Bookends of Brilliance

"For Siddalee Walker, the need to understand has passed, at least for the moment. All that was left was love and wonder." From "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood", by Rebecca Wells . Rebecca Wells is an American author and playwright, best known for her novel "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," which explores the complex relationships among a group of lifelong friends. Her work often de...

"Carla heard the car coming before it topped the little rise in the road that around here they called a hill." From "Runaway", by Alice Munro . Alice Munro is a renowned Canadian short story writer, celebrated for her rich narratives that deeply explore the complexities of human relationships and rural life. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013, Munro's work is distinguished by its subtle...

"In the meantime, she would just live." From "P S, I Love You", by Cecelia Ahern . Cecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist known for her captivating storytelling, blending elements of romance and magic realism. She gained widespread acclaim with her debut novel "P.S. I Love You," which later inspired a successful film adaptation, and has continued to enchant readers with her unique and heartfelt narrat...

"When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen." The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett . Frances Hodgson Burnett was a British-American novelist and playwright, renowned for her children's literature, including timeless classics like "The Secret Garden" and "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Her works oft...

"Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger." Life of Pi, by Yann Martel . Yann Martel is a Canadian author best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel "Life of Pi," a remarkable tale that explores themes of spirituality, survival, and the human-animal bond. His narrative style often intertwines elements of magical...

"The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation." "The Secret History", by  Donna Tartt  (1992). Donna Tartt, an American author renowned for her richly woven narratives and intricate character development, catapulted to literary fame with her captivating debut novel "The Secret History." Her distinctive sty...

"Finally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind." From Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes, a key figure in Spanish literature, is best known as the author of "Don Quixote," one of the most important and influential works in Western literary canon. Born in 1547, Cervantes' life encompassed both hardship and creativity, with his experienc...

"Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board." From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston . Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent African American writer and anthropologist, most celebrated for her contribution to the Harlem Renaissance with her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Her works often explore the complexities of racial and gender identity in the early 20th-century...

"There was the dawning awareness of what the years had taken from him and given to him in the meantime." From "All the Pretty Horses", by Cormac McCarthy . Cormac McCarthy was an American novelist known for his distinctive narrative style, has earned widespread acclaim for his exploration of dark and existential themes within the American Southwest. His critically acclaimed works, including "The R...

"In the beginning, sometimes I left messages in the street." From "The House of the Spirits", by Isabel Allende . Isabel Allende is a renowned Chilean American author, celebrated for her magical realist narratives and strong female characters. Her best-selling novels, including "The House of the Spirits" and "Eva Luna," often intertwine personal history with broader historical and political events...

"For the eye sees not itself, but by reflection, by some other things." From  Julius Caesar , by William Shakespeare . William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest writer in the English language, was an English playwright, poet, and actor whose works have profoundly influenced Western literature and theatre. His remarkable plays, including timeless masterpieces like "Hamlet," "Romeo and Julie...

"The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting." From "The Red Badge of Courage" , by  Stephen Crane. Stephen Crane was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer, best known for his realistic war novel "The Red Badge of Courage," which gained widespread acclaim for its vivid and powerful portrayal of the American Civ...

"He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning."  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Harper Lee was an American novelist, best known for her 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," a profound and poignant exploration of racial injustice in the American South. Her notable contribution to Ame...

"James Bond, with two double bourbons inside him, sat in the final departure lounge of Miami airport and thought about death." Goldfinger, by Ian Fleming. Ian Fleming was a British author best known for creating the iconic character James Bond, also known as 007. Born in 1908, Fleming served as a naval intelligence officer during World War II, an experience that greatly influenced his spy novels....

Only when I am in bed, at dawn, listening to the cars down below in the streets of Paris, my memory betrays me; that summer returns to me with all its memories. Anne, Anne, I repeat over and over again softly in the darkness. Then something rises in me that I welcome by name, with closed eyes. Bonjour Tristesse! Bonjour Tristesse, by Francoise Sagan (1954). Françoise Sagan was a celebrated French...

"I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods." ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, by Truman Capote . Truman Capote was an American author best known for his literary works such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "In Cold Blood." His writing style often blended elements of fiction and non-fiction, blurring the lines between genres. Capote's flamboyant personality and...

"It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,' Mrs Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her." The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson (from 1948). Shirley Jackson was an acclaimed American author known for her chilling tales of psychological horror and suspense. Her most famous work, "The Lottery," is a short story that continues to provoke thought and discussion about conformity and mob mentality. Jackson's un...

"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold." From ‘The Hunger Games’, by Suzanne Collins . Suzanne Collins is an acclaimed American author known for her captivating storytelling and imaginative worlds. She gained widespread recognition for her groundbreaking "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which explores themes of power, survival, and rebellion in a dystopian society. Collins' works have not o...

"The Japanese slipped forward with his camera, crouched and took two three four pictures in quick succession." From Rosemary’s Baby, by Ira Levin . Ira Levin was an American novelist, playwright, and songwriter, best known for his works in the thriller and horror genres. His notable novels include "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Stepford Wives," which have left a lasting impact on popular culture. Book...

"If you want to find Cherrytree Lane all you have to do is ask the Policeman at the cross-roads." From Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers . P L Travers, born Helen Lyndon Goff, was an Australian-born British writer renowned for her cherished children's series starring the unforgettable Mary Poppins character. Travers' rich storytelling and nuanced character portrayals continue to captivate readers and...

"He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance." Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley . Mary Shelley was an English novelist best known for her Gothic novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," which she wrote when she was just eighteen years old. Shelley's work continues to captivate readers with its exploration of scientific hubris, existential questions, and the human con...

"As I sit here with one foot on either side of the ledge, looking down from twelve stories above the streets of Boston, I can’t help but think about suicide." From "It ends with us" by Colleen Hoover . Colleen Hoover is a renowned author known for her emotionally charged storytelling. "It Ends With Us" is one of her most acclaimed novels, praised for its poignant exploration of love, resilience, a...

"She had started to cry softly. Odenigbo took her in his arms." From "Half of a Yellow Sun", by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie . Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned Nigerian writer and storyteller, celebrated for her contributions to contemporary literature, particularly in her exploration of themes like identity, feminism, and cultural differences. Her critically acclaimed works, including "Half of...

„Once upon a midnight dreary, as I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, while I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.“ From “The Raven", by Edgar Allan Poe . Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, and literary critic, renowned for his mastery in the genre of gothic horror...

"The broken flower drooped over Ben's fist and his eyes were empty and blue and serene again as cornice and facade flowed smoothly once more from left to right, post and tree, window and doorway and signboard each in its ordered place." The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner William Faulkner, a towering figure in American literature, is renowned for his intricate narratives and profound explo...