Literature Adds to Our Reality and is Part of Our Lives →
Literature is one of the most beautiful creations of human civilization. It is a form of written art passed down from generation to generation. Literature has been produced in various forms, such as poetry, prose, drama, novels, short stories, etc.
The beauty of literature lies in its ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in a captivating and relatable way. Whether it is a love story, a tale of adventure, a tragedy, or a comedy, literature can transport us to a different world and make us feel as if we are a part of the story.
One of the most fascinating aspects of literature is its ability to transcend time and culture. Literature written hundreds of years ago can still be relevant and meaningful today. Literature is a reflection of the society and culture in which it was produced, and it provides us with a glimpse into the thoughts, beliefs, and values of the people who lived during that time.
In addition to its cultural significance, literature is also an essential tool for education. It teaches us about different perspectives and ways of thinking, helps us develop critical thinking skills, and expands our vocabulary and knowledge of language.
Literature is a treasure trove of human creativity and emotion. It has the power to inspire, educate, and entertain us, and it is a testament to the enduring nature of human expression.
C. S. Lewis: "Literature adds to reality; it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides, and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."
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25 Simple Compelling John Steinbeck Quotes →
Steinbeck's writing style mirrors his characters. He writes as the characters would speak. That simple approach is found in his quotes, but the messages imparted, like those from his books, are compelling.
“Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is scared of each other.”
“All great and precious things are lonely.”
“Now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.”
“There ain't no sin, and there ain't no virtue.
“In the people’s souls, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy for the vintage.”
What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?
A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ.
“Now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”
“I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen.”
“All great and precious things are lonely.”
“And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this, I would fight for the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this, I must fight against any idea, religion, or government that limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about.”
“I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.”
“It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”
“I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why.”
“You can boast about anything if it’s all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast.”
“He had an idea that even when beaten, he could steal a little victory by laughing at defeat.”
“Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others talk.”
“No one wants advice – only corroboration.”
“I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.”
“I guess there are never enough books.”
“It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.”
“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts ... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.”
“Sometimes a man wants to be stupid if it lets him do a thing his cleverness forbids.”
“I guess this is why I hate governments. It is always the rule, the fine print, carried out by the fine print men.
“There's nothing to fight, no wall to hammer with frustrated fists.”
“No one young is ever going to be old.”
Why good Book Covers are so important →
The book covers the most crucial marketing factor to your book's success. You're mistaken if you believe that books are not judged by their covers. Book covers create the first impression for a potential buyer or reader. It helps sell a book by making the contents immediately known.
Of course, the cover can create confusion. That is partly why publishers started putting the words “A Novel” on the book cover because they realized that sometimes people needed to be reassured that the book was something they were familiar with.
Publishers recognize the value of creating that first impression to ensure a book's success. When using larger publishers, authors rarely have the right to have approval over the covers and even have to work to get the right for consultation in their contracts.
Who designs book covers? The answer to that question is that with larger professional publishers, the author does not create the surface and the ideas and goals from the body come from a publisher invested in selling the book.
A great book cover if I do say so myself
Hamlet offered no thoughts, only words, in his prayers →
Shakespeare had the King in Hamlet on his knees, offering the words that explained his words were of little value. The King had sinned and knelt in prayer, to no avail, saying:
“My words fly up, My thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
“Oh, my crime is so rotten it stinks to heaven. It has the mark of Cain on it, a brother’s murder. I can’t pray, though I want to desperately. My guilt is stronger even than my intentions. And like a person with two opposite things to do at once, I stand paralyzed and neglect them both. So what if this cursed hand of mine is coated with my brother’s blood? Isn’t there enough rain in heaven to wash it clean as snow? Isn’t that what God’s mercy is for? And doesn’t prayer serve these two purposes—to keep us from sinning and bring us forgiveness when we sin? So I’ll pray. I’ve already committed my sin. But, oh, what kind of prayer is there for me? “Dear Lord, forgive me for my horrible murder”?
Good Literature makes you think and feel about others →
Good literature makes you think, feel and understand how others feel because it opens your eyes to something new and brings thoughts or images of another time and place to your mind. It connects the reader with the essential truths that society has held on various subjects.
Good literature, when read, is enjoyed, bringing pleasure to the reader if it was just written or written hundreds of years ago.
C.S. Lewis said:
The good of Literature is that
We want to be more than ourselves
We want to see with others’ eyes to imagine
With outer imaginations, to feel with
other hearts as well as our own
Thoughts about "Bag Men by Rachel Maddow". →
Tuesday, December 8th, 2020. -The Release Date. THE SUBTITLE IS THE WILD CRIMES, AUDACIOUS COVER-UP, AND SPECTACULAR DOWNFALL OF A BRAZEN CROOK IN THE WHITE HOUSE, and the Categories are Domestic Politics | 20th Century U.S. History. “Rachel Maddow and Michael Yarvitz expanded on their podcast and then wrote the book.
Ali Velshi, a well-known MSNBC newsman, said of Rachael Maddow and Fareed Zakaria, a CNN newsman-journalist, that they were the two most intelligent people he had known.
This is not a review because I have yet to read the book, but it presents some initial thoughts of interest found in the promotional materials on the book. Some studies have already been released; one I found interesting was the one below.
“Through remarkable investigative work and engaging storytelling, Maddow and Yarvitz reveal previously unknown challenges faced by the brave federal prosecutors who brought Spiro Agnew to justice and waited five decades to share their candid reminiscences. Bag Man delivers a powerful and timeless lesson about America’s enduring principles while demonstrating that the final verdict of history may differ from self-interested contemporary accounts and highlighting how much the rule of law depends upon the character of the people who enforce it.”—Rod J. Rosenstein, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General
Not Forgiving Others Only Hurts Yourself →
Forgiveness means different things to different people. But in general, it involves an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger.
The act that hurt or offended you might always be with you. But working on forgiveness can lessen that act's grip on you. It can help free you from the control of the person who harmed you. Sometimes, forgiveness might even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you.
What’s the saying? “Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”
- Lisa Genova from the new book, 'EVERY NOTE PLAYED"
Thoughts from Every Note Played
“The thought of Richard having to be left with nothing but these unresolved issues, and only the blink of an eye to communicate, and hope to resolve them, is an additional level of terror that this disease offers. Somehow, they do find some resolution.
It might be possible that ALS was the only way he really had to resolve his bigger life issues but then that seems something beyond fair.”
Steve Martin says he likes books in the ‘I Can’t Put This Down’ Genre. →
Similar Book Thoughts
The actor and comedian, whose new book with Harry Bliss is “A Wealth of Pigeons,” says that “bookstores could easily have only two sections, ‘Riveting’ and ‘Kind of Boring?
Books-You-Can’t-Put-Down is called “Page Turners.”
Someone said: I have a thousand books on my nightstand, but they’re all on my phone. I’m addicted to audiobooks. (Big Nightstand?)
What’s the last great book you read? (Good Ice Breaker)
Someone also said: I was thinking recently how “Future Crimes,” by Marc Goodman, helped me develop a grasp of the internet and gave an indication of what we’re possibly in for and what is already happening. When this was written, this followed: To be modern, you have to read this book.
Are there any classic novels that you only recently read for the first time? …………….No, but I re-read Moby Dick again and liked it.
Richard Nixon's quote, leaving office, expresses what drove him from office! →
“Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don't win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.”
Hate drove him from office but forced him to do the things he was impeached for. Hatred is an angry or resentful emotional response to specific people or ideas.
Other Quotes
"The greatness comes not when things always go well for you. But the greatness comes when you’re tested when you take some knocks, some disappointments when sadness comes."
"What starts the process are laughs, slights, and snubs when you are a kid. If your anger is deep and strong, you learn that you can change those attitudes by excellence, personal gut performance."
I can see now... that I was wrong in not acting more decisively and forthrightly in dealing with Watergate."
"Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. I’d appreciate it if you could find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines."
See the Review of this book below.
Upton Sinclair wrote "The Jungle" as a Social Protest →
Social protests have been a powerful tool for political expression throughout history, allowing individuals and groups to collectively voice their concerns and seek change. Whether it is for social or political reasons, these protest are to seek to bring about change by influencing public opinion, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as the policies of organizations and institutions.
While peaceful protests are a fundamental right in many societies, they can also be met with resistance, underscoring the need for responsible and respectful protest practices. Social protests are an essential means of expressing dissent and promoting social progress.n
Upton Sinclair Quotes
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
“I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident, I hit it in the stomach.”
“Fascism” is capitalism plus murder.”
“All art is propaganda. It is universally and inescapably propaganda; sometimes unconsciously, but often deliberately, propaganda.”
Resilience is what kids need most to prepare for their future →
Resilience is important because it gives people the strength to process and overcome the challenges that come into their lives. Those lacking stability get easily overwhelmed and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Resilient people tap into their strengths and support systems to overcome challenges and solve their problems.
Emotional resilience refers to one's ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises. More resilient people can "roll with the punches" and adapt to adversity without lasting difficulties; less resilient people have a more challenging time with stress and life changes, both major and minor.
“It's not our job to toughen our children to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”
― L.R. Knost, Two Thousand Kisses a Day: Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages
A bad book review is still better than no book review. →
Book Reviews Matter: They are essential because they help convince potential readers that the book (and even the author’s other books) will be enjoyable and they should buy it. Even critical reviews are valuable because they at least bring attention to book. (Of course, getting good reviews far outweighs the attention of bad reviews)
Oscar Wilde wrote, “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
This suggests negative publicity can increase purchase likelihood and sales by improving product awareness. Adverse publicity or book reviews can sometimes justify a response and give the author a second chance to add to and multiply the original review’s impact. When that happens, here are
Four ways to deal with bad reviews
Utilize facts to improve credibility and correct errors.
Avoid appearing defensive.
Push other points of view about what was said in the review
Take advantage of the controversy using social media to draw attention.
“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” – Lemony Snicket
Destroying culture by burning books and “dumming down” the ones that are left! →
Don’t dumb it down
Read moreEach character in the Lord of Flies is symbolic, like you neighbors. →
The characters in the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding each have a recognizable symbolic significance, which is why they seem to have traits like many of the people around us in our own lives.
Ralph stands for civilization and democracy; Piggy represents intellect and rationalism; Jack signifies savagery and dictatorship; Simon is the incarnation of goodness and saintliness.
Your Adversaries, Those Magnificent Bastards, Will Read Your Book →
“Rommel, you magnificent bastard! I read your book! ” ― George S. Patton Jr.
Be careful what you say and write because you will give yourself away to those who don’t want to help you. Be the magnificent bastard and read all your competition books. Know your competition and why they say and why they say it.
The quote and picture are taken from the article below, offered for social media use.
Dystopia: All Hail, The Magnificent Bastard
COLUMN BY Troy Farah AUGUST 13, 2013