Tourists Quote by Emily Maguire
““These were the parts of Strathdee the tourists never saw, lined with red-brick and fibro rentals with squat steel fences out front. It was a few minutes before ten on a breezy, sunny Wednesday and most of the front yards we passed were occupied: I exchanged glances with a chain-smoking teenager half watching two toddlers beating each other with plastic tools, a pair of ancient Italian immigrants in wife-beaters and dress pants staring blankly at the road, and a middle-aged woman in track pants and thongs watering weeds.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, 2008
A vivid snapshot of a diverse, everyday street scene reveals hidden stories behind ordinary people.
In simple terms: Every person has an unseen story in daily life.
Notice the humanity in strangers.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- walking through a city
- writing character sketches
- teaching cultural awareness
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this scene tell you about community?
- How can you see beyond appearances?
May overlook deeper narratives beyond surface details.