Top 5 Tuesday – Book Quotes

It’s Tuesday again, which means that it’s time for Top 5 Tuesday. Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by Shanah over at Bionic Book Worm.

This week the topic is ‘Top 5 Quotes’, which I’m really happy about because I’m a sucker for a good quote. I’m always noting down good quotes as I read, so here goes…

‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ – Khaled Hosseini

“‎I know you’re still young but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You’re a very very bright girl. Truly you are. You can be anything you want Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated Laila. No chance.”

Why do I like this quote? Because it’s inspirational and hopeful. I hope that girls in oppressive countries have someone telling them this kind of thing. Because even if the society that they live in doesn’t think they matter, they do. This book made me so grateful that I live in a society where I am encouraged to succeed in my career and other aspects of my life. And it’s so disappointing to think that there are girls and women out there who really do believe that they are inferior to others. People should be encouraged to achieve their dreams no matter what.

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‘Never Let Me Go’ – Kazuo Ishiguro

‘All children have to be deceived if they are grow up without trauma’.

This is a difficult one to explain without revealing what the book is about. Which is something I don’t want to do. I went into this book blind and I’m so glad I did. It is so haunting. If you haven’t read it, please do. It’s one of the best books I have ever read.

 

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‘After the Darkness: Reflections on the Holocaust’ – Elie Wiesel

‘There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest’.

I think this quote speaks for itself. I’m a massive history buff and so is my Dad. I think my interest is down to him because when we were little he made me and my brother aware of the Holocaust. He always said that it’s important to know what happened. And I completely agree. My interest in History led to me studying it at University and I am a firm believer that we should never forget what happened. It’s all too easy to remember the good parts of history. But we owe it to the victims to remember them.

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‘A Little Life’ – Hanya Yanagihara

‘The thing he hadn’t realized about success was that success made people boring. Failure also made people boring, but in a different way. Failing people were constantly striving for one thing — success. But successful people were also only striving to maintain their success. It was the difference between running and running in place, and although running was boring no matter what, at least the person running was moving…”

I feel that this book receives a mixed bag of reviews. Some people think it’s beautiful, others think it’s depressing. I think it’s both. Why can’t something that is depressing be beautiful? During our lifetime we will all experience highs and lows and I think ‘A Little Life’ represents this really well. What this book highlights is that some people will never be happy. They can have glamorous, well paid jobs, have a lovely house and be surrounded by people who love them. But sometimes that just isn’t enough to get over the traumas of the past.

If you haven’t read ‘A Little Life’, I’d 100% recommend it. It is a very long book. But I’m so glad I persevered with it.

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‘The Notebook’ – Nicholas Sparks

“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours.”

I don’t often read romance books. But the ones that I have read don’t come close to the Notebook. I am a sucker for a romantic story that tugs at your heart. And who wouldn’t want someone to say that to them!?

I remember when I read it for the first time I thought it was beautiful but a bit unrealistic. I thought: ‘There is no way that I’ll ever find someone who loves me like Noah loves Ally because love like that doesn’t exist’.

It’s so hard to pick just one quote from The Notebook. But I can relate to this one because I’ve found my guy. That quote up there could easily be something that I’d say to him. He’s wonderful. And I can’t wait to marry him in 8 months. Soppy, I know, but there you go!