--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, for me, there's The Book I…" description: "\"I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The Book I Wanted to Write - and they weren't the same book. The Book I Should Write should be rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/marlon-james-10052_book_i-think-for-me-there-s-the-book-i-should_1762448.jpg" --- # I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The… ![“I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The Book I Wanted to Write - and they weren't the same book. The Book I Should Write should be realistic, since I studied English Lit. It should be cultural. It should reflect where I am today. The Book I Wanted to Write would probably include…” quote by Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/marlon-james-10052_book_i-think-for-me-there-s-the-book-i-should_1762448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/marlon-james-10052_book_i-think-for-me-there-s-the-book-i-should_1762448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df4/marlon-james-10052_book_i-think-for-me-there-s-the-book-i-should_1762448.jpg) > “I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The Book I Wanted to Write - and they weren't the same book. The Book I Should Write should be realistic, since I studied English Lit. It should be cultural. It should reflect where I am today. The Book I Wanted to Write would probably include flying women, magic, and all of that.” [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author distinguishes between a realistic, culturally grounded book he feels he should write and an imaginative, fantastical one he wishes to write, highlighting the tension between duty and desire. **In simple terms:** He sees a practical, cultural book he should write versus a magical, imaginative one he wants to write. Key Takeaway Balance practical goals with creative dreams. Themes creativity duty identity literature conflict Mood contemplative inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing projects - genre experimentation - career decisions - personal fulfillment Key Concepts Narrative theory self-actualization artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - Which book aligns with your current purpose? - Can you blend realism and fantasy? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on practicality may stifle imagination; chasing fantasy may ignore market realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [English Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-lit/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I should write a book. I've always wanted to write a book. I should write a book about kids who see dead people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-noory/i-should-write-a-book-i-ve-always-wanted-to-write-a-book-i-should/) [George Noory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-noory/) > [“I do enjoy writing, and I hope someone gets something interesting out of this book. I already have. 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Whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/early-on-my-career-i-figured-out-that-i-just-have-to-write-the-book-i/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [It's always a better choice to write a new book than it is to keep pounding your head against the submissions wall with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-peterfreund/it-s-always-a-better-choice-to-write-a-new-book-than-it-is-to-keep/) [Diana Peterfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-peterfreund/) > [The only way to write a book, I’m fond of telling people, is to actually write a book. 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I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/the-white-man-say-we-re-fighting-for-freedom-from-totalitarianism/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“Nineteen seventy-six come and bring an election with it. The man who bring guns to the ghetto made it clear, that there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/nineteen-seventy-six-come-and-bring-an-election-with-it-the-man-who/) [Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/) > [“She not black, she mulatto. Mulatto, mulatto, mulatto. 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