Thursday, April 3, 2014

Thursday Thoughts...

The wonderful thing about books is that they allow us to enter imaginatively into someone else’s life …. But the real surprise is that we also learn truths about ourselves, about our own lives, that somehow we hadn’t been able to see before. 

Katherine Patterson

Books really are about firing up the imagination, and offering us moments and opportunities for our imaginations to let loose, to wander through other people's lives; explore other cultures and other times.

It is a real wonder and joy to me that books can seriously carry you away - to have you enter into the fear; the joy; the extravagance; and the desolation.  I find it remarkable that a book can transport me far away in my imagination, and in my sense of time and place for the here and now.

Books do let you go away without going away - I often feel as if I have to shake my head a few times and re-think where I am or what I was supposed to be doing after I have been totally absorbed by a book. Re-orienting myself to here and now can take a wee while.

But truthfully, when you react to to something, identify with something or respond in a certain way to something written in a book - it can reveal truths about you and the life you are living, not any imagined one. In these moments I often stop and write down the passage that set me off; that made me think there was more to the words than just the words themselves as part of the narrative - that they held meaning for me and my world.

A little bit of my sub-tropical world…




12 comments:

  1. so true... and what a beautiful world..

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    1. Thanks Caterina - I love that aspect of the back yard - layered greenery...

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  2. A quote that really speaks to me...and what a blessing to occasionally have a real escape without going anywhere. Beautiful photo Fiona...your little part of paradise.

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    1. Thanks Jo, books really do take me away and I love that about them. And yes, each and every day I realise how fortunate we are to have this little part of paradise.

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  3. Your terrace is so beautiful, Fiona, and I am touched by your quote and your words. Just what I needed to read this morning. Thank you...

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    1. Thanks carol- glad that my words met you when you needed them. I love the layers of our terraces (not much else you can do with a slope like ours!) and the green is so luscious at the moment.

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  4. Books are indeed like holidays taking one right away from it all. They give me many AHA moments and like you I'm continually jotting down thoughts and quotes.

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    1. Aha moments indeed Robyn! I have notepads full of quotes, a phone full of quotes and sticky labels allover the place! I like making the connection between books and my own world...

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  5. I love how books take us away ever so quietly

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    1. So true Mo, ever so quietly we escape and return...

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  6. Beautiful words and image Fiona, always such a joy to visit your blog.

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    1. Thanks Louise - it's always good to connect across the waves...

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.