Statuettes of drunken sailors, velvet pictures of island maidens, plastic seashell lamps made in Taiwan. What contempt the people who think up souvenirs have for other people. Votes: 6
The whole process of writing a novel is having this great, beautiful idea and then spoiling it. Votes: 6
A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out what a novel is about, and the job becomes one of understanding and deepening or sharpening what is already written. That is finding the theme. Votes: 5
Women have the feeling that since they didn't make the rules, the rules have nothing to do with them. Votes: 5
Not having to own a car has made me realize what a waste of time the automobile is. Votes: 3
A chaplain's biggest gift is to be present and just listen. Votes: 3
...is this not in fact the purpose of young Americans going abroad? To make them think of things they never thought of? Votes: 3
In what we think of as bad dialogue, the characters talk directly to each other. Votes: 3
The Novelist, afraid his ideas may be foolish, slyly puts them in the mouth of some other fool and reserves the right to disavow them. Votes: 3
But novels are never about what they are about; that is, there is always deeper, or more general, significance. The author may not be aware of this till she is pretty far along with it. A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out what a novel is about, and the job becomes one of understanding and deepening or sharpening what is already written. That is finding the theme. Votes: 0
Any essayist setting out on a frail apparatus of notings and jottings is a brave person. Votes: 0
But novels are never about what they are about; that is, there is always deeper, or more general, significance. The author may not be aware of this till she is pretty far along with it. Votes: 0
Glenda Adams has written a wicked and witty novel. Votes: 0
Laughter is the jam on the toast of life. It adds flavor, keeps it from being too dry, and makes it easier to swallow. Votes: 0