Susan Sarah back again....
For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been telling my husband and kids –- I may look like I’m here, but I’m not really here: I'm in Scotland. But they see a shadowy figure, muttering under her breath, walking around in socks that don’t match, in a slouchy sweater that belongs to one of several males in the household (been wearing it for days and he’s not getting it back soon)...she wanders down to the kitchen for a cup of tea and drift upstairs again, ignoring all but the most crucial domestic issues, and she's never quite sure how many college kids are in the house (still on winter break! acckk!)...they're up at all hours, and so is she, the wandering, mumbling author-in-residence on a deadline.
Well, it's not that bad but getting close. I’m in the throes of finishing a manuscript. This book desperately needs to be finished so that I can once more live a normal life. The Deadline Tunnel is looking pretty long on this one before I see light again. There's a point where it feels like the book will never end and I’ll be wandering, muttering, and wearing this same sweater into infinity. And I so very much want to type “The End”....
To be honest I’ve never actually typed “The End” on any book I’ve ever written. Yet writing the last line of a book is a wonderful feeling.
Recently I took a break from my own book to browse through my bookshelves looking for a blog idea for today...and found myself checking out last lines of other novels. And Susan Miranda, who is a good pal (and owes me an idea for the Mondegreens anyway *g*) suggested that I post them as a game on the blog.
So here are some ending lines of novels. See if you can guess what books they come from!
A few general hints: the quotes are the last lines of books we've probably all read, or can easily recognize. They're from classics of either literature, or classics of their genre, and the authors’ voices are clear enough that even if you haven’t read it, you can probably make a good guess. Since you all are a widely read and very intelligent bunch, you’ll probably whip through these in no time.
It's a bit like literature class: name these last lines of assigned novels for 5 points. No peeking, the clock is ticking -- soon you'll have to put those pencils down!
But YOU have all day, and no red pencils or grades to dread. Have fun!
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1.Then shouldering their burdens, they set off, seeking a path that would bring them over the grey hills of the Emyn Muil, and down into the Land of Shadows.
2. But, in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union.
3. And the ashes blew toward us like the salt wind from the sea.
4. They said that among the world's kings, he was the mildest and gentlest of men, most kind to his people, and most eager for praise.
5. As soon as they had strength they arose, joined hands again, and went on.
6. "My Master," he says, "has forewarned me. Daily he announces more distinctly,--'Surely I come quickly!' and hourly I more eagerly respond,--'Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus!'"
7. It was undoubtedly better to be the seventh Duke of Sale than a sweep’s apprentice, but he was much inclined to think that to have been plain Mr. Dash, of Nowhere in Particular, would have been preferable to either of these callings.
8. "After all, tomorrow is another day."
9. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.
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I will post the answers in the comment section around midnight tonight, Wednesday.
Then I’ll choose a random name from among those who have posted a list of answers (you don’t have to get them all right, and try to answer each one) –- and I’ll send the winner an autographed copy of one of my own books.
This will be a novel that I've actually finished at some earlier date -– a reminder to myself that I’ve gotten to the last line before, and I can do it again!
This would be a fun game to play again, using themes like Historical Romance Favorites, Classic Historical Fiction, Classic Mysteries -- and of course, Books by Word Wenches!
Good luck!
~Susan Sarah