Technically this news item is from May 30, but I only read it tonight (and after midnight at that!), so it will have to count for today, June 2. It comes to us from the esteemed Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled "The Pleasures of Imagination." I love the image that comes with the article so much that I am posting it here. This is probably not allowed, but I have no bad intentions- so please go to The Chronicle and read the article!
I myself am an avid reader, movie watcher, and day dreamer who has always been entertained by artists who blur the line between fact and fiction, reality and a dream. It's probably telling that Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite authors. This article, beautifully written, touches on some of the reasons why we, as human beings, are drawn to stories- fictional stories- sometimes more so than reality.
As I was reading the article, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes, from The Neverending Story, which I will end with here.
"Bastion looked at the book.
'I wonder,' he said to himself, 'what's in a book while it's closed. Oh, I know it's full of letters printed on paper, but all the same, something must be happening, because as soon as I open it, there's a whole story with people I don't know yet and all kinds of adventures, deeds and battles. And sometimes there are storms at sea, or it takes you to strange cities and countries. All those things are somehow shut in a book. Of course you have to read it to find out. But it's already there, that's the funny thing. I just wish I knew how it could be.'
Suddenly an almost festive mood came over him.
He settled himself down, picked up the book, opened it to the first page, and began to read..."
— Michael Ende (The Neverending Story)
[hat tip to goodreads for the quote]
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