Books Quote by Alejandro Zambra
““The novel belongs to our parents, I thought then, I think now. That's what we grew up believing, that the novel belonged to our parents. We cursed them, and also took refuge in their shadows, relieved. While the adults killed or were killed, we drew pictures in a corner. While the country was falling to pieces, we were learning to talk, to walk, to fold napkins in the shapes of boats, of airplanes. While the novel was happening, we played hide-and-seek, we played at disappearing.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Book of Evidence" by Alejandro Zambra, 2015
The quote reflects on how youth experience literature as a refuge and a shared cultural inheritance amidst societal turmoil.
In simple terms: Youth see novels as a safe space during chaos.
Key Takeaway
Find comfort in stories during uncertainty.
Themes
youth
literature
war
memory
identity
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
personal
historical
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- school classrooms
- conflict zones
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cultural inheritance
refuge
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How do stories shape your sense of belonging?
- What role does literature play in coping with crisis?
A Different Perspective
The perspective may romanticize escapism, overlooking active resistance.
![“I hope that the relationship of the title to the novel [ What Belongs To You] gets more complex with each section of the book: that maybe it begins by resonating with the question of prostitution - to what extent can a body be commodified, what exactly are you renting or purchasing when you pay…” quote by Garth Greenwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4b/garth-greenwell-14165_addresses_i-hope-that-the-relationship-of-the-titl_1775897.jpg)
