I love how this piece was written: the characters individually speaking and sharing what's on their minds to the reader. More than love, it talks about life, and how and what different kinds of individuals make out of their existence. It definitely is a good read!
As I was reading this novel, I can't help but get my highlighter and mark my favorite lines. These quotes got me thinking, made me feel bad somehow, and taught me about life in general.
1. Why are people such experts on what they don't know about? (p. 16)
Guilty.
We gossip, backstab, and make up our own stories without sufficient basis. We judge things on face value. Why? Because we think we know better, and we believe we're above others.
On the other side of this line, it's terrible when people around you seem to know more about your life, or irritatingly "nagmamagaling". This is our life, these are our own issues. We should have the power over them, and the control over our doings.
2. But we live our lives without such useful little mirrors magnifying the road just traveled. Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it. (p. 19)
I honestly don't believe on, "Past is Past." The past IS the past. Yes, we cannot do anything about it, but we can definitely do something from or because of it. We should always look back, and let our experiences and memories guide us as we move forward.
3. I'm not going to be anyone's damn footnote. (p. 33)
Who wants to be a footnote, anyway? Of course, we want to be the main event in someone else's life. We want to be 'the one' and not just 'the other one'. Or at least, most of us.
4. Everyone's entitled to their own life story. (p. 35)
We are the writers, the actors, the directors, and the protagonist and antagonist (parang Ruby lang. HAHA) of our own life stories. We are the ones who add characters, and who revise the plot depending on the objectives and twists of our adventure.
5. Life is a process during which your weakest places are inevitably discovered. It is also a process during which you are punished for your earlier actions and desires. (p. 39)
Truth. This is why there's a need to look back, and never forget. Because past IS past.
6. You never know when love will not strike; it is always the dangerous time. (p. 39)
You can control the weight of love, but it is hard to prevent it from happening. Once it's there, an apparent feeling, it's either you give in to or give up on it.
7. A thinks of B as a friend, but B doesn't think of A as a friend. (p. 55)
Ouch. But we know that this happens in real life--- be it part of our old high school drama or real-life teleserye. Once in our life, we may not know or realize it, but we have already been A or B.
8. The inexpressible sadness of things. (p. 79)
Thank you, Julian Barnes! There are times when I can't even explain why I'm sad, down, or just plain moody. It happens. I would stare blankly, not even knowing what I'm thinking or what I should be thinking.
9. We got into the habit of dropping the "I" but one day, I caught myself wondering if it wasn't significant. As if you weren't taking responsibility for the feeling any more. (p.146)
I agree. Dropping the 'I' means neglecting the responsibility for the feeling. And honestly, I love you sounds so much better and it has greater impact than just plain love you/luv u/love u.
10. The world divides into people for whom love is everything and the rest of life is a mere 'etc.' and people who don't value love enough and find the most exciting part of life is the 'etc.' (p. 148)
This got me thinking, and nodding. To some, love makes life worth living. To some, love is just a little aspect of life and can be overpowered by so many other factors which make them happier, or happiest even. I say, those who don't value love enough do not really just care less; above all, they're afraid of not giving or receiving equal kind and level of love.
11. Would you rather destroy yourself by lack of self-knowledge, or destroy yourself by its acquisition? (p. 192)
Something to ponder on.
12. Would you rather love or be loved? (p. 217)
Both. It goes hand-in-hand: you love and you are loved. If it's just either, then, it's not love. Or at least not a real one.
13. It's a big thing to bring a child into the world, but it's a bigger thing to stop one coming into it. (p. 221)
No to abortion! Wanted or unwanted, planned or planned, a child is a child. No man/woman has the right to stop a child from discovering and experiencing how wonderful and/or rotten our world is.
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This novel is not just a love story. It is the story of intertwined lives reflecting our own real-life dramas.
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