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“Just when normal life felt almost possible - when the world held some kind of order, meaning, even loveliness (the prismatic spray of light through an icicle; the stillness of a sunrise), some small thing would go awry and the veil of optimism was torn away, the barren world revealed. They learned, somehow, to wait those times out. There was no cure, no answer, no reparation.”
― The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
― The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
“We have no authoritative figure, no Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow whom we all listen to and trust to sort out contradictory claims. Instead, the media is splintered into a thousand fragments, each with its own version of reality, each claiming the loyalty of a splintered nation.”
― The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
― The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
“The man might have died in a fit; but then the jewels are missing," mused the Inspector, "Ha! I have a theory. These flashes come upon me at times... What do you think of this, Holmes? Sholto was, on his own confession, with his brother last night. The brother died in a fit, on which Sholto walked off the treasure! How's that?"
"On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside," said Holmes.”
― The Sign of Four
"On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside," said Holmes.”
― The Sign of Four
“Everyone should get dirt on his hands each day. Doctors, intellectuals. Politicians, most of all. How can we presume to uplift the life of the working man, if we don't respect his work?”
― The Lacuna
― The Lacuna
Raphael’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Raphael’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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