Welcome back, one and all, to my humble blog.
Some of you may be dismayed and some shall be greatly delighted by today’s topic.
In short: we’re not even close to being done with Emma M. Lion. Brace yourselves, for I’m about to dump on you what WordPress believes is seven minutes worth of quotes *nods*
I have chosen to leave out a few quotes (primarily the ones that were just me highlighting anything even slightly significant that Hawkes did and one really long section that is quite the spoiler), but for the most part, these are all my highlights from volumes six and seven (no that wasn’t intentional. I was impatient with the library system and used my mother’s kindle unlimited to read the volumes that just HAPPENED to correspond to a nonsensical…thing. *glares at anyone who assumes otherwise*)
I would like to dedicate this post to Journey Bloomfield. She was persuaded to read the first Emma M. Lion book after my first post. She is now delightfully ensnared. Huzzah!! Three cheers for Journey and Emma!!
And now to the quotes.
Amusing
“When one’s life is threatened by the abysmally ridiculous, one needs large quantities of ink.”
I like how Beth knows that chronicling events in journals can take literal hours and much ink. ‘Tis not easy to write down an entire day’s worth of interesting things. I’ve tried…just one sleepover takes an hour to write and fills at least nine pages *nods*
“I almost offered to move to a different bench [upon having been confronted by an unsavory individual in the park]. That’s a lie. Part of me did not wish to cede ground. Petty, I think. And below who I aspire to be on Mondays and Thursdays.”
I wonder who she strives to be on other days. Is a Wednesday Emma different from a Thursday Emma??
Bookish
“I sit at the very top of a fresh month with a choice before me. One which very well may have an impact on the whole of my existence. Which book do I read next?”
What a choice. The gravity involved here.
“The idea that one could live in a world where a friend would invite you to go read in another’s library feels more dream than reality. It bodes well for my life’s prospects.”
Mine as well. If only we still had libraries like they did back then. I only have a bookshelf…it doesn’t have the same ring to it to invite someone to go read by another’s bookshelf.
“There is no feeling quite like finishing a book that you’ve loved.”
A joyous and yet tragic occasion. I found myself having to hug the final volume of Emma M. Lion after finishing it.
Miscellaneous
“Some things must wring out every last ounce before the end. But your mettle is proven, Miss Lion. You will be weighed and not found wanting. Memories are preserved, sacrifices are honoured, and all the moments before half-open windows are known. In the end, all is mended.”
I feel like this is an Islington quote. Not sure though.
[Edit: the marvelous Stephanie has informed me that Hawkes says this to Emma. Of course it was Hawkes]
“We all cast shadows from our past, only how difficult a thing it is to let others see them.”
Reminds me of quotes from Dust, by Kara Swanson. Any Peter Pan fans in the house??
“Something in my heart untwisted when he said the word home.”
*sobs* I don’t remember who this mysterious “he” is…
“A year is such an odd packet of time. It seems so ordered: a dozen months, a handful of seasons. Deceptively even. Make no mistake, it will go awry every which way. Balance? Impossible. Control? Not worth mentioning the word. Some days cling and others run, many shifting just enough to incommode but give no great variety. And then out of the pedestrian blue comes an explosion which reduces all plans to smithereens. The reward for making it through? Getting to do it again.”
There’s honestly nothing else to say about that one.
“Yes, well, I think we can both agree that damaged items still hold value.”
Again, suspected Islington quote. Someone confirm this stuff for me.
[Edit: Apparently Islington did and said nothing of note in these two books, for the self-same Stephanie informed me that this was said by Emma to The Pirate *shrugs*]
“…there is never time for what one plans to do, only what one does.”
Unfortunately this is too true. It feels like an elusive statement until someone actually puts it to words; then it becomes obvious.
“If you want quality, you must work for it. You wake and you strive and you make decisions to sacrifice. An easy life will never bring the kind of satisfaction the soul craves. I despise people who lounge all day as if there weren’t more important ideas than comfort, complacency, and appetite. Stretch yourself! Be industrious! Do something!”
I’m very interested in remembering who said this one. I could tell you a few people it most certainly isn’t; but past that I’m clueless. I need to reread this series, folks.
“I think one feels many things one does not always understand.”
Especially when putting oneself through emotional torture by reading Emma M. Lion.
“I am ready now that sleep has come for me and will go gladly.”
This probably hits harder with context.
“I and this mystery, here we stand.”
The last line of Volume 7, I believe. Sums up neatly my relationship with nearly everyone’s backstories.
Pierce
“‘You!’ I exclaimed. ‘And your brooding past and limp, quoting Whitman! Who has any defence? You, untranslatable?’ I lifted my hands. ‘Yes, you are. Like the Rosetta Stone. I can’t figure out how to tally the light and shadow you use as currency.'”
AAAHHH THE LIGHT AND SHADOW YOU USE AS CURRENCY HOW PERFECT OF A PHRASE IS THAT
“There are two sides to Pierce’s coin. The first being stalwart friend, the one who walks the streets of London with you until he’s limping from pain, because he knows you need miles beneath the soles of your feet to clear the sorrow in your chest. The second was the man standing before me tonight. The one who gathers storm from the four corners of the earth and sends it rolling. Who can’t help but bring the feeling of wind and rain, his eyes like silver pavement. And while the crash of weather is intoxicating, I can’t help but wonder if anyone has ever drowned?”
I just love the friendship in this series. Admirable. And what a turn of phrase. I can’t even describe how much I love Beth’s writing style.
“Mary shrugged her shoulders. ‘You know those rare afternoons when sunlight is slanting across the fields but it’s raining? It always feels like such a thing should be impossible, and no matter what else has happened that day, you feel absurdly happy? That is how you look now, thinking of him [Pierce, probably].’ It was an apt description. Sunlight in rain.”
I adore this way to describe Emma and Pierce. Sunlight in rain, indeed.
Hawkes
“They [Hawkes’ words] wrap around the unexpected inflections of his voice, eager, offering their best cadence and lilt and soul. They know him well, and he them. Almost as if words are the one thing in his life he has never had to push away. He speaks words the way they pound in my chest. And it feels like a miracle, finding such a dear part of oneself walking around in someone else’s body.”
Beth Brower has such a way with, well, words.
“All the while, Hawkes continued to stare thoughtfully at the ceiling as if he weren’t done thinking of stowaways and distant places, as if he could see the stars.”
Stowaways and distant places and stars. The beauty of it all.
“I wish Hawkes constellations, and poetry, and wonder, and much more sleep than he presently finds.”
Oh me too, Emma, with all my heart me too.
“It’s one of the miracles Hawkes performs. He picks you up, dusts you off, and gives you whatever is needed before he disappears into thin air.”
It’s almost as if Hawkes thrives on helping others while neglecting himself. SOMEONE GIVE HIM A HUG. OR AT LEAST SIT NEXT TO HIM COMPANIONABLY WHILE HE READS A BOOK.
“Hawkes gave me his slow half-smile. ‘The world needs more heroic deeds.'”
Too true, Hawkes (but the half-smile!! *dies of joy*)
“…he’s Hawkes. Brilliant, elusive Hawkes. Who spends his days hiding in St. Crispian’s preaching poetry and speaking elysian sermons.”
Whoever is doing the talking here (Emma or Islington, I suspect) is absolutely right. Brilliant word choices. I don’t even know what elysian means, but I’m sure it’s wonderful (upon googling the definition, I have learned that it means having to do with heaven/paradise. I like how the word elysian appears…very aesthetically pleasing).
“What he [Hawkes, I believe] feels for his small tribe is a deep thing. Fathomless.”
And I you, Hawkes. Would that I lived in St. Crispian’s.
Islington
I regret to inform you all that I actually am not certain any of these belong to Islington. I suspect a few of them were his (as I commented above), but it’s been too long and I have a short memory. Alas. This goes to show that Islington was not the main player in these two volumes. Lots of game changing stuff with Pierce. And I’ll make all of them about Hawkes, whether or not he’s in them much. Never fear, I do still adore Islington!!
Coda
So there you have it. Journey: now you are likely mad with wondering how those quotes and phrases fit into the grand scheme of things. I would say read faster, but I don’t wish for you to speed through Emma. So I suppose I shall merely say, I hope you enjoyed that.
I also hope any other people who remained through all that enjoyed it. If you aren’t convinced about Emma now, I’m not sure I can win you over.
Cheers!!
Ava
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24 Responses
My comment is not here. *Glances about in astonishment*
Is it perhaps lost in The Spam Folder O Doom???? Will we ever know its fate???
Oh wait!!! I had the comment saved somewhere else. Rejoice!!!
Le comment:
IT’S THE QUOTES!!!!!!!!!!! THEY’RE HERE!!!!!!! Leaps for joy
And. . .sniff dedicated to me? Aww, thanks Ava!!!!! 😊 I am glad to have been swept up in the Emmaness.
These are brilliant. Positively brilliant, I do say. Tips hat to you for collecting them
This is making me even more excited to read the rest of them!! (I’m going to start volume three once I’m sure I have a free three hours. Stopping midst Islington or Pierce or Hawkes is a crying shame.)
Anyhow, I’ve never had anything dedicated to me before, and I find I quite enjoy the experience. 😉 THANK YOU for compiling these, you have made my evening!!! I was already mad before, so no worries there. And your comments on the quotes make them that much more enjoyable. You have picked the very best ones, of that I am sure. Perhaps, eventually, I shall have the time to compile my own quotes. (In which case I shall of course dedicate them to you, because how could I not, at this point?)
May your bookshelf never be as empty as Emma’s, my friend!!!
You seem to have quite the tenuous relationship with comments. They’re always disappearing on you…
Yes!! To you!! You’re most welcome!! My one job in life is to introduce you to new fandoms and then torture you with snippets of what is to come. ‘Twas quite my pleasure!! I had a lot of fun with it!! I need a reread, and this was the only way I could think of to immerse myself in St. Crispian’s short of reading free previews on Amazon. I’d like to think that they’re the best…?? Probably better with context lol. For each Hawkes quote that I included, I cut at least one snippet of him doing something that either led to me thinking, “Aw I love Hawkes isn’t he most worthy of adoration” or “YES THAT RIGHT THERE THAT MEANS SOMETHING THIS SHIP HAS POTENTIAL LET’S GOOOO” 😂 I would love to see your quotes at some point. I’ll be waiting. 😊
I actually just took almost half of my books off of my shelf as props in a mini-photo shoot my mother did of me…she had me lay them all out around me and it looked really cool. But now I have two almost empty shelves and two very tall stacks of books on my floor because I haven’t prioritized putting them all back in the right order yet 😜 My shelf still has more books than Emma tho.
Indeed I do. A tenuous relationship with the internet in general, I’m afraid. It doesn’t seem to like me much. . .
Well someone ought to. I am constantly in need of new obsessions. I appreciate you stepping up to the task. I feel like as soon as I get back to the States I simply must buy all the Emma books. I need the physical versions to flip through!!!! There is more Hawkes in volume 3. (Or am I on 4. . .?) Hawkes is one of those characters whom you adore more the more you read. (HOW does Beth Brower create such loveable characters? I don’t even love my own characters this much!!!)
Perhaps I shall finish the whole series and then pick from my selected quotes. . . (It would be so cruel to make you wait that long. . .) Alas, I have also been tagged for two things, and I have been seriously neglecting the ‘writing advice’ side of my poor blog. It is all in a muddle because I really just want to use it to obsess over books. . . (Which might not perhaps be SUCH a bad thing. . . Still.) Oh, one of my friends is reading the series, and has promised a review in the near future! I shall send you the link when it arrives, if you would like.
I have long wanted to do a ‘look at all my great books!’ picture, but have not gotten around to it yet. Right now it would be rather sad, as I only have. . . Five books? I took seven with me, but abandoned two because I bought two, and I needed room. (I did not love either of them, so twas not all that tragic, thankfully.) I have decided to get one book from each country we visit. Perhaps some day I shall do a ‘look at all my great books from other countries’ picture.
I am so glad of this. Also Emma has. . . Five books now, I think, which makes me most happy. (She deserves lots of books.)
Eventually, I am sure, they shall find their way back onto the shelves. (If I may ask, how do you sort your books? By color? Size? Author?)
Well, size and preference and genre. But I really only have one genre… fantasy. XD
COLOR?!?!?! NEVER BY COLOR, JOURNEY BLOOMFIELD!!! NEVER!!!!!!! (lol no one asked me… but I saw ‘sorting by color’ and freaked out. XD) YOU WOULD BE SPLITTING UP SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Size. Always by size. Largest on the left, smallest on the right. And also standalones and series. Series ALWAYS stick together (especially the Warriors series!!! If you put the spines together, they form a most glorious picture). sometimes I shall have a standalone between them. And then after the series are the standalones with the very pretty spines. And standalones with ordinary spines are… eh, scattered about here and there. I am somehow always able to find my books though, despite my most random sorting. XD
I have an admission to make. I once organized my bookshelf by color. For funsies. And it was. Totally destroyed any semblance of organization, but enjoyable. An excuse to hang out with all my books for an afternoon. I’m about due for another bookshelf reorganization…maybe after Christmas. Size?? Not preference or genre?? Curious, Isabelle…
Haha. I actually have limited book-organizing skills, because of space. Usually it’s by series though. Any excuse to be with books is a good one!!
I’m bookmarking this post for later, once I’ve read further in the series! Can’t wait to fangirl in the near future!!!!
🫡 I eagerly await your return!! Here’s to Emma M. Lion!!
Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYY MORE EMMA M. LION!!! I LOVE Emma M. Lion!!! I literally just posted a review of book one on my blog a little earlier this week!!! And I simply adore these quotes! And lol, now I want to do a post of my favorite quotes from Emma M. Lion. XD
I adore Emma M. Lion. She is literally the best thing that has ever happened to my fictional wanderings. SHE IS AMAZING!!! Ooh, a review you say?? Allow me to investigate… *pops over to your blog*
And oh please I beg you give us quotes. I’m still waiting for quotes from Journey. She’s on…book six??
Lol, Journey has finished book eight now, I believe…. And has read The Scene in book eight, if you know what I mean. (Oh my STARS, The Scene in book eight….. T.T *SOB* You know, the one with Pierce and his father?) And yesssss, Emma M. Lion is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaand now I must go and collect quotes. Maybe I should do a post where I just collect all my favorite bookish quotes lol.
Yeah she sent me an email on Tuesday telling me she had finished. YES THE SCENE!!! So painful. It made a lot of sense of Pierce, but *grabs heart* heartbreaking. Pretty sure I had to close the book and hug it after reading that bit.
Yessss gives us all the quotes, precious!!! We wants them!!! (too much Gollum, do you think??)
*leaps up and down with delight*
YES PRECIOUS WE WANTS IT PRECIOUSSSSS!!!
…is it wrong that I am a bit tired of hearing of LOTR at the moment? 😂 I fear I am not a mega fan of the series… and have only started watching the movies due to all my friends knowing LOTR and me feeling very….. meh, about the series. :/
Don’t worry, she’s been converted now. (Rejoice!!)
should I read these books? Those quotes are so good I think I’m sold! Now to just add it to my long TBR 😅😜
Yes oh do please read them!! (book one is a lot of worldbuilding, so if you’re not entirely sold after that, please attempt book two)
*squeals and fangirls over Emma*
oh my goodness I love these books so much!!!🥹🤩😁
Those quotes are all so beautiful. Thank you for sharing them!💕
*fangirls with you* Thank you!! ‘Twas truly my pleasure. I had a lot of fun deciding which ones to keep!!
“Some things must wring out every last ounce before the end. But your mettle is proven, Miss Lion. You will be weighed and not found wanting. Memories are preserved, sacrifices are honoured, and all the moments before half-open windows are known. In the end, all is mended.” – this was said by Hawkes to Emma
“Yes, well, I think we can both agree that damaged items still hold value.” – this was said by Emma to The Pirate AKA Ben Chambers.
I highly recommend listening to the audio books. They are absolutely marvelous. The narrator brings life to each character. I’ve read through the entire series once, listened to the audio book of each volume (currently on 7) and then read each volume again. I have not tired of Emma and don’t think I ever will.
You, my friend, are an absolute gem. Many thanks.
I do wish to investigate the audio books at some point. Our library system that covers nearly half the state only has two hard copies of the series and I have no audio services…but one day I will!! I don’t think I shall ever tire of Emma either. She is delightful every time.