The Tale of Genji. An excerpt.

Considered the oldest written novel – and written by a woman over one thousand years ago. It exposes the character of Genji in an unusually candid way.

I love the way she presented deeper looks at characters – sometimes through their internal monologue/reflections, their actions, their reactions, and sometimes through symbolism (usually highlighting a gesture of nature).

I was surprised that Genji is neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’. She displayed her characters in such a ‘human’, real and natural light – with their good and bad moments.

Her writing was a multi layered experience.

Zanzibar. Oman. A rebel Princess. Her Autobiography.

Art. Sanity. Fiction

I sense a rabbit hole.

East. West.

“Don’t be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value.” – Arthur Miller

Ikigai – 生き甲斐 . Japanese word/concept defined by the idea that true value lies in what gives your life pleasure. Pursuing one’s passion in life, living for what gives you joy and meaning offers a sense of true accomplishment, worth, and value.

So Nin And Very Vuong

“I am pregnant with the book. I feel its weight, its pressure, its stirrings.”

– Anais Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Volume 1: 1931–1934

“It is no accident, Ma, that the comma resembles a fetus— that curve of continuation. We were all once inside our mothers, saying with our entire curved and silenced selves, more, more, more. I want to insist that are being alive is beautiful enough to be worthy of replication. And so what? So what if all I ever made of my life was more of it?”

– Ocean Vuong, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous