luxnova

“Fly ‘til you die.” -Lee Lue/

古池や　蛙飛び込む　水の音

the book that introduced me to Matsuo Bashō. the old pond haiku is one of my favs of all time but i admit i had Jack's reaction the first time i read it too haha.

let's all build a bridge to terabithia and never return...

i read this book first back in fourth grade, i liked it but didn't think all that much of it. i've come back to it several times since, and especially now i'm struck by how much deep meaning there really is in it. how the struggles of each character is explored. maybe the writing is geared for a younger audience but i think the reason i keep coming back is those deeper themes, the burdens we all carry, the importance of forgiveness. it's a really short book but i just love it so much.

edit Jan 2025: Now I'm thinking again about this book. Rachel's desire to fly, her selective mutism, Bastian tying his personality to his father being in the Air Force... Honestly this is such a comfort read and the older I get the more I feel like I understand it.

This book was actually lot better than I thought it would be, very infuriating, funny and insightful.