Hmm... a list of book quotes collected by Leanne Dyck

photo by ldyck

December can be a challenging month for many, including me. So I thought I'd help us start the month on a positive note with this list of quotes--collected since 2012 from the books I've reviewed for this blog. I invite you to select a quote to act as an affirmation. Click on each book's title and the link will take you to my review.

'"Never be so focused on what you're looking for that you overlook the thing you actually find."' State of Wonder, Ann Patchett

'"It's what you learn after you think you know it all that counts."' Short, Holly Goldberg Sloan

 '[A] man finds what he looks for, and he who believes in a ghost will surely find a ghost.' Independent People, Halldor Laxness

'"Parents owe their children everything, always and unconditionally."' The Saturday Night Ghost Club, Craig Davidson

'Many hearts beating together make us stronger.' Indian Horse, Richard Wagamese

'[N]ormal is just a setting on the dryer.' Short, Holly Goldberg Sloan

'It's never the differences between people that surprise us. It's the things that, against all odds, we have in common.'  
Short, Holly Goldberg Sloan

'Do all the good you can/By all the means you can/In all the ways you can/In all the places you can/At all the times you can/To all the people you can/As long as you ever can -John Wesley's Rule' Wonder, RJ Palacio 

'The old us is a new us every day, and we have to accept that we will have a beginning and a middle and an end.' 
Short, Holly Goldberg Sloan

'We are saved by saving others.' Sweep, Jonathan Auxier 

 '"You can't have courage without fear."' Sweep, Jonathan Auxier 

'The goal to be reached and the determination to reach it are brother and sister, and slumber in the same heart.' Independent People, Halldor Laxness

'No matter what happens, the past has a permanence. The past is safe.' An Ocean of Minutes, Thea Lim

 Next Sunday evening...

December 8:  Christmas Secrets (short story)

I wasn't always this fine example of a human being. Next Sunday I'll reveal what a truly horrible child I was. Please don't judge me too harshly.

Sharing my author's journey...

Yesterday, November 30, I entertained a room full of people with my writing during a Storyteller Evening.

Book Review: An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim

'No matter what happens, the past has a permanence. The past is safe.' (p. 235) 

An Ocean of Minutes is a love story--with a strong message: As a couple, you will grow and change--together and separately. But as long as you can find each other... As long as you can still remember the things that made you 'us'... Love will prevail--if only in memory.

Buy this book

I bought this book from Tanner's Books

Published by Viking

an imprint of Penguin Canada

a division of Penguin Random House

Published in 2018

We're familiar with this tale:  Johnny marches off to war so the world will be a better place for his Mary. He and his fellow soldiers endure the unbelievable--physical, emotional pain.

In An Ocean of Minutes, it's the woman, Polly, who makes the sacrifice for her beloved Frank. Frank is sick and could die if he isn't treated. Treatment is beyond the couple's financial means. Desperate, Polly finds a solution. If she goes to work for Time Risers the company will foot the bill. But the company requires her to leave Frank in the past and travel forward in time to 1993. Frank tells her not to go. What will she do? What would you do?

Shortlisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize and longlisted for 2019 CBC Canada Reads, An Ocean of Minutes is a captivating story told by a skilled author. 

photo by ldyck

Next Sunday evening...

Toy (short story) 

After reading this short story you may ask, "Hey, where is that old toy of mine?"