Rubina Chitrakar
Freelance writer
“What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? – It’s the too huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”
– On the Road, Jack Kerouac
On the Road is a fictionalized account of Kerouac’s journey through the Wild West. It’s been penned in a way that delineates the gravity of life; alluding to life as a harsh but beautiful reality and portraying spontaneity (of characters) to face situations as they come. These particular lines have stayed with me because they depict inevitability – life itself is a journey, we meet new people and have to depart from close ones. There are emotional upheavals but we move on despite it all. For me, these lines ring true and the character who says these lines, Sal Paradise, is someone I can relate to. Also, I like the simplicity and honesty with which the book has been written and the imagery accompanying it. That is probably why this book is one of my favorites.
A world without borders
Nistha Amatya
Pharmacist
“The officer looked at Daisy while she was speaking, in a way that every young girl wants to be looked at some time.” – The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
This seemingly simple sentence has stuck with me ever since I’ve completed the book, mostly because it’s a statement signifying infinite hope and partly because I’m a hopeless romantic. This line was part of a narration by a character in the book, Jordan Baker, while describing how and when she came to know of the main character, Jay Gatsby. It was in October 1917, when Daisy was speaking to Jordan that Gatsby had an expression of such tenderness in his face while looking at the speaker, which made Jordan remember this incident clearly. I first watched the movie starring Leonardo Di Caprio and pursued the book to see if the movie had done the book justice and brought life to the story. I was not disappointed. This book and the movie remains, to this day, one of my favorites. The magic, with which the writer weaves his words to create one of the most poignantly romantic pieces I’ve ever read, is remarkable. And this line will be, for me, a representation of pure unrequited love and hope.
Nikesh Shakya
Musician
“Many know the use of usefulness; few know the use of uselessness.” – The Advancing Guitarist, Mick Goodrick
This is a quote from one of my favorite music books, and is written by one of the greatest teachers I know whom I also had a chance to meet and do art with. What he talks about is in context of feeling regret. We all know that regret is a terrible feeling that we experience, especially those things not done rather than what we did or didn’t do right. Well, what he says is that if we do experience it often and deeply enough we see the importance of changing our attitude so we never have a reason to feel it again. Regret has taught, and we have learned. I think the quote really strikes a chord with those who are into Zen and balance. We live in an age of productivity, but one needs to remember that uselessness can sometimes be useful. It helps to think that one need not be always more of what one is. It’s alright to be who you are and that stuff you might think useless is important too.
Nistha Shrestha
Director, Nepal Children Art Museum
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.” – The Lost Continent, Terry Pratchett
The Lost Continent is a classic of travel literature. It’s got great sense of humor, wit as well some really heart touching and endearing moments. I came across this book back when I was in high school. Since then I have read it a couple times more. Terry Pratchett has always been one of my favorite writers and of all the books I have read and all the lines I have liked, I come back to this quote from the book.
I have never really been religious. I don’t believe in the afterlife either so this line really spoke to me. I feel like it is poignant and inspiring at the same time. There is nothing quite like a reality check and this line rings through as a reminder of how we should make the most of whatever time we have left. It’s classic Terry Pratchett.
Trisha Rai
Teacher
He and I
When words run dry,
he does not try,
nor do I.
We are on par.
He just is,
I just am
and we just are.
- Love and Misadventures, Lang Leav
Lang Leav has earned many praises for her ability to express the intricacies of love and loss. Her bestseller Love and Misadventure holds a similar theme. It is one of my favorite books because while reading it, I could instantly relate to it. Lang Leav has this unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. There were instances while reading the book where I felt like it was specifically written for me. It’s amazing how she takes these complex emotions and translates it into words with such perplexing simplicity.
Case in point, her seven line poem He and I. When I came across this poem, I thought it aptly described my relationship with my husband. It not only represented our dynamics but in an instant also summed up the evolution of our journey together. From who we are as individuals to what we have become as a couple.
