Over at YA Highway, this week’s road trip asked readers what their favorite display of affection in a YA book was.
Because I’m indecisive (at least when it comes to books), I’m going to list two–one from Going Bovine by Libba Bray and and one from The Princess Bride by William Goldman (even though I do not, personally, classify it as YA).
These may be slightly spoilerish. You have been warned.
Going Bovine
“Dulcie?” I call. Already, I miss the feel of her skin against mine.
The sheets are a rumpled mess. I slept hard. On the pillow is one pink-tinged feather. It smells like rain and laughter and the unexpected. It smells like Dulcie. There’s no note on it this time. No secret code. I don’t need it. My jeans are on the floor; I slip the feather into my back pocket for safekeeping.
Dulcie is one of my favorite characters in recent years. In fact, she’s the reason I bought Going Bovine. I was flipping through it at the bookstore, stumbled upon a Dulcie scene, and was immediately taken with the idea of a punk angel.
What I love about this scene is how intimate and sentimental a gesture it is. It’s so very far removed from the Cameron we got to know in the first half of the book.
The Princess Bride
With no more words, she whirled into his arms, then, saying, “Oh Westley, I didn’t mean that, I didn’t, I didn’t, not a single syllabub of it.”
Now Westley knew she meant to say “not a single syllable of it,” because a syllabub was something you ate, with cream and wine mixed in to form the base. But he also knew an apology when he heard one. So he held her very close, and shut his loving eyes, and only whispered, “I knew it was false, believe me, every single syllabub.”
And if you don’t know why I adore that little snip, there’s really nothing I can do to explain it.
10 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 11, 2010 at 12:01 am
Kate
You know, I have never read the Princess Bride? Movie from memory, sure, but I should read the book. Thanks for playing! 🙂
February 11, 2010 at 12:24 am
stopdropandplot
It’s one of my most underlined books. It’s so full of wondrous wit and snark.
February 11, 2010 at 12:02 am
houndrat
Aw, The Princess Bride–such an awesome book! 😀 Fun, maybe I’ll do this later this week….um, only, I guess that would make it road-trip Thursday, huh?
Curses.
February 11, 2010 at 12:24 am
stopdropandplot
lol I think I might do a sequel post with my favorite scenes of affection from my adult bookshelves. It’s a great topic!
February 11, 2010 at 12:10 am
Kaitlin
omg The Princess Bride. That just made me want to read the book again. …The movie is more accessible, staring at me innocently from my shelf.
Glad you joined in with RTW!
February 11, 2010 at 12:26 am
stopdropandplot
The only problem with the movie is that I always want to read the book after watching it. Sometimes I compromise and just read my favorite bits.
And I’m glad too! It was such a great topic. 🙂
February 11, 2010 at 12:15 am
bclement412
The Princess Bride! I love it 😀
February 11, 2010 at 12:26 am
stopdropandplot
Definitely in my top ten list. Maybe even top five.
February 11, 2010 at 1:48 am
Raven
The Princess Bride is my favorite movie, but I haven’t read the book yet. It’s on my list. Awe, that was such a cute scene.
February 11, 2010 at 2:25 am
stopdropandplot
You have to read it. That way you can join my “There is no S. Morgenstern” Club. It’s got a very small membership but I’m thinking of making t-shirts.