I’ve been a fan of hard-boiled detective fiction ever since taking a noir class in college (easy A). So when a book reporter recently asked me about my favorite quote from a work of fiction, this one from Raymond Chandler’s “Farewell My Lovely” sprang to mind:
“I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun. I put them on and went out of the room.”
I’m sure there are a thousand more literary quotes out there, but not only do I love this one, I’ve often found ways to insert all or parts of it into everyday conversation. I don’t mind the funny looks at all. So, hoping to spark a whole lotta engagement, please weigh in with your favorite book quotes of all time. Ready, steady, go!