#nell

But suspense presupposes uncertainty. No matter how nightmarish the situation, real suspense is impossible when we know in advance that the protagonist will prevail (as we would if Woolrich had used series characters) or will be destroyed. This is why, despite his congenital pessimism, Woolrich manages any number of times to squeeze out an upbeat resolution. Precisely because we can never know whether a particular novel or story will be light or dark, allegre or noir, his work remains hauntingly suspenseful. ("Introduction") ↗

— Francis M. Nevins

#noir #noir-fiction #suspense #pessimism

He takes two steps back. Closer to the portal. I can't stop myself. "Ben," I call. And I'm not even embarrassed about how helpless my voice sounds. Don't go. "I'll come back for you." He takes another step back. "I promise." Stay. "Janelle Tenner," he says. "I will always fucking love you." And then he takes one more step back. Into the portal. And the blackness swallows him whole. ↗

— Elizabeth Norris

#crying #fiction #science-fiction #science-fiction-romance #unraveling

You suck at working with someone," I say, because it's true. ↗

— Elizabeth Norris

#lol-comeback #lol

I'm trying to compliment you," Barclay say. "Can't you just say thanks? ↗

— Elizabeth Norris

#lol #stubborn #lol

I didn't used to be like this. I didn't believe in love and romance and swooning. My default setting was bitch ↗

— Elizabeth Norris

#thoughts-of-the-mind #love

We have had this discussion before. You are my son. I love you. I will always love you. But I also love Nell, and if you give her the chance and stop rejecting her advances, she will take you into her heart as well." "Oh, yeah, like he's going to allow me to do that," I muttered ↗

— Katie MacAlister

#denial #love #nell #vampires #love

All we can do about this nightmare we live in is to create, if we are very lucky, a few islands of love and trust to sustain us and help us forget. But love dies while the lovers go on living, and Woolrich excels at making us watch while relationships corrode. He knew the horrors that both love and lovelessness can breed, yet he created very few irredeemably evil characters; for with whoever loves or needs love, Woolrich identifies, all of that person's dark side notwithstanding. ("Introduction") ↗

— Francis M. Nevins

#crime-fiction #life #noir #noir-fiction #life

Oh, god…” I whimper. “I haven’t done anything yet, baby,” Colton growls. “I know,” I pant. “I was just saying your name. ↗

— Jasinda Wilder

#falling #falling-into-you #funny #haha #hilarious

Dan moans behind me, reminding her of the problem. She straightens in fear at the sound of his voice, peers over my shoulder at the chunk of bloody beef that is Dan Sikorsky. She looks slowly from him to me. “What did you do?” I duck my head, embarrassed. “I sort of lost my temper. ↗

— Jasinda Wilder

#falling #falling-into-you #funny #haha #jasinda-wilder

Books are all the dreams we would most like to have and like dreams they have the power to change consciousness. ↗

— Victor Nell

#victor-nell #change