This novel about age, loneliness, and education, centers around a male lead and the wisdom and peace and intensity of the novel are all quite worthwhile. Very enjoyable.
This story turns on the axis of human dignity. Through all the plots and sub-plots runs this thread.
There is so much to be gained from this novel. It bears incredible insights into human nature, life, love, etc. And it shows the centrality of the dignity of the human person in every aspect of life. This novel taught me about love, education, democracy, dignity, people . . . It taught me about life.
This book is fantastically well-written with beautiful, and startlingly accurate, description.
My only complaint is that there are socialist undertones.
Nevertheless it is a book that every woman (and every American) should read.
Quotes:
"the 20th century battlefield on which human dignity and decency fought for life against a reversion to savagery"
"What visual memories of beauty could be called up to stand against this sick exaggeration of ugliness?"
"Every time I look at a newspaper, these days, I want to hunt me up another kid and tell him, 'Load your gun and cock it and stand guard over the Bill of Rights with your eye peeled, American boy!"
"'Doesn't it sometimes make you wish you could die and get out of the mess?' 'It does not!' said the old man vehemently. 'What'd I want to die for? It makes me want to do something about it!'"
"Nobody's bound to get folks to do what he thinks is the right way. All that's laid on a man is not to let up on trying to."
"It doesn't make any difference whether it is literally illegal or not; it is wrong."
"freedom is not worth fighting for if it means no more than license"
"Timothy stood, not so much listening as borne up on this prodigious ocean of faith, in whose fathomless depths the ponderous, self-defeating, materialistic trust in Caesar sank like a stone"
No comments:
Post a Comment