Reflections on the Joy and Power of Stories
For years, I’ve written down quotes that have moved me from a whole variety of sources. Here are two of my favorites about the ability of stories to delight and empower.
“I remember making summer reading lists for my sister, of her coming home one day with my limp and yellowed paperback copy of Pride and Prejudice in her bag and saying irritably, ‘Look, tell me if she marries Mr. Darcy, because if she doesn’t I’m not going to finish the book.’ And the feeling of giddiness I felt as I piously said that I would never reveal an ending, while somewhere inside I was shouting, yes, yes, she will marry Mr. Darcy, over and over again, as often as you like.” —Anna Quindlen, Public and Private; Enough Bookshelves, August 7, 1991
“To the Editor:
There once was a scared little 15-year old girl. She had been neglected and sexually abused for several years and was finally ready to tell someone about it. It was one of the scariest things she had done in her life.
She was taken to the police station, where she was made to sit around for several hours while the adults argued about her future. The more she tried to stay still, the more nervous she became. She needed something to calm her down, so she decided to explore the book rack.
She came upon what looked like a children’s book, but the pictures on the cover did not look like anything she had seen. As she thumbed deeper and deeper into the story, she was transported with Max, and forgot about her world for just a little while.
The rest of that day was a blur, but one thing was sure: she could do this. She had always known that the world was full of big scary monsters, but with the right combination of strength and trust, any of those monsters could be tamed. It was O.K. for her to be angry. She didn’t need to hold it in anymore.
That little girl has since grown up and moved on from her past, but that book, “Where the Wild Things Are,” will always hold a special place in her heart.
So let the rumpus begin, Mr. Sendak. It’s your turn to roam where the wild things are. I’ll never forget what you did for me.”
—Kristina Blake, May 10, 2012, N.Y. Times (in response to Maurice Sendak’s obituary)