Why Books Aren't *Just* Books

I’m fairly certain this will rile some people up, but how big is the gap between a writer and a philosopher? So allow me to reverie about this.

And sure, let’s start by getting what I believe will be the main counterargument out of the way: one can say nothing has meaning (a very nihilist view of life, by the way), that there is no rhyme or reason for why things are the way they are.

However, I’d argue one’s lack of ability to recognize the meaning of something doesn’t erase the inherent meaning said thing has (also, it’s 3 am as I’m writing this; cut me some slack). Say you’ve never in your entire life seen a lion; would you be able to recognize a lion in that case? If you think so, go to Google and look up Lion of Gripsholm Castle, aka the first lion to be embalmed and see how great of a job it was done.

The moral of the story is everything we do has a meaning behind it—you eat because you’re hungry, because you’re bored, because you’re sad, and maybe you don’t recognize the ‘because’ but something drives you to eat—and books aren’t different. The media we consume tells a lot about us, and the media one creates tells EVEN MORE about oneself; again, the inability to recognize that doesn’t take away from the fact.

If you read ‘Ellipsis: A Love Story’, you’ll see that Thea wears a peach-scented perfume. Do you think I’d write my fmc smelling like peach if I hate the smell of peaches? Do you think I’d write Adrian Friedman as a possessive asshole (HE ISN’T, BTW) if I found that to be disgusting behavior?

What we enjoy tells so much about us, and this doesn’t apply as a rule for everyone because some people have OCD and intrusive thoughts, but I don’t think that represents the whole of the bookish community.

Honestly, we’d all be less miserable if we accepted every part of our beings. Maybe you’d be happier supporting the return of the 1830s, and maybe people would appreciate knowing you support the return of the 1830s. If there is one thing we can take from the political landscape, it is that you can support genocide, and in the eyes of some, that makes you a good person.

YOU CAN’T SUPPORT THE WORK OF A BIGOT WITHOUT SUPPORTING A BIGOT!!! peace out besties