote: "I've not finished reading yet - in fact, I've only just started this morning but I can't help myself... this is on the first page (the page before Chapter 1)

from The Chimney Sweeper's Boy:

Many ..."

Wow, what a great way to start a book. I can't wait to hear where that one goes, Tien.

from The Danish Girl, p. 46:

The man leaned over. "Are you a reporter?"
Lili looked up from her lap.
"A poetess, then?"
"Neither."
"Then what are you writing?"
"Oh, this?" she said, startled that he had spoken to her. "It's nothing at all." Even though she was sitting next to the man, she couldn't believe he had noticed her. It felt to her as if no one could see her. She hardly felt real.

Lyn M wrote: "Wow, what a great way to start a book. I can't wait to hear where that one goes, Tien."

I thought that was a really good beginning & I've enjoyed it (I've left most of my thoughts in the review thread).

Here's another:

'Those who marry to escape something,' Oliver remarked, 'usually find themselves in something worse.'

p.210

Tien wrote: "Lyn M wrote: "Wow, what a great way to start a book. I can't wait to hear where that one goes, Tien."

I thought that was a really good beginning & I've enjoyed it (I've left most of my thoughts in..."

Those are words to live by, Tien.

from Annie on My Mind pg. 199

The only thing that seemed truly real to me was the one thought that wouldn't let go in my mind: It's Annie and me they're all sitting around here like cardboard people judging; it's Annie and me. And what we did that they think is wrong, when you pare it all down, was fall in love.

This is a good one, Sherri. I think it speaks to a lot of people.

from Daughters of the North, p. 47 (46 has no words on it):

I had first heard about the farm at Carhullan when I was seventeen. Even then it had notoriety, a bad reputation ... They were a strange group, slightly exotic, slightly disliked. ... They were always friendly towards other women, joking with them over the wicker trays of radishes and cucumbers, giving out discounts and free butter. With the men they acted cooler; they were offhand.

Susan - That quote intrigues me. I may have to look into that book.

There are a lot of great quotes here this month. Some that are enticing me to try books that I would not have thought of otherwise.

Keep them coming!!

from The Blue Place. pg. 64

"People are twisty animals. I have met unpleasant men and women whom
I do not like because I suspect they are at heart cruel, or take absolutely no joy from life, or believe some sections of society are little better than vermin and should be exposed at birth; but I have trusted some of these same women and men with my life because they have learnt to bind their natural inclinations with cages of rules and ehtical behaviour that I know will hold and guide them under almost any circumstance. Equally, I have met people whom I have liked instinctively, on sight, but would not trust because they have never been tested, not even by themselves, and have never had to formulate rules to get by."

I am thinking that Susan shelf this month is a really good one for quotes. Some really profound statements being posted. I love this.

Bea wrote: "from The Blue Place. pg. 64

"People are twisty animals. I have met unpleasant men and women whom
I do not like because I suspect they are at heart cruel, or take absolutely no joy from life, or ..."

I wish I could state things as eloquently as some of these authors. This one really made me think about my relationships and how true what you posted is.

Some of the quotes I enjoyed from (audiobook edition)

1. "Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt"

2. "Don't touch any of my weapons without my permission."
"Well, there goes my plan for selling them all on eBay," Clary muttered.
"Selling them on what?"
Clary smiled blandly at him. "A mythical place of great magical power.”

These are great quotes, Lauren. I read this book a while ago and really liked how sarcastic Clary could be. :)

Lyn M wrote: "These are great quotes, Lauren. I read this book a while ago and really liked how sarcastic Clary could be. :)"

Thanks Lyn.
Clary and Jace's snarky conversations are one of the best things about the book.

I don't know how to pick short quotes.

From The God Box, pp. 1
"My Grandma once told me 'the Church should stay out of people's pants.'"

pp. 77
"I think we've created God in our own image, instead of the other way around. It's like we've built this little box and tried to cram the infinity of God into it, too afraid that if we let him out, she might challenge us too much. Then we'd have to crucify and kill him. (...) Hey, wait a minute. That story sounds familiar. I think I read about something like that happening once, about two thousand years ago."

Sophia wrote: "I don't know how to pick short quotes.

From The God Box, pp. 1
"My Grandma once told me 'the Church should stay out of people's pants.'"

pp. 77
"I think we've created God in our own image, inst..."

The first quote had me laughing, Sophia. What a great quote. The second one is good, too. very thought provoking.

Another good one that I missed (pp. 6-7)

Elizabeth braced herself on the table. “You mean you’re a practicing homosexual?”
Manuel studied her a moment, as if debating whether to take her question seriously. “Well, actually, I think I’ve got the hang of it by now.”

Sophia wrote: "Another good one that I missed (pp. 6-7)

Elizabeth braced herself on the table. “You mean you’re a practicing homosexual?”
Manuel studied her a moment, as if debating whether to take her question seriously. “Well, actually, I think I’ve got the hang of it by now.” "

Too fuuny!
After reading your review and those quotes, I think I'm going to have to check it out myself.

I know, Susan. I may have to check it out, too. I love books with sarcastic whit.

From Ha'penny p29.
Carmichael turned away to look more carefully at the ruin. Terrorists? Or was it like last time? Did the government have some reason for killing this actress? Was she someone else who knew more than she should? Had Royston and he been sent here because the powers that be knew they would acquiesce in a cover-up if necessary? Bring it on, the thought bitterly. Covering up for bombs, bombing people, throwing children into gas chambers. He knew how he would act if put to the test.

From Slow River page 52.

Right, wrong; on, off; yes, no. She is used to black-and- whites, but at seven Lore is suddenly realizing she can make of herself what she wills. When she is old enough she can have red hair or golden eyebrows or hot, dark lashes like spiders' legs. And no one will tell her she is wrong, because no one will know. She could become anyone she wishes. But how will she know she is still herself?

from page 57

She had been inside the flat for several weeks and, before that, the kidnappers' tent. Now she was afraid to go outside. She sat by the living-room window and watched the sky as it turned to November gray, and shuddered. It was so big, so open. She tried to imagine being out under the whipping clouds, among the people who all seemed to be hurrying toward destinations she could only guess at. But she had nowhere to head for. And she would be without a slate, without a read identity, with no one to call if she found herself in trouble. And people might recognize her, might stare and point ...

from page 60

I was tired, but there was something about walking at night, when the streets were empty: my strides felt longer, stronger, and the cold made even my breath tangible. I was real. Nothing was complicated anymore. I no longer had to be ashamed. I was Sal Bird, aged twenty-five, and I worked for a living.

One quote for each time-line.

Great quotes, Coralie. The ones from Slow River especially intrigue me.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower pg 17

You know...a lot of kids at school hate their parents. Some of them got hit. And some of them got caught in the middle of wrong lives. Some of them were trophies for their parents to show the neighbors like ribbons or gold stars. And some of them just wanted to drink in peace.

Sherri - That quote says it all. Sadly it is too true in today's high schools.

I can't improve on the quotes Coralie posted for Slow River.

Susan - She did post some really good ones, didn't she?

Susan wrote: "I can't improve on the quotes Coralie posted for Slow River."

But I am sure your review will be better than mine.

Coralie wrote: "Susan wrote: "I can't improve on the quotes Coralie posted for Slow River."

But I am sure your review will be better than mine."

Funny you should say that. I'm actually having a very difficult time writing that review. I loved the book, but am hard-pressed to know just what to say about it.

Susan wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Susan wrote: "I can't improve on the quotes Coralie posted for Slow River."

But I am sure your review will be better than mine."

Funny you should say that. I'm actually having a v..."

Sometimes pinpointing the exact thing to describe your feelings for a book is really difficult.

From Still Life by Louise Penny

Pg. 118
"Woodsmoke whispered out of the chimney to be grabbed away by the wind and taken home to the woods beyond."

I just thought that one painted such a beautiful picture. The next one is more thought provoking.

Pg. 138
"I lost sympathy with many of my patients. After twenty-five years of listening to their complaints I finally snapped. I woke up one morning bent out of shape about this client who was forty-three but acting sixteen. Every week he'd come with the same complaints, "Someone hurt me. Life is unfair. It's not my fault.' For three years I'd been making suggestions, and for three years he'd done nothing. Then, listening to him this one day, I suddenly understood. He wasn't changing because he didn't want to. He had no intention of changing. For the next twenty years we would go through this charade. And I realised in that same instant that most of my clients were exactly like him."

One last quote from Still Life

Page 263:

""Philippe, I'm not angry about what you did. I never have been. I was just hurt and confused. But not angry at you. I love you. Can you talk to me? Whatever it is, you can tell me.'
Matthew looked at his son and for the first time in almost a year he saw his sensitive, thoughtful, kind boy. Philippe looked at his father and longed to tell him. And he almost did. Almost. He stood at the cliff, his toes over the edge, and he looked into oblivion. His father was asking him to step over and trust that it would be all right. He would catch him, wouldn't let him fall. And to give Philippe credit, he considered it. Philippe yearned to close his eyes, take that step and fall into his father's arms.
But in the end he couldn't. Instead he turned his fact to the wall, put on his headphones back on, and retreated."

from The City and the Pillar, by Gore Vidal, published 1948

p. 96:
Since they did not understand one another, each was able to sustain an illusion about the other, which was the usual beginning of love, if not truth.

p.189:
This fact made him sad, as well as annoyed at the never-ending masquerade. He was bored by his own necessary lies. How he longed to tell them exactly what he was! He wondered suddenly what would happen if every man like himself were to be natural and honest. Life would certainly be better for everyone in a world where sex was thought of as something natural and not fearsome, and men could love men naturally, in the way they were meant to, as well as to love women naturally, in the way they were meant to.

Great quotes, Susan. I really like Gore Vidal's writing, but haven't read anything by hime for a while.