The other day, on the KBoards forum, a thread was posted about what were people's top five books, and why. I jumped in with my five, and provided quotes from each to explain why. I wanted to share that here, but I'm expanding the list to ten, and changing a few of the quotes. Enjoy!
Bridge Of Birds, Barry Hughart (my all time favorite book from the moment I finished the last page, as those who've read A Tiding Of Magpies know):
I shall clasp my hands together and bow to the corners of the world.
May your villagers remain ignorant of tax collectors, and may your sons be many and ugly and strong and willing workers, and may your daughters be few and beautiful and and excellent providers of love gifts from eminent families that live very far away, and may your lives be blessed by the beauty that has touched mine.
Farewell.
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll:
"Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin," thought Alice; "but a grin without a cat!"
Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett:
ALL THINGS THAT ARE, ARE OURS. BUT WE MUST CARE. FOR IF WE DO NOT CARE, WE DO NOT EXIST.
The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
How Much For Just The Planet, John M. Ford:
Without missing a beat, Sanchez said "Because meeting new individuals gives me great intellectual pleasure. That's why I became a diplomat."
"Oh, good! There are almost fourteen thousand of us, you know. We should be able to make you really, really happy."
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien:
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
Lean Times in Lankhmar, Fritz Leiber
Fafhrd and Mouser saved only the clothes they were in, their swords, dirk, and ax. And it was well they hung onto the latter, for while swimming ashore they were attacked by a school of sharks, and each man had to defend himself and comrade while swimming encumbered. Ilthmarts lining the quays and moles cheered the heroes and the sharks impartially, or rather as to how they had laid their money, the odds being mostly three-to-one against both heroes surviving, with various shorter odds on the big man, the little man, or one or the other turning the trick. [...]
When Fafhrd and the Mouser finally staggered ashore panting, they were cheered by such Ilthmarts as had won money on them. A larger number were busy booing the sharks.
Sandman: Brief Lives, Neil Gaiman:
"You lived what anybody gets, Bernie. You got a lifetime. No more. No less. You got a lifetime."
MythAdventures, by Phil Foglio, adapting Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin:
Aahz: "You traded a magical pendant that sees through spells for a fledgling dragon?'
Skeeve: "Yeah."
Aahz: [picks up Skeeve and shakes him roughly]
Skeeve [discombobulated]: "What was that for?"
Aahz [furious]: "I wanted to see if you'd completely lost your mind, or if a piece of it was still rattling around in there!"
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster:
"And remember, also," added the Princess of Sweet Reason, "that many places you would like to see are just off the map and many things you want to know are just out of sight or a little beyond your reach. But someday you'll reach them all, for what you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover the wonderful secrets of tomorrow."
And as a reward for reading this, here's a photo of me with my new Doubleclicks Coloring Book! Yay!
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