Truth in Fiction The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith

"She gazed at her husband. Being loved and admired by a man like that - and she knew that this man, this mechanic, this fixer of machines with their broken hearts, did indeed love and admire her - was like walking in the sunshine; it gave the same feeling of warmth and pleasure to bask in the love of one who has promised it, publicly at a wedding ceremony, and who is constant in his promise that such love will be given for the rest of his days." page 116


"Lies can sometimes be as powerful as the truth , Mma. A lie about somebody can hurt that person even if everybody knows it's a lie."

Truth in Fiction Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I felt the way you do the instant before you leap into the deep end of a pool.
You're on your way somewhere else. You're not there yet. But you know there's no turning back. Jackson p.5


You can be mad at someone and still love them with all your heart.  Dad p.98

My parents didn't have any work scheduled that day, so we headed to the public library to kill time and wash up. Jackson p.106

We stayed at the library most of the day. The librarian in the children's department even shared her sandwich with Robin and me. She had Ritz crackers, too, and she gave all of those to Robin.

After that, Robin decided that she was going to be a librarian when she grew up. If the animal scientist thing doesn't work out, I might become a librarian too.  Jackson p.107

I knew he was there and that was enough .
Sometimes that's all you really need from a friend.

Truth in Fiction II None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

She'd said that one of the reasons I was so depressed was that I'd been bottling up my emotions. " You might find it helpful if you shifted from inward repression of your feelings to outward expression," she explained. p.237

"I'm just telling you to be careful of letting other people define who - and what - you are." They were words to live by. Yet like so many things in life, easier said than done. p.238



It seemed like a small offering, when I thought about the big picture perspective that Darren had talked about that day we'd run up to the top of the hill. But then I thought of a different perspective - that of a ten-year-old-girl sitting in a doctor's office, waiting for her mother to get called in. And I remembered how from that point of view, the right magazine or a good book was as large as the world.

We were both silent for a minute. And I wondered for the first time whether "feeling feminine" just meant feeling good in your own skin. p. 250

You can tell something is a true comfort food when you feel better just having ordered it. p. 276



One day I would find my own place. I couldn't run there, though, because it didn't exist yet; I had to build it myself, out of forgiveness, truth, and terrifying gestures of friendship. 305

Truth in Fiction? None of the Above by I.W.Gregorio

Hello All,
Generally my truth in fiction posts highlight all of the wonderful quotes I find in the books I read. Today's posts is a bit different. Today's post will highlight some commonly held "truths" that when repeated to others, particularly young people can cause harm. As many of us know, words can and do hurt.

I am so glad I read this book. I am even more glad that I will be able to hear the author, along with other favorites, at the Public Library Association's We Need Diverse Books Author Luncheon this Spring.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body." page 3
Pain is pain and should not be ignored. The roots of both physical and emotional pain need to be addressed.

"...as Aunt Carla always said, low expectations were the key to a happy life." page 14 emphasis mine
If a person spends their life setting their expectations as to not be disappointed, they may never know the exhilaration of true happiness, the feeling of success after much hard work, or the lessons learned from not reaching a goal.

"It's like you were the keeper of the only diamond in the world, and when you gave it to someone, it disintegrated. You can never get it back...And after that, you can never look at the world in the same way again." page 21

I agree that physical intimacy is sacred, precious and valuable. I believe that we can teach young people to respect and honor their bodies, to make informed decisions about sexual activity, that physical intimacy changes relationships... without making them feel like they have made the worst of all possible mistakes if they have sex under less than ideal circumstances. 

The idea that a young woman choosing to have sex while in high school, before marriage, or at any other time that certain members of society deem too early or inappropriate will alter the way she looks at the world for the rest of her life is just a bit much.

Truth in Fiction Happy by Pharrell Williams

HAPPY!

I love, love, love this book. Anyone who knows me knows that I love the song, so when the book was published I had to get it in my hot little hands, and I am so glad I did. The photographs in this book are amazing. They feature bright, colorful, joyful young people diverse in age, size, and ethnicity. Because I had fun reading this book, I am an official Happy Helper! My duty as a Happy Helper is to pass this book along and spread happiness.

The book itself is simply the lyrics to the song, BUT with the wonderful photographs I mentioned above. At the end of the book, Pharrell writes a letter to readers. In that letter, Pharrell writes several statements that I consider to be truthful. 

Everyone knows how to do something that makes people happy.

I believe it's everyone's responsibility to bring more laughter into the world.

It's pretty obvious every human being on the planet needs to feel happy.

Truth in Fiction: Hector and the Search for Happiness

Many people wanted to make an appointment with Hector, not just because he looked like a real psychiatrist, but because he had a gift all good doctors have and that you simply cant learn at college: he really was interested in people. (p. 1 Emphasis mine) 

Pills are a bit like sweets: not everybody likes the same ones. (p.3)

But, in reality, being unhappy might also teach him something about happiness. (p.31)

The basic mistake that people make is to think that happiness is the goal! (p.38)

Hector said that he understood, but all the same he thought that Eduardo was building his and his family's happiness on other people's misery. (p.64)

But he'd never never talked to Hector about this before, and he didn't really talk about it now, since there's no need to explain everything to a friend who's a psychiatrist (or to a friend who isn't a psychiatrist for that matter). (p.74 emphasis mine)

But, as previously mentioned, knowing and feeling are two different things, and feeling is what counts.(p.87)

Colleagues of mine who defend the second idea tend to think that happiness levels are a bit like blood pressure or weight: they may vary from time to time according to circumstances, but generally they return to the same basic level, which is different in each individual. (p.134)

That could be another lesson: Be very attentive to others. (p.149)

It's a certain way of seeing things. Cultivating your serenity and keeping hold of it whatever happens, even in the face of your own death. (p.156)

Truth in Fiction: Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson

"Everything is a drug, Coffee taught her that. Some are legal and some are illegal, some your brain makes on its own, and some your doctor dispenses in orange bottles, but it's all brain chemistry in the end." 

Marella talking to Bird p. 153

"There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, you know. What's the point of being brave if it destroys you?" p.169

"There can be no success without a clearly defined goal." p. 171

"There's no more painful rejection than that of the person who knows you best." p. 225

"Scientists learn about the world. It takes governments to use that knowledge for good or bad ends." p. 331

Truth in Fiction: Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

"Living a lie is painful and doesn't do anyone any good. I had to be true to myself, because either way God would know if I was lying." 

Tia Bertha, page 282

Truth in Fiction - Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

"You must never behave as if your life belongs to a man...Your life belongs to you and you alone..." Aunty Ifeka  page 283

Truth in Fiction: Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

"But every person, both great and small, is asked to do difficult things - and this is the difficult thing that I must do." p.59 Professor Cake 

"More than any argument or reasoning, the thing that persuaded Peter to stay was this: Professor Cake had given him a choice - a gift that no one had ever offered him before." p. 68

"As you have undoubtedly noticed in your own life, unsolicited advice amounts to little more than criticism, and Peter had grown increasingly weary of these 'suggestions.'" p. 92

Truth in Fiction: Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

"I collect words - they are sweets in the mouth." Standish Treadwell p. 24

"It had struck me that the world was full of holes, holes which you could fall into, never to be seen again. I couldn't understand the difference between disappearance and death. Both seemed the same to me, both left holes. Holes in your heart. Holes in your life. " Standish Treadwell p. 32

Truth in Fiction - Saints by Gene Luen Yang

 

"The world will never be exactly as we want it, Vibiana. But regardless of how imperfect things may seem, God's will can still be found.

God doesn't always speak through angels. His voice is often much quieter, like a fluttering in your heart."

p.85 Joan to Vibiana aka Four-Girl

Truth in Fiction - Manga Edition Strobe Edge by Io Sakisaka

"Lately, I've been feeling truly blessed for being surrounded by such good people... Because I get to do my work while surrounded by these people, I haven't had to deal with work-related stress...It's because the goodness of the people around me has a healing effect. I'm surrounded by hard workers who serve as my role models. They're so inspiring... Do your best or don't do it at all! BE WELL-ROUNDED AND DO YOUR BEST!" (Io Sakisaka's motto)Vol. 5

Many of us do not get to choose our co-workers. I myself deal with quite a bit of work-related stress, but surrounding myself with positive people has helped tremendously, and in ways I wouldn't have imagined.

"It feels amazing to be yourself without having to worry about what others think." Vol. 6

I agree 100%

"Be Strong and carry on. That's what I told myself that summer night." Vol. 6


Technically, this post should not be part of the Truth in Fiction series because these words from Io Sakisaka are not from the text of Strobe Edge, but from the "free pages" in Strobe Edge where Io Sakisaka shares herself with her readers, so the truth is in the book just not in the fiction. Right?

Truth in Fiction - All The Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

"I never knew a man could speak so boldly, so rudely to a woman. I never knew words could act like fingers, touching where they ought not, grasping their pleasure at the victim's expense." p 183

Most of the women I know remember the first time that a man's words had this effect on them. Do you remember the first time someone spoke to you in a way that violated your being?

*"Maria has taught me anew how to speak; I must teach myself better, when not to." p. 188

There is power in speech. People attend classes to become better speakers and join clubs to overcome the fear of public speaking. Yes, there is power in speech, but there is also power in silence. Perhaps as part of every speech or public speaking class, time out to be allocated for lessons on when not to speak.

*emphasis mine

Truth in Fiction Part 2 - Scumble by Ingrid Law

"Some fears can be conquered...Others have a way of coming back around. Sometimes at the moment you least expect. Often with the very worst possible timing. Fear makes it hard to think. And when you can't think, it's hard to figure out your choices. When you can't see all your options, all you can do is react." p.147 
Uncle Autry sharing a life lesson with Ledge on the nature of fear.


"Just because someone's got a knack for something, doesn't mean he can't learn more, right? p. 152
Uncle Autry sharing a life lesson with Ledge about innate abilities and honing our gifts and talents.

"It can take a lot of strength to show up and be yourself... don't you think? p. 240
Uncle Autry sharing a life lesson with Ledge about being your true self .
See Truth in Fiction - Scumble by Ingrid Law

"Scumbling is not about you trying to fit in with the rest of the world; it's about making your savvy fit in better with you. It's simply learning to balance all the different parts of yourself so that you don't let the one thing that feels most out-of-control take over and rule your life. Get it?" p. 251
Cousin Rocket sharing a life lesson with Ledge about balance.

"Wounded animals can be dangerous, Ledge. Some wounded people can be too." p.278
Cousin Rocket sharing a life lesson with Ledge about the danger of wounded people.

Uncle Autry sure has a gift for sharing life lessons. Is there someone in your life who shared their wisdom with you as you were growing up? If so, who? What wisdom did they share with you?

Truth in Fiction - If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

"I answer her with my silence, understanding the full power of it for the first time. Words are weapons. Weapons are powerful. So are unsaid words. So are unused weapons." p.24

I have understood the power of silence and words for quite a while. However, I never quite thought of words as weapons which is surprising as I know how much words can hurt. I know how much damage words can inflict on self and on another. Yet, I still see words as tools...tools and weapons.

"What do you mean you got nothin'? You have these books, for one. Books are like whole new worlds," I say, my voice reverent.
"So?"
"So, that means you have the world. And you better take care of it, I say, handin' the book back to her." p.117

"Good things come to those who let them in. All you have you have to do is take a chance." p.135

I agree that good things come to those who let them in, but for me it is much easier said than done. "All" is a very big word in this instance. Taking chances can be simple in certain aspects of life and complicated in others. Taking chances on myself and on others is a mighty big "all" indeed.

"No one warned me that being close to people meant hurting sometimes, both them and you." p.164

Getting close to people is not something I do well or often. The hurt I have caused loved ones gives me as much pause as the hurt that has been inflicted on me.

"I wait, listening. I reckon it's the biggest gift a human being can give to another." p.185

Listening is indeed a gift, a big and precious gift. There is absolutely nothing like being heard.

Truth in Fiction Flora & Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures

 Flora & Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

"The giant squid is the loneliest of all God's creatures. He  can sometimes go for the whole of his life without seeing another of his kind." Dr. Meescham to Flora


"That squid is a villain," said Flora out loud. "He needs to be vanquished. He's eating a boat. And he's going to eat all the people on the boat."

"Yes, well, loneliness makes us do terrible things*..." p. 124

* emphasis mine

Truth in Fiction - Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

What you are doing right now,

this moment, THIS STEP,

is the most important thing

in your life.

Bad experiences are like bad drawings. They stay in our sketchbooks. They stay a part of us. You can't erase your past or who you are. You have to deal with it, I suppose.

Truth in Fiction - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

One of the secrets of the universe was that our instincts were sometimes stronger than our minds.

Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer morning could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder. p. 261

I decided that maybe we left each other alone too much. Leaving each other alone was killing us. p. 283

I came to understand that my father was a careful man. To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing. p. 324

Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed. Had I been hurt? Had I healed? Maybe we just lived between hurting and healing. p. 335

Truth in Fiction - The Big Sea by Langston Hughes

The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it.