Throwback Thursday – Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Today’s Throwback Thursday post takes me back to high school. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a classic.   It was a required reading back then, and still is today.

Honestly, this book was one of those I dreaded. I wasn’t interested in the content of the book. In fact, I managed to skip out of class during the time the teacher was having literary discussions on it.  I do recall buying the Cliff Notes version and yes, I actually passed the exams.  (Thanks Cliff Notes.)  Of course, I did watch the movie at the end of the semester.  Now, many years later, I can see the literary value behind this book. I chose this as my Throwback Thursday read after spotting it on my son’s shelf.

How many of you have read this book?  Did you read the Cliff Notes version?  Did you watch the movie?

Dark allegory describes the narrator’s journey up the Congo River and his meeting with, and fascination by, Mr. Kurtz, a mysterious personage who dominates the unruly inhabitants of the region. Masterly blend of adventure, character development, psychological penetration. Considered by many Conrad’s finest, most enigmatic story.

 

Best closing lines – What are your favorites?

As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to keep my students motivated.  I recently had my students find their favorite closing lines from books they read.  They actually loved this activity and it got some of my reluctant readers to read and participate.  While they compiled their lines, I did too.

Here are some of my favorite closing lines from books. I have decided to mix it up since that is exactly what my library looks like, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I love all genres.  **Note, if you haven’t read some of the books listed, these closing lines may be spoilers.

I used to dream of medals and championships, and now I dream of a blue-eyed fighter who one day changed my life when he put his lips on mine.

Mine, Katy Evans

Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye and sailed back over a year and in and out of weeks and through a day and into the night of his very own room where he found his supper waiting for him—and it was still hot.

Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak

I looked into his eyes, as full of love and hope as they were the year before, “One down, forever to go,” I whispered back.

A Beautiful Wedding, Jamie McGuire

In the meantime, she would just live.

P.S. I Love You, Cecelia Ahern

You are loved.

Bound by Wish and Mistletoe, Kat Bastion

For a moment, neither of them spoke, and he found himself holding his breath just so he could hear hers.  “I love you, too, ” she whispered.  “Babe,” he said softly. “Yeah.”

Unbeautifully, Madeline Sheehan

 

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

The Great Gatsby, F.Scott Fitzgerald

Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this.

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

It is no wonder that in Spanish, esperanza means “hope.”

Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan

Lauren Marie Day, you have come into my life like a whirlwind, you have flipped my world, my thoughts and my heart upside down, you have woken something in me that I thought was long dead, you have brought me back to life, I love you more with every beat of my heart and I cannot and do not want to imagine my life without you in it.  I want to be with you forever, please would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?

Saviour, Lesley Jones

The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the utmost ends of the earth flowed sombre under an overcast sky — seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness.

Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

What are some of your favorite closing lines?  Leave a comment.  I’d love to know.

~Susi