Monday, 24 October, 2011
I read so many short, easy things. I read the label on the shampoo bottle, I read e-mail, I read the headings of all the top Google news stories, I read magazines. And this gives me lots of practice for all my short, easy thoughts: Turn left at the light. Bring a sweater. Add salt. There’s nothing wrong with thoughts like these; the world would collapse without them. But I also have longer, harder thoughts, ones that I circle slowly, over months, years, my whole life probably. I return again and again to the same irresolvable questions as I attempt to share my life with another person, to be a good daughter, to be an artist. These slow thoughts often catch me unawares, while turning left or adding salt. I am startled, almost insulted to be reminded of my own depths: This is unnecessary! I’m doing fine! I remembered to bring a sweater! Books hold a place inside of me for the long thoughts. And they also taught me how to think like that in the first place. Their slow cadence, the commitment and silence they require, the way they endure over generations—these are not easy qualities to locate in the world, or in myself. And the best part is, unlike most roads to the unknown, books aren’t conjured by prayer or devotion: They’re real, they’re cheap, and they make a sound when you drop them. — Miranda July on books. (via somethingchanged)

Notes

  1. lollapalooza-ninny reblogged this from somethingchanged
  2. clairc reblogged this from somethingchanged
  3. ruzargh reblogged this from somethingchanged
  4. riseaboveittoloveit reblogged this from wallsandsound
  5. alyssa617 reblogged this from enthusiasticallyyours
  6. meginreallife reblogged this from saragregory
  7. clioooooo reblogged this from nocureforcuriosity
  8. her-seaside-limbs reblogged this from nocureforcuriosity
  9. nocureforcuriosity reblogged this from asweetunrest
  10. melodiscontent reblogged this from asweetunrest
  11. asweetunrest reblogged this from clairefoley
  12. dailyscrapbook reblogged this from somethingchanged
  13. wallsandsound reblogged this from perhapsamongthestars
  14. perhapsamongthestars reblogged this from cupcaketime
  15. theballaddove reblogged this from cupcaketime
  16. cupcaketime reblogged this from laneplusultra
  17. wearefoodforworms reblogged this from cupcaketime
  18. enthusiasticallyyours reblogged this from somethingchanged
  19. collapsingsun reblogged this from mayeeware and added:
    Absolutely priceless.
  20. inkinherveins reblogged this from emphasisjm and added:
    This quotation is so perfect, because I was discussing the fact that my students don’t read books. Sure, they read...
  21. zadabrivanie reblogged this from somethingchanged
  22. belledipalo reblogged this from somethingchanged
  23. lanipauli reblogged this from somethingchanged
  24. cityheart reblogged this from alex-lately
  25. beautifulambiguities reblogged this from literarypiano