"People who suspect the existence of something better and deeper, and desire these things, are, I believe, likely to abstain more and more from all ridiculous external show, the nearer they approach, through experience and action, to the reality of their dream; on the other hand, however, the further away from it they are, the more they cling to such flaunting display."
Excerpt from Green Henry by Gottfried Keller
quite the run on, but very intriguing. I like the thought of abstaining from the ridiculous external show....
ReplyDeletehave you finished it?
I'm nowhere near finished. I am currently on page 152 and the book is 706 pages. It's a big fat book, not something that usually appeals to me, but the excerpts I read via W.G. Sebald were too appealing to dismiss. I like the way the 'through experience and action' part of this sentence shows being handed a dream is not as gratifying as earning one.
DeleteThe excerpt intrigues me...and now I wonder what type of book this 700+ page beast is? And should I add it to 'the list'/ ;)
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, I feel there is some real beauty and there are some boring bits. I'm going to carry on and see how it goes...
DeleteHi Denise--how are you progressing with Green Henry? These days, I find a big fat book too daunting; I can't commit! But I like the chosen quote, the longing/search for depth and substance, the inner life.
ReplyDeleteWell... It seems we grew apart. I've moved on to Truman Capote's short novel, The Grass Harp.
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