quotes#364451 The Leninsky Prospekt
Viktor had written the poem in his head some time ago; tonight it was the poem he decided he wanted to write down. It would make no difference if the guards came and took his pencil away; it would make no difference if they made him wash the wall or if they painted over the poem. It was hardly legible anyway. He would always have the poem in his head. He would write it down again some place else, another time. Or he would recite it, to tell it to others, again and again, to anyone who would listen, inside prison or out, until they, too, could repeat it. He'd always go on writing, spreading his word, whenever he had the chance. p120
The guards came for him just before he lay down to sleep. They wouldn't throw him into solitary after a cosy night's snooze and a strengthening if shitty breakfast; they'd throw him in now, tired out. Let him soak his feet in the standing, icy water covering the floor, then let him slump all night on the stone bench. The bench was too hard, too narrow, too cold for sleeping. p118
[comment: ah the freedoms we have in life; sleep in warmth; context: political prisoner]
Thursday, July 24, 2008
quotes#475459 The House Has Three Walls
Think of the sun staring at the earth, of it frowning through the clouds, alternating with periods of concentrated effort, day after day willing the seed to burst from the unseen world into the open. And you get an idea of how Judith's Russia was able to flourish and take over the life she led with Neil in the Wairarapa. p23
Think of the sun staring at the earth, of it frowning through the clouds, alternating with periods of concentrated effort, day after day willing the seed to burst from the unseen world into the open. And you get an idea of how Judith's Russia was able to flourish and take over the life she led with Neil in the Wairarapa. p23
passages-that-made-me-wish#066677 from The Last Week in May
And the presents - from Cathal and Gaby, a thing for all the world like a giant furry boot that heated up when you plugged it in. Then you put your feet in, apparently, both of them, and it kept them warm. He'd never heard of such a thing, often wished for some magical solution for his chilly feet. He'd try it out the minute they were gone. p288
She slid the soft-poached duck egg onto the slice of toast. Such laziness, nearly midday and still in her dressing-gown, breakfast on the table when she should have been getting lunch.
Ah, who cared? Who was there to see her, an elderly woman sitting in her own kitchen on a Saturday morning? She picked up her fork and poked it into the egg, watched the dark orange yolk slither slowly over the toast. Such luxury, not to have to rush anywhere. She reached for the salt cellar. p239
And the presents - from Cathal and Gaby, a thing for all the world like a giant furry boot that heated up when you plugged it in. Then you put your feet in, apparently, both of them, and it kept them warm. He'd never heard of such a thing, often wished for some magical solution for his chilly feet. He'd try it out the minute they were gone. p288
She slid the soft-poached duck egg onto the slice of toast. Such laziness, nearly midday and still in her dressing-gown, breakfast on the table when she should have been getting lunch.
Ah, who cared? Who was there to see her, an elderly woman sitting in her own kitchen on a Saturday morning? She picked up her fork and poked it into the egg, watched the dark orange yolk slither slowly over the toast. Such luxury, not to have to rush anywhere. She reached for the salt cellar. p239
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
quotes#937921 Six For Heaven
he was what we called a 'gum-nut' this being the college colloquial for a 'swot' or genuine lover of books. p140
they all gathered in the stable-yard to see us off. If Jake was taking a lady out they were making it a family concern. I made a joke of scrambling into the saddle because I didn't want to look idiotic. Better to laugh at myself, and very loudly, than give them the chance to do it quietly amongst themselves. p120
he was what we called a 'gum-nut' this being the college colloquial for a 'swot' or genuine lover of books. p140
they all gathered in the stable-yard to see us off. If Jake was taking a lady out they were making it a family concern. I made a joke of scrambling into the saddle because I didn't want to look idiotic. Better to laugh at myself, and very loudly, than give them the chance to do it quietly amongst themselves. p120
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
quotes#440424 Pursuit of Happyness
My short-lived life of crime had the fleeting effect of making me grateful for what I had at home and at work. It also taught me the major principle that there ain't so such thing as easy money. Banging on that anvil, that was the way. p164
By this point, I had learned the power of asking questions and knew that the best doctors didn't mind being asked them. p131
My short-lived life of crime had the fleeting effect of making me grateful for what I had at home and at work. It also taught me the major principle that there ain't so such thing as easy money. Banging on that anvil, that was the way. p164
By this point, I had learned the power of asking questions and knew that the best doctors didn't mind being asked them. p131
Saturday, July 12, 2008
quotes#645629 The Pursuit of Happyness
Books, as always, fulfilled my need to find power through knowledge. Over the next few years, I journeyed through black history by reading whatever I could get my hands on. Moms would never discourage me from reading any book, although she was slightly alarmed when I came home with Die Nigger by H. Rap Brown and Soul on Ice by Elridge Cleaver. p94
The full details were never revealed to me or my sisters. All I got from this time was a mechanism for becoming still when scary forces preyed on me. Fear of losing my life, losing the life of a loved one, or the fear of losing everything I have - those fears followed me for years. Stillness has been my refuge and my defense. Even later, as an adult, I would cope by being still. Very still. It's not something I would always feel good about, but it's where I go whenever there's too much chaos around me, when the world seems like crumbling, when I suddenly fear that everything or everyone I cherish is going to be taken from me in the blink of the eye.
I get still. p58
In my twenty-seven years of life so far, I have learned a little already about the power of information and about the kind of currency that information has become. Now I see an opportunity to get some inside information, I think, and so I draw out my trusty sword - a compulsion for question-asking that has been in my survival kit since childhood. p4
Books, as always, fulfilled my need to find power through knowledge. Over the next few years, I journeyed through black history by reading whatever I could get my hands on. Moms would never discourage me from reading any book, although she was slightly alarmed when I came home with Die Nigger by H. Rap Brown and Soul on Ice by Elridge Cleaver. p94
The full details were never revealed to me or my sisters. All I got from this time was a mechanism for becoming still when scary forces preyed on me. Fear of losing my life, losing the life of a loved one, or the fear of losing everything I have - those fears followed me for years. Stillness has been my refuge and my defense. Even later, as an adult, I would cope by being still. Very still. It's not something I would always feel good about, but it's where I go whenever there's too much chaos around me, when the world seems like crumbling, when I suddenly fear that everything or everyone I cherish is going to be taken from me in the blink of the eye.
I get still. p58
In my twenty-seven years of life so far, I have learned a little already about the power of information and about the kind of currency that information has become. Now I see an opportunity to get some inside information, I think, and so I draw out my trusty sword - a compulsion for question-asking that has been in my survival kit since childhood. p4
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
quotes#763381 Dies the Fire
It was good to laugh with friends; good to have some problems that looked solvable, as well. And sometimes the Goddess just gave you a bonus. p343
All you had to do was to stop the part of your mind that was always telling itself stories. p231
"The Mother-of-All's been good to us, Dennie. But She's giving us a message, too. We have to pay back, if we don't want the luck to leave us - threefold return for good or ill." p115
It was good to laugh with friends; good to have some problems that looked solvable, as well. And sometimes the Goddess just gave you a bonus. p343
All you had to do was to stop the part of your mind that was always telling itself stories. p231
"The Mother-of-All's been good to us, Dennie. But She's giving us a message, too. We have to pay back, if we don't want the luck to leave us - threefold return for good or ill." p115
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Birthdays #969532
10th Dad took me to Canterbury Public Library - the old brick one - looked up Cobbs, Seattle
20th Homemade Baileys made by Pip in pub on corner of George St and London St; research done to find the name of it -- Albert Arms
30th Macaroni Grill in Miami, Jackie with us, just newly pregnant with Anneke
40th Wainuiomata Library; family party day before with all the cousins
10th Dad took me to Canterbury Public Library - the old brick one - looked up Cobbs, Seattle
20th Homemade Baileys made by Pip in pub on corner of George St and London St; research done to find the name of it -- Albert Arms
30th Macaroni Grill in Miami, Jackie with us, just newly pregnant with Anneke
40th Wainuiomata Library; family party day before with all the cousins
Friday, June 27, 2008
quotes #934918 Liars & Lovers. A Travel Memoir
On my second-to-last night, Percy and Sarah put on a dinner party for us and some other friends. Their house as I remember it was somewhat chaotic, and perhaps this was why I related so well to them. They were magpies like me, with books and papers and clothes strewn everywhere. It was just the kind of house I aspired to. A house where people lived and loved and made room for everything. p235
"Inshallah," he said again.
"What does that mean?"
"God willing." p208
On my second-to-last night, Percy and Sarah put on a dinner party for us and some other friends. Their house as I remember it was somewhat chaotic, and perhaps this was why I related so well to them. They were magpies like me, with books and papers and clothes strewn everywhere. It was just the kind of house I aspired to. A house where people lived and loved and made room for everything. p235
"Inshallah," he said again.
"What does that mean?"
"God willing." p208
quotes #458950 Liars & Lovers. A Travel Memoir
About ten years later I discovered that I never know what I want to write about until I actually start doing it. Like a sculptor, I have to chip away at the surface until I find the essential form underneath. And usually something in my own life sets off the process. p169
I was also blessed or cursed with good old pragmatism. A particularly New Zealand trait? p106
I think that contrary to common perception, people become more curious as they get older. Maybe it has something to do with too many hormones whizzing round the brain in one's teens and early twenties. p62
About ten years later I discovered that I never know what I want to write about until I actually start doing it. Like a sculptor, I have to chip away at the surface until I find the essential form underneath. And usually something in my own life sets off the process. p169
I was also blessed or cursed with good old pragmatism. A particularly New Zealand trait? p106
I think that contrary to common perception, people become more curious as they get older. Maybe it has something to do with too many hormones whizzing round the brain in one's teens and early twenties. p62
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
quotes #238222
Some quotes from Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing:
During chemo, you're more tired than you've ever been. It's like a cloud passing over the sun, and suddenly you're out. You don't know how you'll answer the door when your groceries are delivered.
But you also find that you're stronger than you've ever been. You're clear. Your mortality is at optimal distance, not up so close that it obscures everything else, but close enough to give you depth perception. Previously, it has taken you weeks, months, or years to discover the meaning of an experience. Now, it's instanteous. p221
The only way for a woman, as for a man, to know herself as a person, is by creative work of her own. -- Betty Friedan p76
"When I asked how my job was, I said, "Okay."
"Really?" he said."
"No," I said. I told him that I wasn't sure I belonged in publishing. "I'm getting worse instead of better."
"You keep talking about whether you're good at this or not," he said. "The real question is, do you enjoy it?"
"I might hate it," I said.He reminded me that I loved books.
"I don't read books," I said. "I read manuscripts that aren't good enough to become books."
"What do you think you'd like to do instead?" he asked.
I said that I'd been thinking about writing a series of pamphlets called "The Loser's Guide." .... p174
Some quotes from Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing:
During chemo, you're more tired than you've ever been. It's like a cloud passing over the sun, and suddenly you're out. You don't know how you'll answer the door when your groceries are delivered.
But you also find that you're stronger than you've ever been. You're clear. Your mortality is at optimal distance, not up so close that it obscures everything else, but close enough to give you depth perception. Previously, it has taken you weeks, months, or years to discover the meaning of an experience. Now, it's instanteous. p221
The only way for a woman, as for a man, to know herself as a person, is by creative work of her own. -- Betty Friedan p76
"When I asked how my job was, I said, "Okay."
"Really?" he said."
"No," I said. I told him that I wasn't sure I belonged in publishing. "I'm getting worse instead of better."
"You keep talking about whether you're good at this or not," he said. "The real question is, do you enjoy it?"
"I might hate it," I said.He reminded me that I loved books.
"I don't read books," I said. "I read manuscripts that aren't good enough to become books."
"What do you think you'd like to do instead?" he asked.
I said that I'd been thinking about writing a series of pamphlets called "The Loser's Guide." .... p174
Monday, June 23, 2008
list #372102
"dearly departed. everything you want to know about the afterlife," by georgina walker, c. 2008 wcl
"the english doctors dilemma," by lucy clark, c. 2004 bc6244429
"the business arrangement," by natasha oakley, c.2005 bc6244431
"the pursuit of happyness," by chris gardner, c. 2006 lcl
"six for heaven," by lucy walker, c.1952 bc5520243
"dearly departed. everything you want to know about the afterlife," by georgina walker, c. 2008 wcl
"the english doctors dilemma," by lucy clark, c. 2004 bc6244429
"the business arrangement," by natasha oakley, c.2005 bc6244431
"the pursuit of happyness," by chris gardner, c. 2006 lcl
"six for heaven," by lucy walker, c.1952 bc5520243
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)