I’m off to bed with a book, not ‘Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book,’ but ‘Casual Vacancy,’ by J.K. Rowling, this month’s book club selection. So far, I’m in the small world of Pagford, a very English town that has a Dursleyish feeling to it. Already (page 74), someone has died, there’s been references to drugs, sex, large breasts, some very small attitudes and a lost penis. I hope further reading will shed lumos on how all these elements come together, or it will be expelliarmus to the bad book grave under my bed.
It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days…Lightly, lightly—it’s the best advice ever given me. So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly, my darling.
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— Island, Aldous Huxley (via fabula)
Beautifully said.
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As always, Mr. Fry puts it so well.
(Image source: here)
memeengine:
“My dear young fellow,” the Old-Green-Grasshopper said gently, “there are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that you haven’t started wondering about yet.”
-Roald Dahl
…and young or old, it’s the wondering that makes it all worthwhile.
A book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.
You might be surprised to discover the artist of this beautiful, whimsical work…none other than Dr. Seuss. He loved cats and in one book of his art, there were 22 of them. For $1,695 you can purchase a 24”X36” canvas. He inspired millions, turned children’s reading on its head and happily, we’ve never stopped spinning. Introvert, eccentric, wildly creative and miles from any box - (Dr.) Theodore Geisel Seuss.
I have no right to call myself one who knows. I was one who seeks, and I still am, but I no longer seek in the stars or in books; I’m beginning to hear the teachings of my blood pulsing within me. My story isn’t pleasant, it’s not sweet and harmonious like the invented stories; it tastes of folly and bewilderment, of madness and dream, like the life of all people who no longer want to lie to themselves.
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Hermann Hesse
True, true, so very true.
(via franflow)
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Last night the book club I belong to met to discuss “Shantaram,” by Gregory David Roberts. I think we were all in agreement that it was a good story. The group divided ways there, and it was interesting to observe the divide. Some were deeply inspired by Shantaram, inspired beyond the setting in Mumbai, the often flowery metaphor laden language, the characters and drama. Others were more cynical, felt Mr. Roberts was a little full of himself and his liberally sprinkled philosophy. One person mentioned that she had a completely different mental picture of a key character, differing from the book’s description. This comment reminded me of why books are one of my passions, and have the capacity to change lives. Each person reading a book is reading a completely different story. Once the words enter their mind, are processed and mix with their memories, experiences and thoughts they take on a unique life. No two people will read a book in the same way. It doesn’t matter whether the story be fact or fiction, the capacity for transformation is the same. Doctor Stephanie’s prescription today is: Go and pick up a book and see where it takes you.
lizmooremusic:
Thank you all so much for your nice emails and notes and rebloggings yesterday across all the various social media platforms that exist on earth. The paperback of HEFT is now in stores (there it is above, peeking its little orange head out on a Hudson booksellers display) and the giveaways are…
I never do these things, these giveaways. I’m doing this because I’ve been following Liz for a while and I really like her style and turn of phrase - I want to read this book. So Liz, pick me, pick me, I’m the one bobbing up and down at the back of the room with my hand up! Go and have a peek at her blog and you’ll see what I mean.
ghostofthewind:
A nice collection of stories for grown-ups because they need bedtime stories too. So read this weekend.
I can’t get to sleep without reading but I won’t promise you these stories will help you sleep, but they’ll make the wakeful inbetween scary, quirky and interesting. They’re full of unexpected turns and at times, an undercurrent of humour. Support a wonderful book and writer - follow the link to find out more.
