Southampton's barrage balloons floated gleaming in the moonlight like the ghosts of elephants and hippos. Elizabeth Wein More Quotes by Elizabeth Wein More Quotes From Elizabeth Wein Hope is the most treacherous thing in the world. It lifts you and lets you plummet. But as long as you're being lifted you don't worry about plummeting. Elizabeth Wein worry long world Oh Julie, wouldn’t I know if you were dead? Wouldn’t I feel it happening, like a jolt of electricity to my heart? Elizabeth Wein electricity heart feels Von Loewe really should know me well enough by now to realize that I am not going to face my execution without a fight. Or with anything remotely resembling dignity. Elizabeth Wein execution fighting faces The very term "turning pages" suggests nonstop action. But I am all about character and beautiful writing. I eat that up like popcorn. Whether a book is action-packed or not, all I need are well-written prose and quirky, fabulous characters to keep me going. Elizabeth Wein writing beautiful book And I envied her that she had chosen her work herself and was doing what she wanted to do. I don't suppose I had any idea what I 'wanted' and so I was chosen, not choosing. There's glory and honor in being chosen. But not much room for free will. Elizabeth Wein honor rooms ideas Don't know how I kept going. You just do. You have to, so you do. Elizabeth Wein know-how knows We are a sensational team. Elizabeth Wein sensational team I tend not to attempt to describe pain. I don't feel I can comprehend or re-create the personal suffering of others, so I simply try to tell what happened, or what I imagine happened. I also think it helps to let the reader fill in a lot of the blanks. Melodrama is patronizing. With a straightforward statement, readers can figure out for themselves what's going on. Elizabeth Wein pain suffering thinking One moment flying in green sunlight, then the sky suddenly grey and dark. Elizabeth Wein flying dark sky Five years of destruction and mayhem, lives lost everywhere, shortages of food and fuel and clothing - and the insane mind behind it just urges us all on and on to more destruction. And we all keep playing. Elizabeth Wein insane mind years It was a rather extraordinary conversation if you think about it -- both of us speaking in code. But not military code, not Intelligence or Resistance code -- just feminine code. Elizabeth Wein resistance military thinking You can come back to friendship. You can let it drop, for five years or ten years, and come back to it. Elizabeth Wein Fight with realistic hope, not to destroy all the world's wrong, but to renew its good. Elizabeth Wein realistic fighting world Look at me!’ I screeched. ‘Look at me, Amadeus von Linden, you sadistic hypocrite, and watch this time! You’re not questioning me now, this isn’t your work, I’m not an enemy agent spewing wireless code! I’m just a minging Scots slag screaming insults at your daughter! So enjoy yourself and watch! Think of Isolde! Think of Isolde and watch! Elizabeth Wein daughter hypocrite thinking Must stop. This ink is amazing, it really doesn't smear, even when you cry on it Elizabeth Wein cry ink I think that what I do is a form of pathetic fallacy, the literary trope in which nature is in sympathy with the mood of the story. I connect the physical setting and props in the story to the emotional state of the characters. Elizabeth Wein emotional character thinking Maddie took the top of her egg off. The hot bright yolk was like summer sun breaking through cloud. The first daffodil in the snow. A gold sovereign wrapped in a white silk handkerchief. She dipped her spoon in it and licked it. Elizabeth Wein eggs summer clouds A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb. Elizabeth Wein climbs stuck I felt like one who wants to trap and cage a little bird, and after years of waiting and luring and baiting finds that she must do no more than hold out her hand, and the finch lands on her finger and does not fly. You scarcely dare to move. It rests on your hand whole and free, foolishly trusting and infinitely courageous. It will never be more beautiful. Elizabeth Wein beautiful hands moving I sometimes think young people are not given nearly enough credit for their ability to appreciate literary flourish. Elizabeth Wein appreciate people thinking
