Who Doesn’t Love a Classic?

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is actually all about the ten childhood characters I would love to revisit as adults, but every character I thought of already had another book featuring him/her as an adult. Take Anne for example. I absolutely love Anne of Green Gables, so I thought of Anne immediately, but then remembered that there are seven other books—Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside—all featuring Anne as she grows up, and her growing family. Anyway, I couldn’t come up with a very good list, but it got me thinking all about classics, so I figured I would list some of my favorite old classics instead.

Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read in the Past Year or So

      Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about quotes. I can’t necessarily promise that all these quotes are from books I’ve read in the past year or so, but I’m going to try. So here goes.

1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

        I read this book for the first time this late winter/early spring, and I absolutely loved it. My favorite quote: “Surely you and I are beyond speaking when words are clearly not enough”—Edmund Bertram.

2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

        “I’ve come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is, and always will be, yours”—This quote may only be from the movie, but I just had to add it to this list, because it really does fit into the story so perfectly, and really is my favorite Sense and Sensibility quote.

3. Not by Sight by Kate Breslin

        This may not be the sweetest or most romantic or profound quote, but I just love it so very much. ‘”I call the spot Eden,” he said. “Who could not wish to paint such a paradise?”’

4. The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

        “He bent lower to whisper in her ear, ‘I love you, Queen of Beauty and Love’”—Valten, Earl of Hamiln. Doesn’t that just make you melt?

5. A Lady of Esteem by Kristi Ann Hunter

        “He bowed over her hand and kissed the knuckles. He’d never despised a glove more in his life.”—isn’t this quote just the greatest?!

6. A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

        This quote is just so great. You may have to read the book to fully understand why, but I just love it. “He’d start slow. But he would woo his wife. No matter what personality lay behind the veneer of beauty, she was the only wife he had. And that made her worth it”—Everett Cline.

7. The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

       This is just such a true quote. '"Old things tell a story, Mr. Gilchrist, just as the lives of people do," Miss Iverness's dark eyes were fixed intently on him. "They preserve the past and remind us of how far we have come."'--Camille Iverness

8. When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren

        I absolutely loved this book. And this quote really embodies everything I loved about it. ‘”I think everyone who gets to have dreams should reach for them. I want to help you reach”’—Max Sharpe.

9. The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White

        This quote is my favorite for two simple reasons. It is the perfect example of Justin’s sarcasm, and it just shows how great his and Brook’s relationship really was. “Heaven help me. I’ll be executed. My poor grandfather will expire from the shock of it, the dukedom will go extinct, and it will be all your fault. All because you grin at me and I can’t say no”—Justin Wildon.

10. A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer

         Another perfect quote by the hero of the story. Plus it’s just the epitome of what this book is all about. ‘“Beware, Charlotte Atherton,” Stone murmured as she disappeared around the corner of the barn. “I’m coming for you.” A smile of anticipation stretched across his face. “And I always retrieve what I set out after.”’

         Those are my top ten quotes, and I actually was able to only use quotes from books I’ve read in the past year! What are some of your favorite book quotes?

         Happy Tuesday!

All credit for the photos with the wonderful scenery in the background goes to my wonderful sister, Allie. Check out her blog here.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly linkup at The Broke and the Bookish. 

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Choice

        This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie, and it took me forever to decide what I wanted my list to be. After much thought, debate, and chocolate, I decided to go with something simple. My top ten favorite classics. I’m going to try to keep it from being repetitive, but everyone knows, some authors are just too good to resist.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

        To Kill a Mockingbird is by far my favorite classic of all time. You will never, ever find a fictional novel with more meaning, or will touch you more, than this book. If you haven’t read it yet, you need to drop everything right now and get yourself a copy. You will never regret, or forget, reading this book.

You won’t regret purchasing this novel! Grab a copy here!

2. Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery

        Anne of Green Gables is a classic novel that most girls have read at some point in their lifetime. What many people don’t know, however, is the fact that there are more than just the first book. Anne of Green Gables is wonderful, but there is also Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, Anne of Ingleside, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside—the last two being more about Anne’s children than Anne herself. In my opinion, the later books are even better than the first. But beware, both Anne’s House of Dreams and Rilla of Ingleside—although definitely more Rilla of Ingleside—are real tear-jerkers, so I would be sure to have a box of tissues handy. Honestly, I’d have to say Rilla of Ingleside is probably my favorite of them all, but I have read each and every one at least three times since I purchased them.

You should pick up these books here!

3. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm series by Eric Wiggin

        Another classic series I have read many times since I purchased them, and another book that many people do not know is actually part of a series. Although Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a classic that is fairly well known, not many people have ever even heard of Rebecca of the Brick House and Rebecca Returns to Sunnybrook. As I said about Anne, the later novels are even better than the first, and all are well worth reading. I haven’t read them recently—which makes me want to toss aside my blog to-read list so that I can re-read them once more—but I have so many great memories of all the times I read them, growing up and even after. This is another classic series that you absolutely must read.

You can pick up all the books in this series here!

4. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

        Although I’m not entirely sure that this is considered a classic by the rest of the world, I believe that it is. I read this book for school when I was in my early years of middle school, and I was a bit reluctant at first. A witch? Really? But as soon as I got within the first couple of chapters, I knew that this would be a novel I would love forever. And I still do. I have read it multiple times since then, and I know it will be something I will recommend to my future children.

Snatch up a copy of this book here!

5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

        All seven of these books are by far some of my favorite books of all time. C. S. Lewis is a genius. And The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle are perfect examples of classic, Biblical based literature. They are so, so good. I could read them over and over, even now, despite the fact that they are ‘children’s books’. The movies are wonderful as well, but there is nothing like reading through all the books of this series.

You can pick up all seven of these novels here!

6. The Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott

        Another classic series I have yet to get enough of. I have read all four of these books—Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, and Jo’s Boys—many, many times, and I love them all dearly. Jo’s Boys is by far my favorite, but all of them really are wonderful novels. For those who are curious, the Little Women movie—the really, really good one with Christian Bale and Kirsten Dunst—is based on both Little Women and Good Wives. Anyway, all four of these are really good, and well worth reading.

You can purchase any of these books here!

7. Persuasion by Jane Austen

        Now is when I’m going to start to sound repetitive. Jane Austen is by far my favorite classic novelist, and I have loved everything I’ve read by her (which is all of her books except for one—the only one I don’t own). Persuasion is so, so good, but I cannot say that it is my favorite. I love each one I am going to list pretty much equally, although all for different reasons. The stories are wonderful, and Persuasion is just one of the sweetest stories I have ever read. I read it for the first time a couple of years ago and then read it again less than half a year later, just because I loved it so much, if that tells you anything.

You should check out this book here!

8. Emma by Jane Austen

        Emma is another wonderful example of Jane Austen’s books. Although it might be the longest of them all, it is really so, so good, and is another one I read, and then re-read, all within the span of about a year. Mr. Knightly is amazing, and the entire storyline is just heart-melting. I turn into a little puddle every time I so much as think of this novel. If you haven’t read it yet, you need to re-evaluate your life.

You can purchase a copy of this novel here!

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

        Pride and Prejudice is literally one of the best books I have ever read. And the movie…oh my word I melt just thinking about it. It is by far my favorite movie of all time. I cannot get enough of it and have seen it more than ten times. I’ve read the book quite a few times as well. It is just so, so good. I mean, beyond words good. Jane Austen hit it out of the park with this one (but then, doesn’t she always).

Pick up this book here!

10. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

        Another movie that I absolutely love, this story is one of my favorites as well. While the movie is completely and utterly wonderful, the book is, in my opinion, even better. There are a few things that were left out of the movie that really make the story what it is, and I just really enjoyed reading it, all of the many times that I have. Although the multiple Mr. Dashwoods at the beginning can get a little confusing, once you get past the first chapter it is smooth sailing for a wonderful tale of hearts that are broken before love wins in the end.

You can purchase a copy of this book here!

        So, that’s my top ten list for the week! What are your favorite classics?

        Happy reading and happy Tuesday!

Linking up at Top Ten Tuesday, Bloggers Who Have Inspired Me, and Totally Terrific Tuesdays.