“A new word. Bright with possibilities. A flawless pearl to turn over and over in my hand, then put away for safekeeping.” HandsTurnsPossibilityPearlsFlawlessNew Words Book:A Gathering Light Source: A Gathering Light
“My father had put these things on the table. I looked at him standing by the sink. He was washing his hands, splashing water on his face. My mamma left us. My brother, too. And now my feckless, reckless uncle had as well. My pa stayed, though. My pa always stayed. I looked at him. And saw the sweat stains on his shirt. And his big, scarred hands. And his dirty, weary face. I remembered how, lying in my bed a few nights before, I had looked forward to showing him my uncle's money. To telling him I was leaving. And I was so ashamed.” WellsHandsBigsFacesLyingNightFatherLeftWaterSawsBrotherBedStandingTablesLeavingDirtyRememberedShirtsMy BrotherAshamedSweatWearyUnclesRecklessWashingStainsFecklessSplashing Author:Jennifer Donnelly
“I have done this—made the sad prince laugh. Made his grieving parents smile. None but me. Think you only kings have power? Stand on a stage and hold the hearts of men in your hands. Make them laugh with a gesture, cry with a word. Make them love you. And you will know what power is.” ThinkingKnowsMenLoveHeartMadeDoneHandsAgeParentLaughingStageLove YouCryKingsGrievingGestures Book:Revolution Source: Revolution
“I play until my fingertips are raw. Until I rip a nail and bleed on the strings. Until my hands hurt so bad I forget my heart does.” HeartDoePlayHandsHurtForgetMy HeartStringsNailsRipFingertips Book:Revolution Source: Revolution
“And I knew in my bones that Emily Dickinson wouldn't have written even one poem if she'd had two howling babies, a husband bent on jamming another one into her, a house to run, a garden to tend, three cows to milk, twenty chickens to feed, and four hired hands to cook for. I knew then why they didn't marry. Emily and Jane and Louisa. I knew and it scared me. I also knew what being lonely was and I didn't want to be lonely my whole life. I didn't want to give up on my words. I didn't want to choose one over the other. Mark Twain didn't have to. Charles Dickens didn't.” IfsWantGivingWritingTwoWholeHandsRunningThreeHouseFourWrittenBabyHusbandGiving UpGardenLonelyMarkTwentiesScaredBonesWhole LifeCooksChickensMilkCowsBentJaneEmilyDickensBeing Lonely Book:A Gathering Light Source: A Gathering Light
“You are a ghost, Andi," she says. "Almost gone." I look at her. I want to say something but I can't get the words out. She squeezes my hands. "Come back to us," she says. And she's gone.” WantLooksI CanHandsGoneGhost Book:Revolution Source: Revolution
“The King walks. He nods. His glance is like God's touch - under it all things spring to life. A wave of his hand and a hundred musicians tear into the Handel, making a sound you've never heard before, and never will again. A sound that goes through you, through flesh and bone, and reorders the very beat of your heart.” HeartHandsSoundWalksHeardTearsKingsMusicianBeatsSpringHundredAll ThingsWaveBonesFleshGlancesHandel Book:Revolution Source: Revolution
“They sat quietly together for a few minutes, Joe holding Fiona's hand, Fiona sniffling. No flowery words, no platitudes passed between them. Joe would have done anything to ease her suffering, but he knew nothing he might do, or say, could. Her grief would run its course, like a fever, and release her when it was spent. He would not shush her or tell her it was God's will and that her da was better off. That was rubbish and they both knew it. When something hurt as bad as this, you had to let it hurt. There were no shortcuts.” DoneHandsMightRunningTogetherSufferingCoursesHurtGriefMinutesGods WillReleaseEaseSatIt HurtsBetter OffFeverRubbishShortcutsPlatitudes Author:Jennifer Donnelly
