“When a reader falls in love with a book, it leaves its essence inside him, like radioactive fallout in an arable field, and after that there are certain crops that will no longer grow in him, while other, stranger, more fantastic growths may occasionally be produced.”
Salman Rushdie
This quote has been in my quote-bank for years I think, but I have avoided using it because of the harshness of the imagery evoked by radioactive fallout.
Today is Hiroshima Day, and my Thursday Thoughts are about books, so I figure I will never find a better time to ponder about it.
This morning Barry and I gonged our peace bell, at the exact same time as they rang the peace bell in the Peace Park in Hiroshima, a gentle link of peaceful vibrations across the world. The man who made our bell and who we have visited, also made the pitch perfect bell at the Peace Park - so special.
Today I read the words again and tried to find something that makes some sense on this day. We have visited the Museum and the mounds and the peace cranes in the Peace Park at Hiroshima and it is so hard to imagine that radioactive fallout can grow anything beautiful or fantastical. Grotesque, damaged, deformed. Those words seem to capture what happens to new growth after nuclear fall out.
Certainly some things will never grow again.
I love books and have fallen in love with books. Many books have left their mark on me, their essence left inside me. That part of the quote I like.
The rest of the quote I don't like and can't imagine why you might choose those words to describe what a book can do...
I looked at lots of dark images form Hiroshima to go along with this post; but decided there was already too much darkness. This is a portion of a sculpture at the Peace Park - softer, gentler and more hopeful...
Salman Rushdie
This quote has been in my quote-bank for years I think, but I have avoided using it because of the harshness of the imagery evoked by radioactive fallout.
Today is Hiroshima Day, and my Thursday Thoughts are about books, so I figure I will never find a better time to ponder about it.
This morning Barry and I gonged our peace bell, at the exact same time as they rang the peace bell in the Peace Park in Hiroshima, a gentle link of peaceful vibrations across the world. The man who made our bell and who we have visited, also made the pitch perfect bell at the Peace Park - so special.
Today I read the words again and tried to find something that makes some sense on this day. We have visited the Museum and the mounds and the peace cranes in the Peace Park at Hiroshima and it is so hard to imagine that radioactive fallout can grow anything beautiful or fantastical. Grotesque, damaged, deformed. Those words seem to capture what happens to new growth after nuclear fall out.
Certainly some things will never grow again.
I love books and have fallen in love with books. Many books have left their mark on me, their essence left inside me. That part of the quote I like.
The rest of the quote I don't like and can't imagine why you might choose those words to describe what a book can do...
I looked at lots of dark images form Hiroshima to go along with this post; but decided there was already too much darkness. This is a portion of a sculpture at the Peace Park - softer, gentler and more hopeful...
These words might jar Fiona but the essence of what they say is so true. The passage of time does not dim the horror of Hiroshima and it is fitting that you reflect its ongoing effect today.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lesley - too much awfulness sometimes, but we do need to be reminded occasionally I guess.
Deletelove that your peace bell rang in harmony with the bell for peace in Hiroshima
ReplyDeleteYou and Barry make deep good soul food Fiona
It was beautiful timing Mo; and we love that we share the maker Mr Motoi with the Hiroshima peace bell...
Delete"more hopeful" it's what we must do and be
ReplyDeleteHanging onto hope V - more hopeful is helpful.
Delete