When I Finally Gave Up Any Hope

Mr. Franzen Said He And Mr. Wallace, Over Years Of Letters And Conversations About The Ethical Role Of The Novelist, Had Come To The Joint Conclusion That The Purpose Of Writing Fiction Was “a Way Out Of Loneliness.” (ny Times Article On The Memorial Service Of David Foster Wallace.)

So, What, You Got Cigarette Burns, Too?" Gitanes Said. Chip Showed His Palm, "it's Nothing." "self-inflicted. You Pathetic American." "different Kind Of Prison" Chip Said.

If You Look At The New Testament, It's A Gospel Of Love. Yes, There's Talk Of Judgement And There's Talk Of Heaven And There's Talk Of People Not Getting Into Heaven, But It Doesn't Seem To Me That The Fundamental Message Of The Gospels Was One Of Guilt And Retribution So Much As Love.

[t]hat I Could Find Company And Consolation And Hope In An Object Pulled Almost At Random From A Bookshelf--felt Akin To An Instance Of Religious Grace.

I've Moved Away From That Sort Of Deep-ecological Extremism. I Started To Think: What Can We Do For Wild Birds Right Now? I Don't Want These Particular Species To Disappear.