Bourbon Quote by Emma Forrest
““When I come home from school, I take my Doc Martens off and put on fake satin mules with the marabou trim, slip into my dressing gown and my movie, and I feel serene. I hold a glass of Coke to my cheek and pretend it is a glass of bourbon and I am in New Orleans. My bedroom door is the doorway onto the street and at night I can't sleep because of the heat and the commotion in this town. So I go down to the river and dance as a man with scars on his face plays an accordion. People clap along and wolf-whistle and I whip my skirt around my thighs, which are long and lean because I barely get a chance to eat, what with all my bourbon and afternoon baths. I dance until my mules get muddy, then I tiptoe home, followed by sailors and men who have hundreds and thousands of dollars playing stud poker. Steve McQueen might be there. I can't remember. I get confused at this point. Too much drink. I'm sure Karl Malden is lurking in the background, gazing at me longingly. I am kind to him because his mother is dying. ””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Dream of the River, 2018
The narrator creates an elaborate fantasy to escape mundane reality, blending sensory details with imagined glamour.
In simple terms: Escapism through vivid imagination.
Use imagination to cope with hardship.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- nighttime insomnia
- creative writing
- performance art
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the fantasy reveal about the narrator's desires?
- How can imagination be balanced with reality?
Escapism may prevent confronting real issues.