1.25.2013

"The Likeness" Tana French

"Our entire society's based on discontent: people wanting more and more and more, being constantly dissatisfied with their homes, their bodies, their decor, their clothes, everything.  Taking it for granted that that's the whole point of life, never to be satisfied.  If you're perfectly happy with what you've got- specially if what you've got isn't even all that spectacular- then you're dangerous.  You're breaking all the rules, you're undermining the sacred economy, you're challenging every assumption that society's build on."

1.14.2013

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan

"He paused, then added, 'Some of them are working very hard indeed.'  'What are they doing?'  'My boy!' he said, eyebrows raised.  As if nothing could be more obvious:  'They are reading."

"Your life must be an open city, with all sorts of ways to wander."

The Blood Split, Asa Larsson

"It's remarkable.  The whole summer has been a list of things to do.  One by one she's ticked them off.  Tears weren't on the list.  They put themselves there.  She didn't want them.  She's afraid of them.  Afraid of drowning in them.

And when they came.  At first they were horrible, and an unbearable torment, darkness.  But then.  Then the tears became a refuge.  A place to rest.  A waiting room before the next thing on the list.  Then a part of her suddenly wanted to stay there among the tears.  Put off the other thing which is going to happen.  And then the tears leave her.  Say:  that's it, then.  And just stop."