--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mother was a children's librarian. I…" description: "\"My mother was a children's librarian. I remember when traditional stories were revised for modern audiences until they bore only a nodding acquaintance..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/patricia-briggs-571_acquaintance_my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-i-r_210802.jpg" --- # My mother was a children's librarian. I remember when… ![“My mother was a children's librarian. I remember when traditional stories were revised for modern audiences until they bore only a nodding acquaintance with the originals, but were released as 'authentic Indian stories' when they were, in fact, nothing of the kind.” quote by Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/patricia-briggs-571_acquaintance_my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-i-r_210802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/patricia-briggs-571_acquaintance_my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-i-r_210802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/patricia-briggs-571_acquaintance_my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-i-r_210802.jpg) > “My mother was a children's librarian. I remember when traditional stories were revised for modern audiences until they bore only a nodding acquaintance with the originals, but were released as 'authentic Indian stories' when they were, in fact, nothing of the kind.” [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern retellings often dilute original cultural narratives, presenting them as authentic while stripping essential context. **In simple terms:** Rewrites can misrepresent true heritage. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate claimed authenticity. Themes culture authenticity literature Mood skeptical inquisitive Type critical analytical When to use this quote - book clubs - educational curricula - publishing decisions - media criticism Key Concepts postcolonial theory narrative ownership Questions to Reflect On - How can readers spot superficial authenticity? - What responsibilities do authors have? A Different Perspective Not all adaptations are harmful; some revive interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Bores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bores/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-librarian-1771761/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian/) [Indian Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian-stories-2177215/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Nodding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nodding/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-when/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Revised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-revised-2177216/) [Traditional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional/) [Traditional Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional-stories-2177214/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I feel as if I can take Indian stories, make them mine and take them to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-dorfman/i-feel-as-if-i-can-take-indian-stories-make-them-mine-and-take-them/) [Ariel Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-dorfman/) > [Our traditional stories are based on an aristocratic model without a middle class, whereas The Arabian Nights reflect people living in cities, traders, merchants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/our-traditional-stories-are-based-on-an-aristocratic-model-without-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [I have been writing fairy tales for as long as I can remember. Not much has changed in terms of my natural attraction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bernheimer/i-have-been-writing-fairy-tales-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-not/) [Kate Bernheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bernheimer/) > [The nice thing about quotes is that they give us a nodding acquaintance with the originator which is often socially impressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-williams/the-nice-thing-about-quotes-is-that-they-give-us-a-nodding/) [Kenneth Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-williams/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [My mother was a children's librarian, and I was raised on lots of English children's literature. It gave me this weird idea that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-mays/my-mother-was-a-children-s-librarian-and-i-was-raised-on-lots-of/) [Jefferson Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-mays/) > [My mum was a children's librarian, so I spent a lot of time in the library. My reading life, because of my mum's work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/my-mum-was-a-children-s-librarian-so-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-the/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [I know that when I was a children's librarian, that was about 1940, boys particularly asked where were the books about kids like us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/i-know-that-when-i-was-a-children-s-librarian-that-was-about-1940/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [ \[My mom\] had always wanted to write a children's book. She was a children's librarian and an elementary school teacher, so of course she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bush/my-mom-had-always-wanted-to-write-a-children-s-book-she-was-a/) [Jenna Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bush/) > [I've always loved children. When I was working with children as a librarian, I loved being with them and working around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/i-ve-always-loved-children-when-i-was-working-with-children-as-a/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [Steve Carell, we’ve been nodding at each other for years now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/steve-carell-we-ve-been-nodding-at-each-other-for-years-now/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [He says one word, nodding into the daylight. "Look." It's an astounding word. It's a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/he-says-one-word-nodding-into-the-daylight-look-it-s-an-astounding/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [And the wind upon its way whispered the boughs of May, And touched the nodding peony flowers to bid them waken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/and-the-wind-upon-its-way-whispered-the-boughs-of-may-and-touched-the/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [Ma'am," Augustus said, nodding toward her, "Your daughter's car has just been deservingly egged by a blind man. Please close the door and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/ma-am-augustus-said-nodding-toward-her-your-daughter-s-car-has-just/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [In the water bucket a melon and an eggplant nodding to each other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yosa-buson/in-the-water-bucket-a-melon-and-an-eggplant-nodding-to-each-other/) [Yosa Buson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yosa-buson/) ## More by Patricia Briggs > [“His favorite saying was, 'Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum." "'Sometimes I have the urge to conquer large parts of Europe'?" Boyd said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/his-favorite-saying-was-interdum-feror-cupidine-partium-magnarum/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“want to. Adam wasn’t angry. He wouldn’t hurt me. I let him pull the power of his pack over me like a warm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/want-to-adam-wasn-t-angry-he-wouldn-t-hurt-me-i-let-him-pull-the/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“I promise I won't spank you," he told me, his voice rough and low as he added, "not unless you ask me to." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-promise-i-won-t-spank-you-he-told-me-his-voice-rough-and-low-as-he/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Love is not necessary for sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/love-is-not-necessary-for-sex/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“I paused to pat the truck’s hood gently in apology when someone put his hand on my shoulder. I grabbed the hand and rotated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-paused-to-pat-the-truck-s-hood-gently-in-apology-when-someone-put/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [In this dream, I wasn’t a coyote shapeshifter trying to hold a werewolf, I was Coyote’s almost daughter, and I had all the strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/in-this-dream-i-wasn-t-a-coyote-shapeshifter-trying-to-hold-a/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“She hit us,” the woman shrieked. That was the gist of it anyway. There were a lot of unladylike words that began with “F,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/she-hit-us-the-woman-shrieked-that-was-the-gist-of-it-anyway-there/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Charles was most comfortable by himself or, if that wasn't possible, with his pack in the wild. Talking for hours in a crowded auditorium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/charles-was-most-comfortable-by-himself-or-if-that-wasn-t-possible/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Evil must always be fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/evil-must-always-be-fought/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Beauclaire, for his part, sank back in the soft material of the couch as if the thought that it would impede him should he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/beauclaire-for-his-part-sank-back-in-the-soft-material-of-the-couch/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [What do you mean?” Leslie’s voice was cool, as if she questioned witches who were flat on their backs being threatened by werewolves every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/what-do-you-mean-leslie-s-voice-was-cool-as-if-she-questioned-witches/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Explore all 467 Patricia Briggs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A woman who can't forgive should never have more than a nodding acquaintance with a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-who-can-t-forgive-should-never-have-more-than-a-nodding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 484 Acquaintance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mother was a children's librarian. 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