"When you open a book," the sentimental library posters said, "anything can happen." This was so. A book of fiction was a bomb. It was a land mine you wanted to go off. You wanted it to blow your whole day. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of books were duds. They had been rusting out of everyone's way for so long that they no longer worked. There was no way to distinguish the duds from the live mines except to throw yourself at them headlong, one by one. --Annie Dillard, An American Childhood

I would like to live to be a hunded because loving and being loved are so good and there are so many books; but were I to learn now that I had only a week left, I would finish today's spell of writing, have the cup of coffee that I crave and go on with the one book I'm reading. --John Tittensor, Year One: A Record

July 27, 2011

Swamplandia!

by Karen Russell

No, I don't have to tell a soul about this, I promised myself. When you are a kid, you don't know yet that a secret, like an animal, can evolve. Like an animal, a secret can develop a self-preserving intelligence. Shaglike, mute and thick, a knowledge with a fur: your secret.
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3 comments:

  1. Catherine WJuly 29, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    Ooo I've heard of this one. I remember thinking that it had a wonderful title and I've just been to Amazon to read the synopsis now you've reminded me of it. Sounds like it might be up my street.

    I like this description of a secret's development.

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  2. vera kateJuly 30, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    It was pretty good, if a little traumatic for me personally near the end. The pace was a bit slow for my taste, but the writing and description is excellent.

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  3. Catherine WOctober 16, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Well I've FINALLY just finished reading Swamplandia! It WAS a little traumatic towards the end and I can only imagine that it was not easy reading for you. Beautifully written though. Thank you for the tip, I'm sure I would have not picked it up were it not for your mention here x

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