All Lined Up (Rusk University #1) Cora Carmack Selected Quotes

******* MAJOR SPOIL-RELATED QUOTES AHEAD*******

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I’M NOT KIDDING

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ALRIGHT, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

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1. “It’s the college inquisition, and it’s enough to make any recent graduate vow never to visit home again. Unfortunately for me… I don’t have that option.” Seriously, anybody who has gone to college and had to come home during their freshman year has been hit with this and it is so true. Suddenly EVERYONE and their brother wants to know what you are doing and how life at school is going. It’s one of the most frustrating experiences, but reflecting back on my own experiences after reading this was a great laugh!

2. “And I find myself thinking that church is like my kid’s sermon… it parallels my life as a whole. I show up, but I’m not in it. I go through the motions, but my mind wanders elsewhere. I dress and behave in the ways I know won’t get me in trouble. I get by. I bide my time waiting for the moment when it all ends.” As someone who has spent most of my life letting my mind wander rather than pay attention during a church sermon, I really thought this quote hit home. I

think it will with a lot of other people, especially those, like me, who have had to sit through a “Southern”-style sermon on more than one occasion. Hello fire and brimstone.

3. “Because sometimes in life, you just have to stand there and do nothing. Overwhelmed by all the versions of ourselves that exist in our minds—who we want to be, who we should be, who we’re not, and who we are—it’s a jungle that can ensnare your feet and confuse your eyes. But sometimes if you stand still, all those things will snap back into place like a rubber band. And if you can get past the sting, you can keep moving, not quite whole, but held together for the moment.” If I had to pick one profound quote that Cora has ever given us, I would probably pick this one. This is like headstone material. The kind of quote that someone will one day say, “wow, that’s amazing, Cora Carmack must have written it!” Seriously though, I think this is my favorite quote in the entire novel. In my bookmark notes in my ARC I literally typed “Wow Cora, that’s deep”.

4. “That’s a big giant fuck if there ever was one.” Haha! This is one of those PERFECT examples of how Cora has captured the male POV and hit it out of the park. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve said things JUST like this.

5. “Oh shit. Shit taking a shit on a shit.” I don’t even have to explain this one… We’ve all had our laughs about it!

6. “I will never be in that position again. I will never be the person who cares more, because that person is always the one who hurts more.” First off: story of my freaking life! This quote is so true and I think that all readers will be able to relate to it. Be it female OR male. I think this is great.

7. “douche-lobster” Yep. I found it. I am a big fan of altering these phrases. I think “douche-canoe” is my current favorite.

8. “because dear, sweet Jesus riding a unicorn, he’s perfect”. I have a friend who actually speaks this way in her everyday vernacular and every time she comes up with another one of these “euphemisms”, I laugh harder and harder. I told her this one and I’m pretty sure I’ve already heard her say it more than once.

9. “I’ve realized something… We don’t get to know what’s going to happen to us. And anything can come along and ruin our plans, change our world, change us. I’ve given in to you on so many things because I just keep telling myself that I have time. But I can’t keep planning for a future that might never come. That’s not living.” I guess maybe the entire point in reading and analyzing a book is to find a way to relate to it. Something about this book though really spoke to me; it perfectly captures the essence of college: the complete emotional roller coaster that is your freshman year. Freshman year is the most important time of your life for most college kids: first time away from home, first start on your future, but for most, there is ALWAYS something from their past holding them back. I remember that I had SUCH a hard time coming to college. I left a

single parent with 3 younger siblings and a very small community who treated me like a traitor for “getting the Hell outta Dodge”. But now I look back (finished with college) and see all those left back home who never left our town because they thought they would always have time to “leave later”, it really is crazy. Whatever it may be holding you back, it puts a huge strain on you mentally. This quote really stirred up a lot of thought for me! I don’t know about any of you guys!

10. “Silas holds up his hand. ‘There are plenty of things I know about women, but how to deal wuth an angry one is not in my skill set.’”. Preach. It. Brother.

11. This is the quote that almost turned Stella into my favorite character in the entire book. “You’re nowhere near as screwed up as you think you are. This is just what it feels like to get older. It won’t be the last time you look back at your life and realize just how stupid or naïve or terrible you’ve been. I’m pretty sure that’s a reoccurring thing until death do us part. The truth is… we’re all a little screwed up. If humans were capable of being perfect there would be no such thing as Jerry Springer, and the world would be filled with unicorns and fairies, and families would never be broken, and children would never disappoint their parents, and things wouldn’t hurt so badly, but it also wouldn’t feel so damn good when things go right. And friends wouldn’t have anything to stay up late and talk about because everything in the world would be too boring to matter. The only thing we can do is try to find people whose scars compliment our own.” Seriously. Everybody stand up. Everybody. And give Stella a standing ovation. Holy hell. This is awesome. We all need us a friend like Stella! I think this is one of those perfect things you wish you could go back and tell your “freshman year” self. I think Stella is wise beyond her years! Really an awesome quote! Go Cora!

12. “Mornings are the love child of Satan and you.” This is awesome. Despite the fact that I have a job where I go into work at 4am, I am NOT a morning person. Good Lord nothing fires me up like someone waking me up when I’m in desperate need of sleep. I’m with Stella on this one yet again.

There we have it guys. My top 12 quotes from All Lined Up! I’m anxious to hear you guy’s take on it!