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 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! 🤍
What a brilliant idea. I loved reading this and recognised so many of the books I loved last that I think I need to read a few more that I didn’t know. Thank you thank you.
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.
After I finish a book I love, I go back and type out all the passages I have underlined. I keep an accounting of page numbers on the front pages of the book; I know I have fallen for a book when the list of page numbers tracking brilliant passages consumes 2 or 3 formerly blank pages. I know Kindle can track your highlights but it doesn’t seem the same..human touch is absent. Here is one of my favourite sentences from Akbar’s amazing Martyr! : “The path was cold. A thin ribbon of sky loomed over our heads like a chaperone.”. I love this because in its simplicity, it ushers in a brilliant comparison. I had to stop reading and just devour the imagery. I know I will think of it when I look at the sky now. The magic of words and sentences. I love this idea and am considering asking my students and/or colleagues to try it.
That line from Martyr! is gorgeous! I would absolutely have underlined it as well. I love your system! What fun. I resist reading on Kindle because it's so hard (for me) to go back and look through my favorite passages. I've even purchased a physical copy of a book after reading on Kindle or listening on Libby because I've wanted to be able to underline. There's something so special and magical about it.
Thank you for this note, it is a glorious way to start the week. And do let me know if you ask your students or colleagues to try it out!!
There’s something captivating about mothers who reveal, in the smallest of ways, a soft vulnerability—a crack in their armor that only the attentive can notice. It’s a fleeting sadness, an honesty that hints at untold stories. I can’t help but wonder: who was this woman before motherhood reshaped her? What secrets, what regrets, what unspoken shame does she quietly bear as she moves through the world?
What a beautiful ritual to end the year. Thank you so much for putting in the time and effort to share this with us. It’s making me think about putting more rituals into my reading so I have more records and can reflect more.
Thank you for that, Jo! It's something I love to do, even if it does take a bit of time. I hope you do some more ritualistic reading and reflecting in the new year, and that you'll share some with me when you do! Happy 2025!
Thank you, Sarah! I haven't read his latest but I requested it from the library a while back. Hopefully I'll get it soon! He's fantastic. Really life-changing!
I loved reading this…going to go read your previous years. I just started doing this earlier this year, I keep a list on my notes app. I wish I had started sooner! Having started doing this this year and coming across your list felt like such a privilege to read!
One of my favorites is from the book All the Colors of Dark:
Ahhh thank you so much Maria! I am so pleased to hear how many others keep beautiful sentences. Please share more in the new year!
And oh my god — I’m reading All the Colors of the Dark right now and I loved that line!!! I didn’t underline it (it’s my mother-in-law’s book) but I feel like I would have if it would’ve been mine. Thanks for sharing that!!
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! :)
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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!
Nice way to look back on your reading year too!
Yes, for sure. It's really enjoyable!
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! 🤍
How you always so clever and wonderful
I surround myself with the cleverest and wonderfulest people ☺️
😍
hahahha you picked the most Leigh Stein sentence
Hahah did I?? I didn’t even realize it. I just love the sentence.
What a brilliant idea. I loved reading this and recognised so many of the books I loved last that I think I need to read a few more that I didn’t know. Thank you thank you.
Thank you for reading, Kate! So happy to connect with you and others over these gorgeous sentences!
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!!!
Love this . Thank you.
You are so welcome. Thank you for reading!
After I finish a book I love, I go back and type out all the passages I have underlined. I keep an accounting of page numbers on the front pages of the book; I know I have fallen for a book when the list of page numbers tracking brilliant passages consumes 2 or 3 formerly blank pages. I know Kindle can track your highlights but it doesn’t seem the same..human touch is absent. Here is one of my favourite sentences from Akbar’s amazing Martyr! : “The path was cold. A thin ribbon of sky loomed over our heads like a chaperone.”. I love this because in its simplicity, it ushers in a brilliant comparison. I had to stop reading and just devour the imagery. I know I will think of it when I look at the sky now. The magic of words and sentences. I love this idea and am considering asking my students and/or colleagues to try it.
That line from Martyr! is gorgeous! I would absolutely have underlined it as well. I love your system! What fun. I resist reading on Kindle because it's so hard (for me) to go back and look through my favorite passages. I've even purchased a physical copy of a book after reading on Kindle or listening on Libby because I've wanted to be able to underline. There's something so special and magical about it.
Thank you for this note, it is a glorious way to start the week. And do let me know if you ask your students or colleagues to try it out!!
These are amazing 🙌 Thanks for sharing Kolina 🙏
There’s something captivating about mothers who reveal, in the smallest of ways, a soft vulnerability—a crack in their armor that only the attentive can notice. It’s a fleeting sadness, an honesty that hints at untold stories. I can’t help but wonder: who was this woman before motherhood reshaped her? What secrets, what regrets, what unspoken shame does she quietly bear as she moves through the world?
Beautifully said, Mark! This is a passage I would have underlined had I read it in a book :)
What a great idea I love all of these words. Thank you!
I love chatting with people who love words as much as me! Thanks for reading! ☺️
What a beautiful ritual to end the year. Thank you so much for putting in the time and effort to share this with us. It’s making me think about putting more rituals into my reading so I have more records and can reflect more.
Thank you for that, Jo! It's something I love to do, even if it does take a bit of time. I hope you do some more ritualistic reading and reflecting in the new year, and that you'll share some with me when you do! Happy 2025!
Love this idea. And also love the wisdom of Oliver Burkeman! Have you read his latest book? I listened to it a couple of months ago.
Thank you, Sarah! I haven't read his latest but I requested it from the library a while back. Hopefully I'll get it soon! He's fantastic. Really life-changing!
Love this! Hopefully your first best words of 2025
Thanks so much Courtney!
I loved reading this…going to go read your previous years. I just started doing this earlier this year, I keep a list on my notes app. I wish I had started sooner! Having started doing this this year and coming across your list felt like such a privilege to read!
One of my favorites is from the book All the Colors of Dark:
19. “You’re different today,” she said.
“I’m just tired, I guess.”
“Tired of what?”
“Of being me.”
Ahhh thank you so much Maria! I am so pleased to hear how many others keep beautiful sentences. Please share more in the new year!
And oh my god — I’m reading All the Colors of the Dark right now and I loved that line!!! I didn’t underline it (it’s my mother-in-law’s book) but I feel like I would have if it would’ve been mine. Thanks for sharing that!!