I’m reading Tim O’brien’s The Things They Carried again. Tim O’brien is one of my favorite authors and it’s been great to get into him again.
Here’s a great quote from this book:
“And in the end, of course, a true war story is never about war. It’s about sunlight. It’s about the special way that dawn spreads out on a river when you know you must cross the river and march into the mountains and do things you are afraid to do. It’s about love and memory. It’s about sorrow. It’s about sisters who never write back and people who never listen.”
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Yes, this is an insightful quote by Tim O'brien. War is really about heartbreak, hunger, dispare, loneliness, depression and every emotion known to man. And I think a good writer will pull each of these emotions from the reader.
I felt some very strong emotions while reading The Second Thief. I cried so hard while reading it, and then cried come more when sharing parts of it with friends. I was touched, moved, and healed in a special way. Thank you for such a meaningful story.
At the risk of 'beating a dead horse', The Bronze Horseman, (no pon intended), I believe Paullina Simons wrote of war in the truest sense. She gleaned much from the life of her Grandparents living in Russia during WWII, and it came through in her story. This is the best book I've ever read, hands down. It's epic in scope, tender at heart and true to its time. It was appealing to me in every sense. But here's the thing…
I think books, paintings, and beautiful people are all relative. We all have our own particular tastes in cultlure. For instance: Paullina Simons has written many novels, but I don't have the least desire to read her other works. The topics and point in time do not appeal to me. The same goes for Suzanne Collins and some other authors.
I'm thrilled when I find an author I like well enough to read several of his/her books. I so enjoy talking to friends and family about certain authors and books. Right now you're high on my list.