Quotes, past and current.
From Julian Barnes, The Lemon Table
“Geese would be beautiful if cranes did not exist.”
Julian Barnes would be the crane of literary fiction writers in this example. Not sure why my Goodreads review of this collection is suddenly getting some “likes” but I’m thrilled to be taken back this simple, but beautiful thought. I loved this collection of stories and I’m thinking I may need another Barnes fix.
From Laura Moriarty, The Chaperone
“The young can cut you with their unrounded edges…but they can also push you right up to the window of the future and push you through.”
Another old Goodreads review that popped up this week. I still haven’t figured out why this short review remains one of my most liked , but since I’ve been thinking a lot about how my sons are too quickly maturing from boys to men, this quote resonates with me. I give them much credit for pushing me right into the future.
From Ruth Ozeki, “A Conversation with Ruth Ozeki” at the end of My Year of Meats
“I want to write novels that engage the emotions and the intellect, and that means going head to head with the chaos of evils and issues that threaten to overpower us all. And if they threaten to overpower the characters, then I have to make the characters stronger.”
No surprise that she perfectly describes why I love reading her books so much. Her books engage me on multiple levels with just the right amount of chaos, strength of character and story resolution.
From Lisa See, China Dolls
“Dreamers are born to be disappointed.”
This is such a melancholy thought and it’s the one that underlies most of the novel. It’s the flip side of my usual “dare to dream” approach to living. It just made me think.
From Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
“Let the wild rumpus start!”
My favorite Goodreads quote of the day this week. I read it and felt a whirlwind of emotional recall. I remember reading it repeatedly as a child and then sharing with my own sons. This book captured all our imaginations. (And, it’s a great quote to start the weekend!)
Looking for more great quotes?
Check out: Thursday Quotables at Bookshelf Fantasies or Every Day Has. You can also find bookish quotes on Book Quotes Hub.
I’d love to know what lines have caught your attention.
alenaslife 
Dreamers. Disappointment. Why, the two would make a great oxymoron!
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Right? It seems to be at odds with itself, but I can’t get the words out of my head.
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