What a brilliant idea—thanks for sharing this! I screenshot my favourite lines and save them somewhere too—might borrow your idea next year. :) That line in Blue Sisters struck me too.
Ooh, noted! I don’t do any filing system, which makes it very time consuming at the end of the year! I underline while reading and then flip through all the books I read to see which sentences I love the most.
I think next year, inspired by @Sophie, I’m going to copy all my favorite sentences into a commonplace book! I’ve always wanted to and now I feel is the time.
Yes! Do it! I’m going to try out a commonplace book in 2025. The way I currently do it is I underline as I read, then at the end of the year I flip through all the books I read. Takes forever, but it’s fun!
I tried that way but find it works better for me to write them as I find them or it’s too easy to lose them. The beauty of a string of words is truly magic.
I loved reading these. I find that the lines we underline and save say so much about who we are at that specific moment in time, what speaks to us. I started keeping a favourite lines journal this past year and I’ve loved the practice of it. A ritual, for sure! Speaking of Miranda July, here’s a line I saved from All Fours: “‘Of course,’ I said, the same way I said ‘I do’ at our wedding—no way of knowing for sure, but here’s hoping.”
I LOVE that line!! And I love to hear others’ favorites too. I rarely get a chance to read a book with someone else’s underlines, but when it happens, it’s a delight. I’d love to see more of your faves sometime! 🤍
"Time, disease, and death are rueful mechanics that way. They enjoy crafting nooses out of fear, and they love playing games. Shadows are their dresses, they curve over your shoulders with eerie fingers coaxing you into the dark, taking your body, your mind, and anything they please with it.
Time, disease and death are greatest thieves in the world."
What an inspiring idea. I shall start immediately. I've had a quote demanding attention for some time and didn't know what to do with it. Now I know. I'll start collecting from today.
This was really cool! I love thinking about good sentences and what makes them good. These aren't only sentences, but here's three of my favorite book quotes!
"You, my love, are ever so much more than a fruit fly" --Kelly Barnhill, "The Girl Who Drank the Moon"
"What a pleasure it was, to have been, on the page, briefly less of a dope than usual" --George Saunders, "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain"
"My mother had enough magic to give me three blessings before she died,' I said and he instinctively bent in to hear it. 'The first wit; the second beauty; and the third --that fools should recognize neither," --Naomi Novik, "Spinning Silver"
Evelyn, I'm obsessed that you shared THREE quotes with me! These are fantastic. I've read A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (what a brilliant book) but not the other two, so I extra appreciated them! It's such a joy to share beautiful sentences like this. Thank you! 🫶🏽
Thank you for sharing. Always in need of new reads, though much less frequently after finding this app. I definitely want to check out some of these. And what a brilliant idea to highlight multiple books because I can never pick a favorite.
Few things are as satisfying as creating or reading a perfect sentence. Thomas Harris wrote, "Pound for pound, Hannibal is as strong as an ant." Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a short story using only six words and he responded, "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."
If I had to pick one sentence that I've read thousands of times with envy, with delight, with inspiration, and with amazement, it would be F. Scott Fitzgerald's:
“Most of the big shore places were closed now. And there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of the ferryboat across the sound. And as the moon rose higher, the inessential houses began to melt away till gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes, A fresh green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams. For a transitory, enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent. Face to face, for the last time in history, with something commensurate to its capacity for wonder.”
What a brilliant idea—thanks for sharing this! I screenshot my favourite lines and save them somewhere too—might borrow your idea next year. :) That line in Blue Sisters struck me too.
Nice! Do you file them somehow? I imagine going through all your photos to find good quotes would take forever!
I file them all in Notion by the book they’re from! :) How do you keep track of yours?
Ooh, noted! I don’t do any filing system, which makes it very time consuming at the end of the year! I underline while reading and then flip through all the books I read to see which sentences I love the most.
I think next year, inspired by @Sophie, I’m going to copy all my favorite sentences into a commonplace book! I’ve always wanted to and now I feel is the time.
That sounds like a nice way to revisit books you’ve read throughout the year! A commonplace book sounds lovely and intentional.
Yes and yes! It's quite cathartic to do my weird analogue system! What is alluring about a commonplace book is that everything will be in one place!
Thanks for sharing these! What a great idea to keep them in mind. I’m definitely inspired to save the lines I love from here on out as well!
Yay! If you ever feel inspired to share, I’d love to hear what you underline!
I'll start collecting them! :)
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
How you always so clever and wonderful
I surround myself with the cleverest and wonderfulest people ☺️
😍
Kolina, I love this! This might be the push for me to start keeping a reading journal
Yes! Do it! I’m going to try out a commonplace book in 2025. The way I currently do it is I underline as I read, then at the end of the year I flip through all the books I read. Takes forever, but it’s fun!
I started a commonplace book this year and writing out my favourite lines from the books I am reading is just a lovely thing to do.
YES! I love it! Do you do it after you finish a book? That’s what I’m doing now, but I just started it this year.
I tried that way but find it works better for me to write them as I find them or it’s too easy to lose them. The beauty of a string of words is truly magic.
I could not agree more!
Nice way to look back on your reading year too!
Yes, for sure. It's really enjoyable!
This is such a brilliant idea ✨
Thank you for reading, Emma!
hahahha you picked the most Leigh Stein sentence
Hahah did I?? I didn’t even realize it. I just love the sentence.
I loved reading these. I find that the lines we underline and save say so much about who we are at that specific moment in time, what speaks to us. I started keeping a favourite lines journal this past year and I’ve loved the practice of it. A ritual, for sure! Speaking of Miranda July, here’s a line I saved from All Fours: “‘Of course,’ I said, the same way I said ‘I do’ at our wedding—no way of knowing for sure, but here’s hoping.”
I LOVE that line!! And I love to hear others’ favorites too. I rarely get a chance to read a book with someone else’s underlines, but when it happens, it’s a delight. I’d love to see more of your faves sometime! 🤍
i love this sm
Thank you sm!
:)
Loved all of them, and thanks for the idea! I will do track warm, lovely and chilling sentences from now on in my notion!
That's amazing, thank you so much for reading them! I'd love to see a sentence you've recorded in Notion!
Hey, I'd love for you to check out my newsletter 'Omniscient Minds', I think you'll love it! I am open for suggestions!!
https://substack.com/@omkarwrites
https://substack.com/@omkarwrites/p-160793497
Sure,
"Time, disease, and death are rueful mechanics that way. They enjoy crafting nooses out of fear, and they love playing games. Shadows are their dresses, they curve over your shoulders with eerie fingers coaxing you into the dark, taking your body, your mind, and anything they please with it.
Time, disease and death are greatest thieves in the world."
~ I fell in love with hope by Lincali.
Wow that is gorgeous. I’ve not read Lancali before but now I want to! Now I get why she’s so big! Thank you for sharing.
What an inspiring idea. I shall start immediately. I've had a quote demanding attention for some time and didn't know what to do with it. Now I know. I'll start collecting from today.
This makes me SO HAPPY!!!
I just recommended you to a friend of mine who also writes. I love how you write!
Barb! That’s the nicest thing you could do for a writer. Thank you!! 🤍
This is beautiful thread...thank you for sharing this.. glad this came out on my feed today! Saved the posts and books
Wonderful to hear! I hope you enjoy them when you read them!
This was really cool! I love thinking about good sentences and what makes them good. These aren't only sentences, but here's three of my favorite book quotes!
"You, my love, are ever so much more than a fruit fly" --Kelly Barnhill, "The Girl Who Drank the Moon"
"What a pleasure it was, to have been, on the page, briefly less of a dope than usual" --George Saunders, "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain"
"My mother had enough magic to give me three blessings before she died,' I said and he instinctively bent in to hear it. 'The first wit; the second beauty; and the third --that fools should recognize neither," --Naomi Novik, "Spinning Silver"
Evelyn, I'm obsessed that you shared THREE quotes with me! These are fantastic. I've read A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (what a brilliant book) but not the other two, so I extra appreciated them! It's such a joy to share beautiful sentences like this. Thank you! 🫶🏽
Thank you for sharing. Always in need of new reads, though much less frequently after finding this app. I definitely want to check out some of these. And what a brilliant idea to highlight multiple books because I can never pick a favorite.
I am so glad to hear you enjoyed these beautiful passages 🥹
Indiebooksusa.substack.com thanks
Few things are as satisfying as creating or reading a perfect sentence. Thomas Harris wrote, "Pound for pound, Hannibal is as strong as an ant." Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a short story using only six words and he responded, "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."
If I had to pick one sentence that I've read thousands of times with envy, with delight, with inspiration, and with amazement, it would be F. Scott Fitzgerald's:
“Most of the big shore places were closed now. And there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of the ferryboat across the sound. And as the moon rose higher, the inessential houses began to melt away till gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes, A fresh green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams. For a transitory, enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent. Face to face, for the last time in history, with something commensurate to its capacity for wonder.”
There is so much great work out there! I hadn't read the Thomas Harris quote and I love it. Thank you for sharing these!