Claire Legrand · 352 pages
Rating: (3.5K votes)
“But it's hard to leave a place when you're tied to it by fear, when it's broken you with fear, when it's all you've ever known.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“He lived in a dreamer's world of ivory keys and messy shirts, unconcerned with the people around him.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“I am going to die, her brain recited calmly. I am going to be stabbed until I am died. How infuriating. I have so much left to do.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“Being nothing felt quite the same as being something. Maybe she had never been something at all.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“But how can she change a person like that? said Victoria.
She just can. I'd never have thought before, ever, that I could hate music and want to leave it behind, but now--
Lawrence Prewitt, said Victoria. Her voice was shaking, but she stood up and put on such a fierce dazzle that even Donovan seemed to wake up. Don't you dare ever start talking like that again, or when I get out of here, I'll leave you behind with the gofers. Lawrence smiled. I've missed your threats, Vicky.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“This marking, said Victoria, running her finger over a knot in the bark. What does it look like to you?
It looks like a heart, said Lawrence. He put his fingers on the knot too. They brushed Victoria's, and he drew back. I mean, not that I think about things like that, or--well, you know.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.”
Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing.
The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“If you weren't, well, you--I'd want to kiss you right now. It was fortunate that the room was so dark. Victoria's cheeks turned bright red.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“Victoria hated messes. She hated distractions. Friends were the worst distraction of all.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“But you’re supposed to play music, obviously,” said Victoria.
Lawrence looked at her in surprise.
“You mean it? I thought you hated it.”
“I do mean it,” said Victoria. She felt pretty shocked herself. “It’s annoying sometimes—well, a lot of the time, really—but it’s obviously the thing you’re best at, so why shouldn’t you do it?” Embarrassed at how happy Lawrence looked, she tried to smooth the wrinkles out of her dirty pajamas. “I mean, it’s only logical, isn’t it?”
“If you weren’t, well, you—I’d want to kiss you right now.”
It was fortunate that the room was so dark. Victoria’s cheeks turned bright red.
“Well,” she said. “Well.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“They headed back into the maze of gardens. The shrubberies seemed to crawl. Victoria ignored them, pushing past thorns and brambles and suspiciously roachlike leaves, concentrating not on them but on the pinching grip of Lawrence's fingers. Hmm, she thought. I suppose this is actually somewhat useful. She didn't so much mind holding his hand from that moment on.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“You were looking for me?
Victoria wondered if she would be red for the rest of her life. Yes.
Isn't that something. Perfect ice queen Victoria looking for skunkish old me.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“…and so what I really mean is,” finished Lawrence, his face turning quite red, “sometimes, the counselors or professors or Mom and Dad say ‘Don’t you care that you don’t have many friends?’ And I say, ‘Not really. Because I have Vicky.’”
Then Lawrence had folded up the letter and shoved it in his pocket. “So…you know. I mean, I really like that we’re friends is what I’m saying. Happy birthday.”
Victoria had been so embarrassed that she had said, “Well…you…I…that’s very nice,” and then ignored him for the rest of the week.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“Victoria pushed it open the rest of the way and stepped inside. She left it open in case she needed to make a quick exit. The fact that she had to think about things like quick exits infuriated her.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“Wh-wh—“ Victoria tried to say, “What are you doing?” but the words would not come. Fear had seized her and would not let go.
I am going to die, her brain recited calmly. I am going to be stabbed until I am dead. How infuriating. I have so much left to do.”
― Claire Legrand, quote from The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
“Seeing the open pits in the open air, among farms, is the wonder, and seeing the bodies twist free from the soil. The sight of a cleaned clay soldier upright in a museum case is unremarkable, and this is all that future generations will see. No one will display those men crushed beyond repair; no one will display their loose parts; no one will display them crawling from the walls. Future generations will miss the crucial sight of ourselves as rammed earth.”
― Annie Dillard, quote from For the Time Being
“What of your vows of vengeance?" "I'm not adding you to the list, if that's what you're wondering. It's over. I know what I am.”
― Elaine Cunningham, quote from Dark Journey
“I don't think you get to be mad at someone unless they come through for you. I don't think you have that luxury. I think you think you can be mad, but really you're just doing something else."
"What's that?"
"Waiting.”
― Laura Dave, quote from London is the Best City in America
“Today Lord I am going to do my best with Your help and for Your glory. I realize that there are many different people in the world with a variety of opinions and expectations. I will concentrate on being a God-pleaser and not a self-pleaser or man-pleaser. The rest I leave in Your hands lord. Grant me favor with You and with men and continue transforming me into the image of Your dear Son. Thank You Lord.”
― Joyce Meyer, quote from Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing
“The mother smiled at his earnestness - smiled without the least misgiving; for, to her apprehension, the youth was still a boy, to wonder at and admire beauty, without being in the least danger of having his peace of mind disturbed by love.”
― E.D.E.N. Southworth, quote from The Hidden Hand
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