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You know how you read a book, and for weeks, maybe years afterward, that one scene still sticks in your head as clever, awesome, surprising or just amazingly well written?
I love those. I've got a couple dozen favorites from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Even some waaaay back from reading all the original Dragonlance at boarding academy.
Just wondering what scenes stick with you guys the most.
Maybe I'll go read those books, if I haven't already.
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I have this from time to time, but I have such a poor memory that unless I've read a book more than once I can't tell you any specifics.
However, even with that there has always been one scene that stuck in my head, mostly because it was so disturbing, but I admit it's part of what makes it my favorite book ever:
Room 101 from 1984.
If you haven't read it, I'm not going to give away anything because it is the climax of the book. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. It was so ingenious and brilliantly written that yes, I have thought about it for years and it did inspire my first novel. -
Dragonlance!? Dude! I read the first two trilogies and then some waay back in the day. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. I loved those stories. Great characters. You are the first person I've seen mention them in SW.
I feel like going back and reading some again.
And yes, there are many scenes from many books that immediately come to mind when someone mentions them. That is the true sign of a good writer. When story scenes will stay implanted in your mind forever. *nods*
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The end of Poppy Z. Brite's Exquisite Corpse will forever haunt me.
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Best short story--not exactly a scene. The Girl Who Was Tired from the short stories of Katherine Mansfield 1986. Her book went out a print for years and years and is now making a comeback.
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speaking of Dragonlace.... The Linsha Trilogy.... second book... when the bad guy is revealed... I was
whoa! 
The final line of Sherrilyn Kenyon's 'Dream Warrior'. ... talk about a shock that makes you go *what? nooooooooooo!!! Don't end there!!* Clever, very clever, and opens up so many possible storylines. -
Hmmm,
If anyone's read "Impulse"... the ending of that book was brilliantly written and astoundingly surprising.
Also, "The First Stone" by Don Aker. I doubt anyone's heard of it, though Barb may have. The ending of that one made me chuck the book at the wall and cry. Thank god our teacher asked us to write an alternative ending for it
Hmmm..
what else....
Absolutely Positively Not [gay]
When Stephen comes out of the closet it's so funny. He's so nervous what his friend will think, and she hugs him. Then she proceeds to tell her mother and father, and Stephen is ready to explode. Just when her sister walks in, Stephen yells "Don't say anything!" After a moment of silence the little girl says "Did Stephen finally tell everyone he was gay?"
That made me laugh sooooo friggin hard. Okay, I'm done
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The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin. It's a short story that I hate. Not the writing, just the story. It definitely sticks with me. Although I guess I wouldn't call it the best scene/short story ever, it's just one I can't shake no matter how hard I try.
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Oh yes, that one has stuck with me as well. I even wrote a prequel for it in college, just to deal with it.
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I could go on for ages thinking of scenes, but here are a few -
Tolkien's Return of the King: when Eowyn faces off with the Witch King. Epic.
Lots of memorable scenes from the whole series, of course, but that's one of my faves. It was one of the highlights of the movie for me as well.
Jordan's Wheel of Time series: Lots of good memories here, too, but the one I remember most is when Moiraine went through the ter'angreal, largely because it made me want to toss the book across the room. I'm still a little mad at him for that bit, though I recently decided to reread/catch up with the series (it feels like I'm committing myself to a long-term relationship
).
Gaiman's American Gods: The entire book is my favourite, but hmmm, one that really struck me was the trip on the merry-go-round. Confirmed so many suspicions and showed the reader so many wonders. Also, Shadow's days on the tree.
Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The first scene with the bulldozers
Patel's Life of Pi: The discovery about the floating island - never before have I been so disturbed by plants. -
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Oh, yes. Life of Pi was incredibly creepy there...the teeth! Aaah, the teeth! *shudders*
You know that the first book in the "Final trilogy" of the Wheel of Time is coming out this, uh, November I think? I keep expecting Moiraine to show up in each new book I read, unless she's Cyndane or some nonsense. (That letter she sent to Thom Merrilin keeps getting mentioned.) It's so hard to keep track of all the recycled Chosen after a while. -
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I still remember hearing several years ago (after book....11, was it? somewhere around there) that Jordan was planning to finish up the series in one more book. I was not at all shocked when a few months later he announced that he'd need more books to finish it Waaaay too many threads to tie up. I suppose he could squeeze it all into one volume, technically, but no human would be able to lift the enormous book to read it
I waited several books for her to show up and for Rand to become a little more sensible, but was disappointed on both counts. The letter still gives me hope, though, and I realized that I still want to find out how things turn out - I've invested too much time already to turn back now! -
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Yeah, I recall that. One of the books, 10 or 11--the one right after Rand cleansed the taint from Saidin--literally half the book was everyone going ooh, I sense magic, but here's my reason I'm not going to teleport up there and check it out. It was horrible!
Then, the book after that was so action packed, it was nearly dizzying! I've often wondered if he knew he was dying when he wrote that. It's sad that he spent so much of his life on this project, and then couldn't complete it. I'm glad others are finishing it for him, though. It's about as epic as a series can get, though the last few books really dragged for me. I mean, dude. Faile was kidnapped for like 2 1/2 books before she got rescued, and Mat and Tuon dorked around with the circus and flirting for nearly that long.
My favorite race is the Aiel. The Tairens are the most annoying, followed by the Cairhienin. Ugh, too much politics! -
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I think I stopped reading half-way through Faile's kidnapping adventures; honestly, how long does it take you to rescue someone? And as much as I like Mat and his silliness, the circus started to get old. I'm definitely glad the series is still going on, though - it's really a shame that he didn't live to finish it. Quite a legacy to leave behind, though =)
I loved the Aiel, though the fact that I have a soft-spot for desert-dwellers didn't hurt either.
Almost every scene in Cairhien made me grit my teeth - not because of poor writing or plot, but because those people drove me up the wall. I don't blame Moiraine for wanting to get out Didn't hate the Tairens quite as much, but I would never want to live with them.
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Well, not that I'm a Harry Potter fangirl or anything, but I thought it hilarious (for some reason I know not) in the *7th book?* when Ron and Fred and George were talking about Aunt Murial's late husband, and something said something about fireworks coming out of his bottom on the dance floor... I know it sounds immature and not funny at all (you would have to read it). But I know at the time I laughed very hard.
Also, in The Memory Keeper's Daughter when Norah gets drunk. That was very well written. -
I have some strong memories with the end of Of Mice and Men. My teacher thought it would be appropriate for me to read the entire last chapter out loud to the class. I still choke up every time I reread that scene.
There are far too many scenes in Harry Potter than I can recount that have stuck out to me. -
So very many books
Jane Eyre: The scene just after the church when she's been sitting in her cold room and we realize Rochester sat outside the door the whole time. He tempts. He does everything but apologize.
The Love Letter: The device of that letter nobody knew about but everyone had read. "When you tie your shoes" So good.
Most Recently, I read Dreamfever. The scenes where Barrons was curing Mac of being Priya. Oh, my word! -
The scenes that stick in my head are the one that when I'm reading in my bed I have to get up and pace, sweat, and scream I'm so excited or surprised. Too many to think about right now, but my favorite scenes are mainly in "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, and "Things not Seen" by Andrew Clements
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Valkyrie
Jul 24 4:50 PM
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