#ld

To read fiction means to play a game by which we give sense to the immensity of things that happened, are happening, or will happen in the actual world. By reading narrative, we escape the anxiety that attacks us when we try to say something true about the world. This is the consoling function of narrative — the reason people tell stories, and have told stories from the beginning of time. ↗

— Umberto Eco

#escape #escapism #fiction #interpretation #narrative

Maybe they'd use biological or chemical weapons instead. Maybe they'd crash the world economy. Maybe they'd turn every program on television into one of those reality shows." "That's mostly done already, Harry." "Oh. Well. I've got to believe that the world is worth saving anyway. ↗

— Jim Butcher

#reality-tv #saving-the-world #economy

I like to be admired from afar, and then complimented up close. ↗

— Gena Showalter

#narcissism #seduction

War is the greatest evil Satan has invented to corrupt our hearts and souls. We should honor our soldiers, but we should never honor war. ↗

— Dean Hughes

#honor #soldiers #soul #war #satan

Congratulations," he said, his voice dry. "You finally managed to find a woman as tragically noble as yourself. I didn't think one existed." "I'm not tragic." Kaldar held up his hand. "Spare me. Some children are born wearing a silk shirt; you were born wrapped in melancholy. When they slapped you to make you cry, you just sighed heavily and a single tear rolled from your eye." He dragged his finger from the corner of his left eye to his cheek. " Your first words were probably 'woe is me.'" "My first words were 'Kaldar, shut up!' because you talked too much. Still do. ↗

— Ilona Andrews

#kaldar-mar #richard-mar #melancholy

The End is Nigh!" the man shouted. "Is there still time for hot chocolate?" Riley asked. The-End-is-Nigh guy blinked. "Ah, maybe, I don’t know. ↗

— Jana Oliver

#end-of-the-world #demons

My eyes trail from his hand to the tattoo written in small script across his forearm. Hopeless ↗

— Colleen Hoover

#sky #hopelessness

Ruth wiped her eyes. Successful at a price? Forgiven but damaged? She wished so much more for her baby sister. ↗

— Sarah Sundin

#world-war-ii #historical-romance

We had a kettle; we let it leak: Our not repairing made it worse. We haven't had any tea for a week... The bottom is out of the Universe. ↗

— Rudyard Kipling

#repair #tea #universe #world #tea

I object to that object that’s made of bronze and shaped like my clone. It should be made of gold, and shaped like me.
 ↗

— Jarod Kintz

#clone #gold #object #shape #statue