Unquotable
They say life is like a book, wherein the story is about us, which means we are our own writers… or something like that.
But then, books also make a life, and sometimes it’s the words written by authors we’ve never met but wished we’re best friends with that define how we live our lives. Cheesy, but the thing about Books That Changed My Life is a
legit story. There really are books that move us, authors that make the best councilors, and characters that seem like our twin.
This is how books and words and covers changed mine:
“I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.” ©
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
TPOBAW has always been my first ever, ultimate Life Changer. It has a very simple young adult storyline, but that’s what makes it effective and touché. Everyone can relate to Charlie and his crew’s story (and the humor doesn’t hurt). And the words are just so straight and real and will make you say, “Oh, shit. Yes, that’s true.” The above quote is my favorite. It’s about one’s origin and what to do when it’s shitty everywhere, even at home. I read this during my Bitter Dark Times, and I used to blame my family for what’s been happening to me. I used to deny that it was my wrongdoing that got me into that place, and just pointed my finger to those before me, that it was because of them that my life wasn’t majestic. I was awfully insecure. I felt hopeless every day, believing that I was stuck in that situation and was never moving forward. It was terrible. And then I read these words, and a big, heavy hand slapped me awake. I cannot properly explain these lines to you, but let me give you another quote that’s similar to and simpler than this: “We are where we are, however we got here. What matters is where we go next.” (
Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion)
“Don’t worry about wanting to change; start worrying when you don’t feel like changing anymore.” ©
Five Flavors of Dumb, Anthony John
I’ve always been a believer of the Change is Good mantra. I’m always open to changes and improvements. I’m ready to let go and forget and start with a clean slate and change. A little bit of checking ourselves in the mirror and pointing out what needs altering and doing so is good. We shouldn’t be afraid of changing because that’s part of evolution. We wouldn’t progress if we lock ourselves and sign up for the Resistance Team. It’s not healthy. Change leads to
improvement – even our ever-changing biology and hormones, once we get passed that awkward stage of being lanky and pimply (not that I’ve surpassed that yet), shape us to become the best versions of ourselves. The line “start worrying when you don’t feel like changing anymore” is so true it pierces every inch of my body. Once we get to the point where we feel like there’s nothing worth altering and improving, then that only means we don’t give a fuck anymore. Remember: Change is a friend, just like how Mary Sues are annoying.
“A lot of us are turned on to God, but not too many are finding him in the churches.” ©
The Other Side of Haight, James Fadiman
This statement is kind of controversial, especially for those who have concrete faith, but then again the novel itself
is controversial. This is so contentious that I actually haven’t posted this in any of my social networking accounts, afraid that someone might take it offensively and bash me and my social life will reach its dreadful ending. But if you ask me, I believe this quote is true. Personally, I found God outside the church. Actually I already found God back when I was still young, but then I grew up and ate a lot of bitter candies and I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t go to church for, like, five years. I was practically wasted without religion. And then something happened in my family and I was given time to reflect and I started reading the Bible and, finally, I found Him – again. What’s amazing is the fact that He was there all those times, apparently waiting for me to come back to my senses and hop off the Lost Cause train. It was amazing. Now I’m hearing masses every week and just signed up for our local church’s Media Ministry. I guess God isn’t always lurking in the church: He is everywhere and in everything we do every day. He is inside us, in our hearts, our souls and in our fellow Christians.
“When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” ©
I Am Number Four, Pittacus Lore
IANF is one of the novels which made me realized that even supernatural and out-of-this-world creatures actually talk
sense. Would you believe that an alien from the planet of more aliens could talk about the beauty of hope and hoping? This just goes to show that every story has a moral, no matter what genre shelf it came from. So hope… hope is
everything, I guess. When you think there’s no more hope and your dreams are impossible and you’ll never be healed, that’s the start of your life’s deterioration. Being hopeless is like having a wood pest: you can’t directly feel what it does to you, but gradually you’re crumbling; you’re losing that spark you used to have; you feel like you’re standing on a stage and your audience is throwing tomatoes at you. You’re screwed. Letting go of hope is the last thing a man should do, because there’s no such thing as hopeless. We think that that’s the case because we lack courage and belief. Remember that even in the darkest time, there’ll always be that little flicker of light from the corner of the room – that when given attention and faith – will grow to be the brightest source of light there is.
If that isn’t enough to get you to grabbing that untouched book and enjoying every page of it, I don’t know what else there is to do for you, my friend. Smart words from Charles William Eliot: “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” True.
← older / top / newer →
a woeful & chaotic diary since 071409
Unquotable
They say life is like a book, wherein the story is about us, which means we are our own writers… or something like that.
But then, books also make a life, and sometimes it’s the words written by authors we’ve never met but wished we’re best friends with that define how we live our lives. Cheesy, but the thing about Books That Changed My Life is a
legit story. There really are books that move us, authors that make the best councilors, and characters that seem like our twin.
This is how books and words and covers changed mine:
“I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.” ©
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
TPOBAW has always been my first ever, ultimate Life Changer. It has a very simple young adult storyline, but that’s what makes it effective and touché. Everyone can relate to Charlie and his crew’s story (and the humor doesn’t hurt). And the words are just so straight and real and will make you say, “Oh, shit. Yes, that’s true.” The above quote is my favorite. It’s about one’s origin and what to do when it’s shitty everywhere, even at home. I read this during my Bitter Dark Times, and I used to blame my family for what’s been happening to me. I used to deny that it was my wrongdoing that got me into that place, and just pointed my finger to those before me, that it was because of them that my life wasn’t majestic. I was awfully insecure. I felt hopeless every day, believing that I was stuck in that situation and was never moving forward. It was terrible. And then I read these words, and a big, heavy hand slapped me awake. I cannot properly explain these lines to you, but let me give you another quote that’s similar to and simpler than this: “We are where we are, however we got here. What matters is where we go next.” (
Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion)
“Don’t worry about wanting to change; start worrying when you don’t feel like changing anymore.” ©
Five Flavors of Dumb, Anthony John
I’ve always been a believer of the Change is Good mantra. I’m always open to changes and improvements. I’m ready to let go and forget and start with a clean slate and change. A little bit of checking ourselves in the mirror and pointing out what needs altering and doing so is good. We shouldn’t be afraid of changing because that’s part of evolution. We wouldn’t progress if we lock ourselves and sign up for the Resistance Team. It’s not healthy. Change leads to
improvement – even our ever-changing biology and hormones, once we get passed that awkward stage of being lanky and pimply (not that I’ve surpassed that yet), shape us to become the best versions of ourselves. The line “start worrying when you don’t feel like changing anymore” is so true it pierces every inch of my body. Once we get to the point where we feel like there’s nothing worth altering and improving, then that only means we don’t give a fuck anymore. Remember: Change is a friend, just like how Mary Sues are annoying.
“A lot of us are turned on to God, but not too many are finding him in the churches.” ©
The Other Side of Haight, James Fadiman
This statement is kind of controversial, especially for those who have concrete faith, but then again the novel itself
is controversial. This is so contentious that I actually haven’t posted this in any of my social networking accounts, afraid that someone might take it offensively and bash me and my social life will reach its dreadful ending. But if you ask me, I believe this quote is true. Personally, I found God outside the church. Actually I already found God back when I was still young, but then I grew up and ate a lot of bitter candies and I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t go to church for, like, five years. I was practically wasted without religion. And then something happened in my family and I was given time to reflect and I started reading the Bible and, finally, I found Him – again. What’s amazing is the fact that He was there all those times, apparently waiting for me to come back to my senses and hop off the Lost Cause train. It was amazing. Now I’m hearing masses every week and just signed up for our local church’s Media Ministry. I guess God isn’t always lurking in the church: He is everywhere and in everything we do every day. He is inside us, in our hearts, our souls and in our fellow Christians.
“When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” ©
I Am Number Four, Pittacus Lore
IANF is one of the novels which made me realized that even supernatural and out-of-this-world creatures actually talk
sense. Would you believe that an alien from the planet of more aliens could talk about the beauty of hope and hoping? This just goes to show that every story has a moral, no matter what genre shelf it came from. So hope… hope is
everything, I guess. When you think there’s no more hope and your dreams are impossible and you’ll never be healed, that’s the start of your life’s deterioration. Being hopeless is like having a wood pest: you can’t directly feel what it does to you, but gradually you’re crumbling; you’re losing that spark you used to have; you feel like you’re standing on a stage and your audience is throwing tomatoes at you. You’re screwed. Letting go of hope is the last thing a man should do, because there’s no such thing as hopeless. We think that that’s the case because we lack courage and belief. Remember that even in the darkest time, there’ll always be that little flicker of light from the corner of the room – that when given attention and faith – will grow to be the brightest source of light there is.
If that isn’t enough to get you to grabbing that untouched book and enjoying every page of it, I don’t know what else there is to do for you, my friend. Smart words from Charles William Eliot: “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” True.
← older / top / newer →
a woeful & chaotic diary since 071409
Profile
Already several months had passed, and I am missing
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry more and more each fleeting day. There are just some things in life that we can never forget – especially that something that had given us knowledge, skills, strong relationships and a second home. I am glad that everything in the magical world is now at peace, since Voldemort (yes, I can now say his name; no need to be afraid) had died. I had secretly admired Tom Marvolo Riddle (Voldemort’s birth name) though, because of his intelligence, passion and love for magic. Wasn’t he very clever to think of and conjure his seven
Horcruxes to preserve his life, or form a clan of
Death Eaters who were very loyal to him and would give up their lives just for him to succeed? Not everybody can acquire that much loyalty from people these days. I do not, however, admire him for the way he had carried out all of his plans. He had a good agenda, his means just weren’t morally right. But he still is one of the darkest wizards of all time… and let’s leave it that way.
Oh, for all those who are baffled of what I’m saying here and who the heck I am, my name is
Christine Faye Ordas, and I am an alumnus of Hogwarts. I came from the bronze-and-blue-clad house of the smart ass witch Rowena Ravenclaw and her dictum
“Wit beyond measure is a man’s greatest treasure.” And yes, I know the wonderful Luna Lovegood (she’s such a darling) and Harry Potter’s first crush Cho Chang. I had just left Hogwarts last May. Right now I am trying to pursue a career in magical researches, literature and writing. It’s my dream to inscribe intellectual books, publish and sell them in
Flourish and Blotts for the future Hogwarts students’ use. I am also planning to credibly write for the
Daily Prophet, the magical world’s primary news bulletin. And of course, I will be very much honored to contribute to Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood’s
Quibbler (hence, my interest in magical researches). I have always found the Lovegoods a fascinating family, and I bet working with and for them will be very exciting. Or maybe, in Merlin’s beard’s time, I can write legends and bedtime stories like the famous – and wickedly brilliant – Beedle the Bard.
And that’s how my life goes these days. I am utterly missing my old school, my friends, the Great Hall, the bronze eagle knocker just outside the Ravenclaw common room, Professor Flitwick (the head of our house), Hogsmeade, the Quidditch matches (although I didn’t actually play for the house), the moving portraits, the castle ghosts, the pumpkins on Halloween, the giant pine trees on Christmas, Rubeus Hagrid’s (Hogwarts’ gamekeeper) tea and treacle fudge – even the crabby Argus Filch (Hogwarts’ caretaker) I miss. Maybe I can visit the school grounds sometimes and see how the magical world’s been doing since Voldemort died (I’ve been spending my months in the muggle world, you see). I’ve heard everybody’s been moving on and starting all over again; the ministry is back on work under Kingsley Shacklebolt; and Harry Potter’s scar haven’t been disturbing him since.
All is well, indeed.
And because of that, we should celebrate and drink firewhisky! Oh, I still don’t drink firewhisky; I can take butterbeer or tea or pumpkin juice – just not firewhisky, please.
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