So true. Which is why the fantasy world you create for that kid has to be well-crafted and solid. Else his crutch or support crumbles, and there he is, back in his own dreary, dark world.
In his essay "On Fairy Stories," JRR Tolkien addressed the accusation that fiction was "escapist." His response was that of course someone trapped in a prison seeks an escape. We don't think it's abnormal for a prisoner to dream of escape, and when we consider the evils of the world, it should similarly not be considered abnormal to seek a way out.
The way the child in the picture feels about reading is the way I feel about writing.
I wish they had put in a child of colour rather than a blond boy, however. It would be more in keeping with the reality of who usually needs to escape a terrible urban environment, if only in his or her own head.
This pic got modified into a demotivator... originally it had a more optimistic label. It's from a Russian social ad which said: "Reading isn't harmful. Not reading is."
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I love this so much.
ReplyDeleteCan I get this tattooed on my mind?
ReplyDeleteI want a poster for my office. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should do one from the POV of inside a dreary hospital room. That would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I'm a librarian. And a reader. And a writer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder.
awesome!
ReplyDeleteSo true. Which is why the fantasy world you create for that kid has to be well-crafted and solid. Else his crutch or support crumbles, and there he is, back in his own dreary, dark world.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteWow. Yes, that is exactly why I read. And write.
ReplyDeleteThank heaven for books!
This is soooo true and absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this.
ReplyDeleteIn his essay "On Fairy Stories," JRR Tolkien addressed the accusation that fiction was "escapist." His response was that of course someone trapped in a prison seeks an escape. We don't think it's abnormal for a prisoner to dream of escape, and when we consider the evils of the world, it should similarly not be considered abnormal to seek a way out.
The way the child in the picture feels about reading is the way I feel about writing.
LOVE this.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a picture being worth a thousand words. Wow.
This is why I read books to my students, and why I read and write. beautiful. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm stealing this for my computer's wallpaper. Love it.
ReplyDeleteThat is freakin' wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI wish they had put in a child of colour rather than a blond boy, however. It would be more in keeping with the reality of who usually needs to escape a terrible urban environment, if only in his or her own head.
I like (but am unsurprised) that Shakespeare comments on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHaha, very cute.
ReplyDeleteThat is great!
ReplyDeleteThis pic got modified into a demotivator... originally it had a more optimistic label. It's from a Russian social ad which said: "Reading isn't harmful. Not reading is."
ReplyDelete