Well, it has been way too long since I have posted anything. I have had a fairly eventful few months–including family trips across country, new jobs, and moving (isn’t moving the worst thing ever!)– but I think I am starting to get settled and back into my groove here.
One thing I always manage to find a little time for is reading, so I was thinking it might be fun to post a weekly quote or excerpt from something I have read and liked, and would encourage anyone who is interested in sharing to post their finds as well.
Here’s a favorite of mine from Ann Tyler’s The Accidental Tourist:
“By their very nature, he told her in his letters, photos lied. They showed what a person looked like over a fraction of a second–not over long, slow minutes, which was what you’d take to study someone in real life.”
I think there are a number of reasons I like this quote–the most obvious one being that I am, unfortunately, undeniably un-photogenic and like to think that the photos taken of me are an inaccurate portrayal of how I look and who I am.
At the same time, I think my long-standing…distaste for pictures goes beyond that. Admittedly photos have their place. Part of our recent unpacking process involved sorting through old photos, and I can’t deny I derived a great amount of joy at being able to look back at these little glimpses into the past–especially where my children are concerned.
Merely, I become bothered with the implication that photos in any way capture life. In fact, even in my much younger days I became annoyed with the time spent documenting special occasions (like school dances) through photographs–rather than enjoying and experiencing them. And as time has passed and technology has made pictures more widely accessible, I feel it becomes very easy to live life for the photo, or facebook post, or blog article rather than being in the moment itself.
So, I suppose I am willing and happy to accept the photo for the photo’s sake, as an art form, a portrayal or interpretation–I am just not willing to give photos credit for being or capturing life–especially when it comes at the expense of living it.
Anyway, feel free to share your favorites in the comment section. Happy reading!
I love great quotes from books 🙂 Here’s two from The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. P.s. Thanks for sending us some of your thoughts Kelli!
“We love what we love. Reason does not enter into it. In many ways, unwise love is the truest love. Anyone can love a thing because. That’s as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.”
and
“Books are a poor substitute for female companionship, but they are easier to find.”
and, one last one because yours was about pictures 🙂
“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts. There are seven words that will make a person love you. There are ten words that will break a strong man’s will. But a word is nothing but a painting of a fire. A name is the fire itself.” –The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss.
Enjoy!
Great quotes, Danny. I especially like the one about words. I have been thinking a lot about the power of words lately…Thanks for sharing!
New jobs? Moving? We need to catch up!!!
Definitely! Good to hear from you, Sharon.