Belzhar

We're talking about the novel, right? But maybe we're not. We're talking about ourselves. And I guess that's what can start to happen when you talk about a book.

Everyone,” she continues, looking around at all of us, “has something to say. But not everyone can bear to say it. Your job is to find a way.

And I also know that pain can seem like an endless ribbon. You pull it and you pull it. You keep gathering it toward you, and as it collects, you really can’t believe that there’s something else at the end of it. Something that isn’t just more pain. But there’s always something else at the end; something at least a little different. You never know what that thing will be, but it’s there.

Books light the fire—whether it’s a book that’s already written, or an empty journal that needs to be filled in.

The mind plays tricks on itself in order to stay in one piece.

It's funny how you can go for a long time in life not needing someone, and then you meet them and you suddenly need them all the time

... if you hold on, if you force yourself as hard as you can to find some kind of patience in the middle of all your impatience, things can change.

Sometimes it's easier to tell ourselves a story.

the rest of life—that imperfect thing—waiting.

He was like a long beaker in chemistry class, and the top was always bubbling over because some interesting process was taking place inside

I might have things to look forward to again, things I can’t even imagine yet.

Words matter. All semester, we were looking for the words to say what we needed to say. We were all looking for our voice.

to find out what another human being feels, a person who isn't you; to get a look under the hood, so to speak. A deep look inside. That's what writing is supposed to do.

I guess I feel like grief is this huge part of everything,” I say in a burst. “But you’re supposed to act like it’s not.

- O voce. Asta e tot ce primim. Nimeni habar n-are ce vrea să spună, dar ea pare perfect mulţumită să ne lase în continuare nedumeriţi şi aşteaptă. - Ăă, poftim? spune Marc. - Fiecare avem o singură voce, spune doamna Quenell, iar lumea e incredibil de zgomotoasă. Uneori cred că cei tăcuţi... Face semn din cap spre băiatul grosolan. - ...şi-au dat seama că cea mai bună modalitate de-a atrage atenţia celorlalţi e să nu strigi, ci să şopteşti. Ceea ce îi face pe toţi să asculte puţin mai atent.

But it’s never just been the journals that have made the difference, I don’t think. It’s also the way the students are with one another . . . the way they talk about books and authors and themselves. Not just their problems, but their passions too. The way they form a little society and discuss whatever matters to them. Books light the fire—whether it’s a book that’s already written, or an empty journal that needs to be filled in.

Toată lumea, continuă ea, privind în jur spre noi, are ceva de spus. Dar nu toată lumea poate suporta să o spună. Treaba voastră e să găsiţi o modalitate.

But you can’t say that what you learn in English class doesn’t matter. That great writing doesn’t make a difference. I’m