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The Writer's Quotation Book: A Literary Companion
Paperback literary collection of writer's quotations
142 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 13, 2012
I have so many of these quotes marked with book flags it's unreal. The quotes are great. Many I'd heard or read before, but they are amazing. When I'm feeling really down and depressed not just as a writer, but in general, I pick this book up and thumb through and read a few quotes. It helps me feel better and it makes me smile.
April 12, 2023
A lovely collection of quotes about writers, writing, and books.
Like "How can you write if you can't cry?" -Ring Lardner, who, I did not know and had to look up. ( He was born in 1885 and was a sports columnist and satirical writer. Contemporaries were Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Woolf.)
Many others with expressions of the pain of the craft, the spoils, the battles with critics. Books, books and more books.
“Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting at the end of a long day makes that day happier.” – Kathleen Norris of whom I have read her spiritual focused tomes.
This little book will prove not only a good reference, but a go to when writer’s block attacks. Because the camaraderie of the selections is the real charm.
Like "How can you write if you can't cry?" -Ring Lardner, who, I did not know and had to look up. ( He was born in 1885 and was a sports columnist and satirical writer. Contemporaries were Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Woolf.)
Many others with expressions of the pain of the craft, the spoils, the battles with critics. Books, books and more books.
“Just the knowledge that a good book is waiting at the end of a long day makes that day happier.” – Kathleen Norris of whom I have read her spiritual focused tomes.
This little book will prove not only a good reference, but a go to when writer’s block attacks. Because the camaraderie of the selections is the real charm.
December 9, 2023
“The harmonies of bound books are like the flowers of the field.” -Hilaire Belloc
“A room without books is like a body without soul.” -Cicero
“One always tends to overpraise a long book, because one has got through it.” -E.M Forester
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” -Robert Frost
“There are three things, after all, that a poem must reach: the eye, the ear, and what we may call the heart or the mind. It is most important of all to reach the heart of the reader.” -Robert Frost
“...of making many books there is no end.” Ecclesiastes 12:12
“A room without books is like a body without soul.” -Cicero
“One always tends to overpraise a long book, because one has got through it.” -E.M Forester
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” -Robert Frost
“There are three things, after all, that a poem must reach: the eye, the ear, and what we may call the heart or the mind. It is most important of all to reach the heart of the reader.” -Robert Frost
“...of making many books there is no end.” Ecclesiastes 12:12
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December 1, 2020its a good book .i ant to get knowledge from it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
As a reader, I loved and sympathized all through this collection.,
March 11, 2022
This is a nice collection of quotes that every writer should read.
May 22, 2024
Although I wish it had more structure (heading divisions and an index perhaps), it's still a great collection of writerly quotations.
May 12, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It seems there are always opposition in all things. This includes all aspects of reading, writing, editing, publishing, reviewing, and fame that may or may not come.
Some of my favorite quotes
"There are two basic reactions. There are those who hate you because they think you put them in your book, and there are those who hate you because they think you didn't put them in your book" -Hanif Kureishi It made me laugh...oh the joy!
"In America only the successful writer is important, in France all writers are important, in England no writer is important, in Australia you have to explain what a writer is." -Geoffrey Cotterell
"How can you write if you can't cry?" -Ring Lardner
"A good writer is not, per se, a good book critic. No more than a good drunk is automatically a good bartender." -Jim Bishop
"Insects sting, not out of malice, but because they want to live. It is the same with critics; they desire our blood, not our pain." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Some of my favorite quotes
"There are two basic reactions. There are those who hate you because they think you put them in your book, and there are those who hate you because they think you didn't put them in your book" -Hanif Kureishi It made me laugh...oh the joy!
"In America only the successful writer is important, in France all writers are important, in England no writer is important, in Australia you have to explain what a writer is." -Geoffrey Cotterell
"How can you write if you can't cry?" -Ring Lardner
"A good writer is not, per se, a good book critic. No more than a good drunk is automatically a good bartender." -Jim Bishop
"Insects sting, not out of malice, but because they want to live. It is the same with critics; they desire our blood, not our pain." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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April 12, 2012Laughed out loud at some of the quotes....comforting.....
December 7, 2012
Cute. A nice thing to start out the writing day.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews