kevinbomar

[kevinbomar]

[kevinbomar]

Charles Dickens had the innate ability to take a seemingly mundane moment in life and find in it profundities that are deeply moving. Here is a quote from the middle of The Old Curiosity Shop that displays this proclivity. 

“The sisters had gone home, and [Nell] was alone. She raised her eyes to the bright stars, looking down so mildly from their wide worlds of air, and, gazing on them, found new stars burst upon her view, and more beyond, and more beyond again, until the whole great expanse sparkled with shining spheres, rising higher and higher in immeasurable space, eternal in their numbers as in their changeless and incorruptible existence. She bent over the calm river, and saw them shining in the same majestic order as when the dove beheld them gleaming through the swollen waters, upon the mountaintops down far below, and dead mankind, a million fathoms deep.”

Dickens uses this beautiful imagery to convey the idea of a universal constant, something that remains unchanged despite our earthly troubles. It's a moment of reflection, both literal and metaphorical. The stars symbolize stability and permanence, unaltered by the chaos below. When Nell sees their reflection in the river, it's like she's witnessing a timeless truth, bridging the heavens and the earth. The dove, an ancient symbol of peace and hope, seeing the stars after the flood, aligns with themes of renewal and continuity. There's a profound sense that some things remain constant, regardless of human suffering or change. I am completely moved by the depth of this simple scene.

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Take a look! 📌

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Take a look! 📌

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[kevinbomar]

Take a look! 📌

Take a look! 📌 https://pin.it/4hZCIeZYN

[kevinbomar]

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[kevinbomar]

My question is, "What have I done to receive the greater compliment?"

[kevinbomar]

In 'East of Eden,' John Steinbeck pulled me into a mesmerizing tale of good and evil, guilt and redemption. I was captivated by his rich narrative and complex characters, especially as he wove the biblical story of Cain and Abel into the lives of the Trask and Hamilton families.

This book made me reflect on the complexities of human nature and our timeless quest for meaning. 'East of Eden' has left a lasting impression on me, and I'm grateful for the journey it took me on.

[kevinbomar]

[kevinbomar]

I just completed the epoch novel, War and Peace, and I know now that it has left an indelible impression on my being.

Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, is a monumental literary achievement that consumed me completely. It offers an intricate tapestry of Russian life during the Napoleonic era. Through a cast of unforgettable characters, Tolstoy explores the profound interplay between personal destinies and the sweeping forces of history.

The novel delves deep into themes of war, peace, love, and the search for meaning, challenging the reader to ponder the essence of human existence, as well as the philosophical and religious balance between free will and predestination.

War and peace is not just a book; it's a journey and is now one of my new benchmarks with which all other novels will be measured.

[kevinbomar]

"Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself, it will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies."

Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, Book Three, Part Two, Chapter 29

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[kevinbomar]