These are the most popular passages in our favorite books, according to Amazon
Hey there book lover, are you a highlighter when you read? Do you like to mark your favorite passages? I know some bibliophiles really have a problem with writing in their beloved books. Some people like to keep those pages pristine. Full disclosure: I’m actually one of those people. Which is why I kind of love reading ebooks every now and then. I can highlight passages like crazy without feeling like I’m defiling my lovely books. Believe me, I do highlight. A lot. I’m pretty much a highlighting maniac with my Kindle. I want to remember passages that speak to me, either because of the message or by virtue of the beauty of the author’s language.
Sometimes those passages are universal, maybe because they speak to the human condition or perhaps because the writing is just really gorgeous. Either way, there are definitely favorites out there. Certain book quotes have become familiar literary darlings, and Amazon has given us a peek as to what they are. The company released information to The Atlantic about the most commonly highlighted phrases in popular books. Some of the books are older classics, while others are more recent. (But all are awesome.)
The quotes below represent the single most highlighted passage in the Kindle version of each book they’re from. Drumroll please…
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
“There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.”
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
“Wrong will be right,
when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar,
sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth,
winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane,
we shall have spring again.”
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
“The rules of the Hunger Games are simple. In punishment for the uprising, each of the twelve districts must provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate. The twenty-four tributes will be imprisoned in a vast outdoor arena that could hold anything from a burning desert to a frozen wasteland. Over a period of several weeks, the competitors must fight to the death. The last tribute standing wins.”
The Bible (New International Version—the best-selling electronic version on Amazon)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.”
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
“But of course we can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don’t you put that admirable Cloak back on and get off to bed?”
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K Rowling
“‘Because that’s what Hermione does,’ said Ron, shrugging. ‘When in doubt, go to the library.’”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
”Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
[Images via Goodreads and Columbia Pictures.]
