I am putting these posts up really for myself. I have been neglecting the roots of my love for fiction and stories. Yes I love films, especially great films but it was through books that I really learned what it was like to step away from the world and experience something magical. Each one of these is dear to me for different reasons. Some I read and became afraid. Others I cried for hours, trying to understand the meaning behind the suffering. Some helped lay the foundation for my belief in God. Others simply made me think introspectively and extrospectively. I would invite any to look these over if they so desire. I put in a lot of quotes this time rather than my ramblings. I think the books should speak for themselves don’t you?
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker, 1987
“Oh, my dear, if you only knew how strange is the matter regarding which I am here, it is you who would laugh. I have learned not to think little of any one’s belief, no matter how strange it may be. I have tried to keep an open mind, and it is not the ordinary things of life that could close it, but the strange things, the extraordinary things, the things that make one doubt if they be mad or sane.” ― Bram Stoker, Dracula
“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.” ― Bram Stoker, Dracula
“I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together freely and build our castles in the air.” ― Bram Stoker, Dracula
“East” by Edith Patou, 2005
“It was the difference between walking with a stranger and walking with your heartmate. It was the difference between working for duty and working for love.” ― Edith Pattou, East
“They journeyed far and the white bear said, “Are you afraid?” “No,” she replied. “I am not afraid.” ― Edith Pattou, East
“Epic of Gilgamesh” by Unknown, 18th century B.C.
“Gilgamesh, where are you hurrying to? You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they allotted to him death, but life they retained in their own keeping. As for you, Gilgamesh, fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice. Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that holds your hand, and make your wife happy in your embrace; for this too is the lot of man.” ― Anonymous, The Epic of Gilgamesh
“Strange things have been spoken, why does your heart speak strangely? The dream was marvellous but the terror was great; we must treasure the dream whatever the terror.” ― N.K. Sandars, The Epic of Gilgamesh
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly, 1818
“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
“Hateful day when I received life!’ I exclaimed in agony. ‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemlance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and abhorred.” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
“Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
“From Far Away” by Kyoko Hikawa, 1993-2003
“Izark:“Don’t go! Don’t leave me! I’m not just being nice! I love you. I mean it. It’s true that because of you I am closer than ever to becoming the sky demon. But remember what Zena said? She said the future is not predetermined. She said we make our own futures. I can change my future even if I don’t know how yet. I just want to protect you. If anything horrible happened to you I couldn’t stand it. I’d rather become a monster than lose you. So stay with my Noriko. Please stay with me.”
[Noriko embraces him]” Of course I will stay with you. No matter what happens to us. I’ll never leave you.”
[Izark collapses onto his knees and weeps]” (Volume 7)
“I decided that the future I see is just a place. A place we can go to. But we can all decide what to think and do when we get to that place. Depending on our choices you can make your own fate.” (Volume 6)
“I’ve always tried to run away from my true self and away from my destiny. But no matter how hard I’ve denied it I am what I am. Why? I’ve hated and feared myself but I’ve also had love for my friends and the beauty of nature. Then I met Noriko and she healed my lonely soul. Why do I feel like this? Where do these feelings come from? Why does a monster have feelings at all? Something is wrong. I am not the sky demon. I am what I am“. (Volume 9)
“Fruits Basket” by Natsuki Takaya, 1998-2006
“I wish I could have lived my life without making any wrong turns. But that’s impossible. A path like that doesn’t exist. We fail. We trip. We get lost. We make mistakes. And little by little, one step at a time, we push forward. It’s all we can do. On our own two feet.” ― Natsuki Takaya, Fruits Basket, Volume 21
“Sometimes living can be hard, but it’s only because we’re alive that we can make each other laugh,cry…be happy! In this world, if that’s not a reason for being born in this world…I don’t know what is!” ― Natsuki Takaya
“I want to believe that I’m not wrong. I want to believe that life isn’t full of darkness. Even if storms come to pass, the sun will shine again. No matter how painful and hard the rain may beat down on me.” ― Natsuki Takaya
“Fullmetal Alchemist” by Hiromu Arakawa, 2003-2010
“A lesson without pain is meaningless. That’s because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it, he shall obtain a powerful, unmatched heart. A fullmetal heart.” ― Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 27
“Enduring and forgiving are two different things. You must not forgive the cruelty of this world. It’s our duty as human beings to be angry at injustice. But we must also endure it. Because someone must sever this chain of hatred.” ― Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 18
“Believe in yourself. Pick a path that you, deep down in your soul, won’t be ashamed of.” ― Hiromu Arakawa
“Father: Why did you not become mine God!?
God: “Because you never believed in yourself. You thought you could make God’s power your own? Don’t make me laugh. You think stealing something powerful makes you great? You’re nothing but a cunning thief. You should have stayed satisfied inside the flask where you belong. All you have ever done is use the strength of others to grab godhood. You haven’t grown at all.
Father: “I wanted to become a perfect being! I wanted to understand God! I wanted to know everything about the world! So, why do you oppose me? Who are you?!
God: “I am what humans call the world, Or the universe or God or truth or all or one. And I am you. . . The truth brings despair to those who dare to reach above their station. This is the end you wished for.” ― Hiromu Arakawa
“Getting Near To Baby” Audrey Couloumbus, 2001
“Knowing that time is short is important. Knowing to make the best use of it you can, that’s important. Letting those around you know you love them. Because you never know when you’ll have to say good-bye.” -Getting Near to Baby, Audrey Couloumbus
“Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, 1861
“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before–more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.” ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
“In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong.” ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
“I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
“Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, 1360
“To die, to sleep – To sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub, For in this sleep of death what dreams may come…” ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
“Harry Potter Series” by J.K. Rowling, 1997-2007
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
“Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
“I DON’T CARE!” Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. “I’VE HAD ENOUGH, I’VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON’T CARE ANYMORE!” “You do care,” said Dumbledore. He had not flinched or made a single move to stop Harry demolishing his office. His expression was calm, almost detached. “You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
“Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diana Wynne Jones, 1986
“Yes, you are nosy. You’re a dreadfully nosy, horribly bossy, appallingly clean old woman. Control yourself. You’re victimizing us all.” ― Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle
“I feel ill,” [Howl] announced. “I’m going to bed, where I may die.” ― Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle
“By now it was clear that Howl was in a mood to produce green slime any second. Sophie hurriedly put her sewing away. “I’ll make some hot buttered toast,” she said. “Is that all you can do in the face of tragedy??” Howl asked. “Make toast!” ― Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle
“Meanwhile a certain amount of moaning and groaning was coming from upstairs. Sophie kept muttering to the dog and ignored it. A loud, hollow coughing followed, dying away into more moaning. Crashing sneezes followed the coughing, each one rattling the window and all the doors. Sophie found those harder to ignore, but she managed. Poot-pooooot! went a blown nose, like a bassoon in a tunnel. The coughing started again, mingled with moans. Sneezes mixed with the moans and the coughs, and the sounds rose to a crescendo in which Howl seemed to be managing to cough, groan, blow his nose, sneeze, and wail gently all at the same time. The doors rattled, the beams in the ceiling shook, and one of Calcifer’s logs rolled off onto the hearth. “All right, all right, I get the message!” Sophie said, dumping the log back into the grate. “It’ll be green slime next”.” ― Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle
“Nothing is safe from you. If I were to court a girl who lived on an iceberg in the middle of the ocean, sooner or later— probably sooner— I’d look up to see you swooping overhead on a broomstick. In fact, by now I’d be disappointed in you if I didn’t see you.” “Are you off to the iceberg today?” Sophie retorted.” ― Diana Wynne Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle
“I, Coriander” by Sally Gardner, 2005
“Honestly, I had no idea that the heart could cause such trouble and strife. It could be broken and still mend. It could be wounded and still heal. It could be given away still returned, lost and found. It could do all that and still you lived, though according to some, only just.”― Sally Gardner, I, Coriander
I have learned that there is great power in words, no matter how long or short they be.” ― Sally Gardner, I, Coriander
“Immortal Rain” by Kaori Ozaka, 1999-2011
“A look of strength. Tears of strength. Who was it that you loved so deeply? So strong…it was earth shattering?” (Volume 1)
“Rain…Is that your name? It’s a good name to have in this world that’s like a dry and cracked oil painting. My grandmother used to say that the clouds hold tears. They take pity on our sadness and cry. Maybe the sky no longer holds these tears.” (Volume 2)
“If there is anything to hold on to it’s life.” (Volume 2)
“Because I love people. The sound of their footsteps. The melody of their voices. I love these hands who care for me. Though eventually everyone disappears.” (Volume 2)
“You told me before right? That God is made of people’s feelings. So believing in God is the same as believing in people. I don’t really understand God myself but I believe in people.” (Volume 3)
“In the Night Garden/ Into the City of Coin and Spice” by Catherynne Valente, 2006/2007
“Never assume that a woman is wicked simply because she is ugly and behaves unfavorably towards you. It is unbecoming behavior for a Prince.”― Catherynne M. Valente, In the Night Garden
“There is always a moment when stories end, a moment when everything is blue and black and silent, and the teller does not want to believe it is over, and the listener does not, and so they both hold their breath and hope fervently as pilgrims that it is not over, that there are more tales to come, more and more, fitted together like a long chain coiled in the hand. They hold their breath; the trees hold theirs, the air and the ice and the wood and the Gate. But no breath can be held forever, and all tales end.”― Catherynne M. Valente, In the Cities of Coin and Spice
“This is my heart—carry it with you. I will dream of you in the dark, and you will taste it in my tea, and feel it in my shoes.”
― Catherynne M. Valente, In the Cities of Coin and Spice
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte, 1847
“Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! – I have as much soul as you, – and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you!”― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel His presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us; and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence.”― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour … If at my convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
“Jeremy Visick” by David Wiseman,
“It’s all history out there, Clemens. Your history, my history. You and me, boy, not dates and things. You and me. That’s what history is all about. How we came to be here, in the way we are, the clothes we wear.”
― David Wiseman, Jeremy Visick
“Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo, 1862
“You ask me what forces me to speak? a strange thing; my conscience.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“When love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far as they are concerned; they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny; they are no longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. Love, soar.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“Love is the foolishness of men, and the wisdom of God.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“And remember, the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“Nothing discernible to the eye of the spirit is more brilliant or obscure than man; nothing is more formidable, complex, mysterious, and infinite. There is a prospect greater than the sea, and it is the sky; there is a prospect greater than the sky, and it is the human soul.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“…Can human nature be so entirely transformed inside and out? Can man, created by God, be made wicked by man? Can a soul be so completely changed by its destiny, and turn evil when its fate is evil? Can the heart become distorted, contract incurable deformities and incurable infirmities, under the pressure of disproportionate grief, like the spinal column under a low ceiling? Is there not in every human soul a primitive spark, a divine element, incorruptible in this world and immortal in the next, which can be developed by goodness, kindled, lit up, and made to radiate, and which evil can never entirely extinguish.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
“Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo” by Obert Skye, 2005
“I am what I am because I have made myself so.”
― Obert Skye, Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
“There is no moment more precious than the exact moment they are living. And that exact moment has a lot to do with how future moments play out.”
― Obert Skye, Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, 2001
“I must say a word about fear. It is life’s only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever, treacherous adversary, how well I know. It has no decency, respects no law or convention, shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, which it finds with unnerving ease. It begins in your mind, always … so you must fight hard to express it. You must fight hard to shine the light of words upon it. Because if you don’t, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you.”
― Yann Martel, Life of Pi
“If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?”
― Yann Martel, Life of Pi
“These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart.”
― Yann Martel, Life of Pi
“If Christ spent an anguished night in prayer, if He burst out from the Cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ then surely we are also permitted doubt. But we must move on. To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.”
― Yann Martel, Life of Pi
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl, 1946
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless he loves him. By his love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized. Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what he can be and of what he should become, he makes these potentialities come true.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“For the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth – that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
So Many Thoughts 