August 9: Favorite Books that Define You

Watch me rebel this week by listing the authors who have defined me. If I started listing books we’d be here all day and I don’t think we’re ready for that conversation! Consider these authors the most favorite, the ones I can quote without pausing to think, the ones who fill my shelves…the ones whose books helped shape the (admittedly slightly twisted) spaces in my soul.

Robin McKinley

“Roses are for love. Not silly sweet-hearts’ love but the love that makes you and keeps you whole, love that gets you through the worst your life’ll give you and that pours out of you when you’re given the best instead.”
― Robin McKinley, Rose Daughter

“And if my choice is to sit graciously in my best robes and accept the inevitable or to bail a sea with a bucket, give me the bucket.”
― Robin McKinley, Chalice

Tamora Pierce

“Tris: “I was reading.”
Sandry: “You’re always reading. The only way people can ever talk to you is to interrupt.”
Tris: “Then maybe they shouldn’t talk to me.”
― Tamora Pierce, Briar’s Book

“Girls are 50% of the population. We deserve to represent 50% of the heroes.”
― Tamora Pierce

Mercedes Lackey

“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.”
― Mercedes Lackey

“Inexperience can be overcome, ignorance can be enlightened, but prejudice will destroy you.”
― Mercedes Lackey, The Black Gryphon

CS Lewis

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Terry Pratchett

“And that’s when I first learned about evil. It is built into the nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior.”― Terry Pratchett, Unseen Academicals

“The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Diggers

“I meant,” said Ipslore bitterly, “what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?”
Death thought about it.
CATS, he said eventually. CATS ARE NICE.”
― Terry Pratchett, Sourcery

“Aziraphale collected books. If he were totally honest with himself he would have to have admitted that his bookshop was simply somewhere to store them. He was not unusual in this. In order to maintain his cover as a typical second-hand book seller, he used every means short of actual physical violence to prevent customers from making a purchase. Unpleasant damp smells, glowering looks, erratic opening hours – he was incredibly good at it.”
― Terry Pratchett, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch