Book review Quote by Dorothy Parker
““To me, the raveled sleeve of care is never more painlessly knitted up than in an evening alone in a chair snug yet copious, with a good light and an easily held little volume sloppily printed and bound in inexpensive paper. I do not ask much of it - which is just as well, for that is all I get. It does not matter if I guess the killer, and if I happen to discover, along around page 208, that I have read the work before, I attribute the fact not to the less than arresting powers of the author, but to my own lazy memory. I like best to have one book in my hand, and a stack of others on the floor beside me, so as to know the supply of poppy and mandragora will not run out before the small hours. In all reverence I say Heaven bless the Whodunit, the soothing balm on the wound, the cooling hand on the brow, the opiate of the people." --Book review Of Ellery Queen: The New York Murders, from Esquire, January 1959””
About This Quote
Source Book Review: Ellery Queen – The New York Murders, Esquire, January 1959
The reviewer finds comfort in solitary reading, valuing simple pleasures and the escapism of mystery novels.
In simple terms: Reading alone offers comfort and escape.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitary reading for relaxation.
Themes
solitude
reading
comfort
literature
Mood
contemplative
calm
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- late‑night reading
- travel
- stress relief
- creative inspiration
Key Concepts
nostalgia
escapism
personal reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does solitary reading provide you?
- How do books influence your mood?
A Different Perspective
May not address broader social contexts of reading.
