quotes#367843 Road to Paradise
Gina oohed at my dry wit and my swearing. Candy didn't. We gulped our coffees. I got out my notebook. I wasn't sure what to do. I'm always unsure what to do, which is why I usually end up doing nothing. Opening the notebook always made me feel, perhaps falsely, that I was about to devise some kind of plan and do something. "All right, girls," I said. "What do you see as our options?" p185
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
quotes#358953 The Monk Downstairs
Maybe that was what real love was, being willing to charge toward the busy, noisy place that someone else inhabited and find what comfort there you could. p140
She felt like making phone calls: to Bonnie, to her mother. The situation called for consideration at length. But she suspected that both women would be unreservedly supportive of the kiss and its potential consequences. Bonnie believed that love could be competently assembled from available elements like a casserole, and Phoebe believed in destiny; this made both of them a little rash in matters of the heart, in Rebecca's opinion. Certainly she didn't have Bonnie's confidence in her own cooking skills. She had believed in destiny herself, of course, once upon a time; but Rory had been her destiny then. You looked at your destiny differently after a slightly messy divorce.
Am I spoiled for life? Rebecca asked herself. Ruined by cyncism? Truly, I don't think that I am. I am a woman who bailed her first husband out of jail last night. I am a realistic single mother with too much to do already. Love is all very well, but the bathtub hasn't been scrubbed in weeks. p176
Maybe that was what real love was, being willing to charge toward the busy, noisy place that someone else inhabited and find what comfort there you could. p140
She felt like making phone calls: to Bonnie, to her mother. The situation called for consideration at length. But she suspected that both women would be unreservedly supportive of the kiss and its potential consequences. Bonnie believed that love could be competently assembled from available elements like a casserole, and Phoebe believed in destiny; this made both of them a little rash in matters of the heart, in Rebecca's opinion. Certainly she didn't have Bonnie's confidence in her own cooking skills. She had believed in destiny herself, of course, once upon a time; but Rory had been her destiny then. You looked at your destiny differently after a slightly messy divorce.
Am I spoiled for life? Rebecca asked herself. Ruined by cyncism? Truly, I don't think that I am. I am a woman who bailed her first husband out of jail last night. I am a realistic single mother with too much to do already. Love is all very well, but the bathtub hasn't been scrubbed in weeks. p176
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
quotes#496210 Such a Perfect Sister
"It's our busiest night. I need you here," he'd insisted. "Ronan spends more time poncing around than doing any work, and Ian's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard." p124
Phoebe looked around the kitchen. It was gloriously cluttered, warm and inviting. The mismatched assortment of china on the old Welsh dresser was almost hidden behind piles of letters, family photos and old copies of the Guardian. A fat ginger cat dozed by the Aga. Thw whole room was filled with the rich fragrance of cardamon and turmeric. Gina was obviously a dap hand with a Madras.
It was the kind of room Phoebe had always dreamed of having herself, a complete contrast to her own mother's joyless, interior designed kitchen, with everything ruthlessly in its place. p225
[comment: not literary at all, but still enjoyed the setting]
"It's our busiest night. I need you here," he'd insisted. "Ronan spends more time poncing around than doing any work, and Ian's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard." p124
Phoebe looked around the kitchen. It was gloriously cluttered, warm and inviting. The mismatched assortment of china on the old Welsh dresser was almost hidden behind piles of letters, family photos and old copies of the Guardian. A fat ginger cat dozed by the Aga. Thw whole room was filled with the rich fragrance of cardamon and turmeric. Gina was obviously a dap hand with a Madras.
It was the kind of room Phoebe had always dreamed of having herself, a complete contrast to her own mother's joyless, interior designed kitchen, with everything ruthlessly in its place. p225
[comment: not literary at all, but still enjoyed the setting]
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
quotes#647615 I'm not in the mood for love
"The only good thing to come out of the breakup with Lonny is that my writing is going surprisingly well." She found comfort in her writing. Comfort in being transported for several hours a day into a world she created when the reality of her real life sucked. p96
[comment: quote is certainly not literary ... but i record it as it means something to me]
"The only good thing to come out of the breakup with Lonny is that my writing is going surprisingly well." She found comfort in her writing. Comfort in being transported for several hours a day into a world she created when the reality of her real life sucked. p96
[comment: quote is certainly not literary ... but i record it as it means something to me]
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
quotes#458053 Chicken Soup for the Beach Lover's Soul
I am blessed to live near the beach and get my daily exercise. I enjoy walking on the boardwalk. The sounds of the sea are rhythmic and soothing, so I've developed the habit of listening as well as looking while I walk.
I puff along, arms swinging, boards trembling beneath my feet, or occasionally stepping down and strolling close to the water's edge, where lapping waves pack the sand firm enough for a steady pace. Walking alongside the ocean is a delight offering an ever-changing vista and the comforting sounds of the sea. p121
[comment: some wise old soul told me one day to stop, look, feel, hear, smell, taste. as a way of grounding myself]
I am blessed to live near the beach and get my daily exercise. I enjoy walking on the boardwalk. The sounds of the sea are rhythmic and soothing, so I've developed the habit of listening as well as looking while I walk.
I puff along, arms swinging, boards trembling beneath my feet, or occasionally stepping down and strolling close to the water's edge, where lapping waves pack the sand firm enough for a steady pace. Walking alongside the ocean is a delight offering an ever-changing vista and the comforting sounds of the sea. p121
[comment: some wise old soul told me one day to stop, look, feel, hear, smell, taste. as a way of grounding myself]
quotes#029954 Chicken Soup for the Beach Lover's Soul
Josh, the four-year-old, suddenly spied a flock of seagulls. He had never seen these creatures before and was totally fascinated with them. My son, who needed to experience everything for himself, scampered after the birds to get a closer look.
The birds at first scurried away from the oncoming charge. Josh slowed momentarily when he saw they were running from him. He was not dissuaded and decided to try again and darted after those birds like a bullet. The seagulls took to the air, landing several feet away. Josh ran as fast as his little legs could carry him - a new destination, but the same goal. He was determined to get one of those birds.
That's when I heard it. When the game repeated itself, I heard Mom laugh. Although briefly, she did laugh at the funny sight of a boy chasing birds he'd surely never catch. p99
[comment: I can relate. Mom, in the story, was grieving and didn't laugh often]
Josh, the four-year-old, suddenly spied a flock of seagulls. He had never seen these creatures before and was totally fascinated with them. My son, who needed to experience everything for himself, scampered after the birds to get a closer look.
The birds at first scurried away from the oncoming charge. Josh slowed momentarily when he saw they were running from him. He was not dissuaded and decided to try again and darted after those birds like a bullet. The seagulls took to the air, landing several feet away. Josh ran as fast as his little legs could carry him - a new destination, but the same goal. He was determined to get one of those birds.
That's when I heard it. When the game repeated itself, I heard Mom laugh. Although briefly, she did laugh at the funny sight of a boy chasing birds he'd surely never catch. p99
[comment: I can relate. Mom, in the story, was grieving and didn't laugh often]
Monday, August 11, 2008
not-so-literary-quote-but-means-something-to-me#216573 One Night with the Sheikh
Hazily Mariella noticed that the red geraniums she remembered tumbling from the urns in the outdoor courtyard had been changed to a rich vibrant pink to match the colour of the flowers of the ornamental vine softening the walls of the courtyard. p162
[comment: geraniums remind me of my childhood]
Hazily Mariella noticed that the red geraniums she remembered tumbling from the urns in the outdoor courtyard had been changed to a rich vibrant pink to match the colour of the flowers of the ornamental vine softening the walls of the courtyard. p162
[comment: geraniums remind me of my childhood]
Friday, August 08, 2008
next-on-list#653615
i'm in no mood for love, by rachel gibson, c.2006 wcl pbk
inside the taxi, by geoff young, c.2002 wcl nf
such a perfect sister, by donna hay, c.2002 bc and salv army
the monk downstairs, by tim farrington, c. 2002 bc
road to paradise, by paullina simons, c. 2007 wcl
lots of love, by fiona walker, c.2003 trademe and bc
i'm in no mood for love, by rachel gibson, c.2006 wcl pbk
inside the taxi, by geoff young, c.2002 wcl nf
such a perfect sister, by donna hay, c.2002 bc and salv army
the monk downstairs, by tim farrington, c. 2002 bc
road to paradise, by paullina simons, c. 2007 wcl
lots of love, by fiona walker, c.2003 trademe and bc
Saturday, August 02, 2008
nature-quotes#299521 Bah Humbug, Baby
Along the other side of the street behind an identical mound of snow, Allison could see brightly colored hats and bare heads bobbing along. Occasionally, one would disappear from view, only to reappear a few seconds later. A green umbrella passed. A black-and-white spaniel clambered up the other side and slid toward the street. There was a bright red bow around his neck and a jingling brass bell. Two little heads appeared over the mound. Then two children, dressed in bright red snowsuits, scrambled over the top and chased the dog down the street. p134
[comment: not a literary quote at all, but it teases the imagination]
Along the other side of the street behind an identical mound of snow, Allison could see brightly colored hats and bare heads bobbing along. Occasionally, one would disappear from view, only to reappear a few seconds later. A green umbrella passed. A black-and-white spaniel clambered up the other side and slid toward the street. There was a bright red bow around his neck and a jingling brass bell. Two little heads appeared over the mound. Then two children, dressed in bright red snowsuits, scrambled over the top and chased the dog down the street. p134
[comment: not a literary quote at all, but it teases the imagination]
Friday, August 01, 2008
quotes#852523 Anne of Green Gables
"I'll win that scholarship if hard work can do it," she resolved. "Wouldn't Matthew be proud if I got to be a B.A.? Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions. I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them - that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still." p235
Anne and Diana found the drive home as pleasant as the drive in - pleasanter, indeed, since there was the delightful consciousness of home waiting at the end of it. It was sunset when they passed through White Sands and turned into the shore road. Beyond, the Avonlea hills came out darkly against the saffron sky. Behind them the moon was rising out of the sea that grew all radiant and transfigured in her light. Every little cove along the curving road was a marvel of dancing ripples. The waves broke with a soft swish on the rocks below them, and the tang of the sea was in the strong, fresh air.
"Oh, but it's good to be alove and to be going home," breathed Anne. p199
"I'll win that scholarship if hard work can do it," she resolved. "Wouldn't Matthew be proud if I got to be a B.A.? Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions. I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them - that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still." p235
Anne and Diana found the drive home as pleasant as the drive in - pleasanter, indeed, since there was the delightful consciousness of home waiting at the end of it. It was sunset when they passed through White Sands and turned into the shore road. Beyond, the Avonlea hills came out darkly against the saffron sky. Behind them the moon was rising out of the sea that grew all radiant and transfigured in her light. Every little cove along the curving road was a marvel of dancing ripples. The waves broke with a soft swish on the rocks below them, and the tang of the sea was in the strong, fresh air.
"Oh, but it's good to be alove and to be going home," breathed Anne. p199
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