Normal, in our house, is like a blanket too short for a bed--sometimes it covers you just fine, and other times it leaves you cold and shaking; and worst of all, you never know which of the two it's going to be.
Jodi PicoultRead
Each memory is like a paper flower stowed up a magician's sleeve: invisible one moment and then so substantial and florid the next I cannot imagine how it stayed hidden all this time. And like those paper flowers, once they've been let loose in the world, the memories are impossible to tuck away again.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Memories can be fleeting and then unexpectedly vivid, revealing emotions we thought were hidden.
This quote illustrates the ephemeral nature of memories. It suggests that memories, much like paper flowers hidden in a magician's sleeve, can suddenly become vivid and impactful, reminding us of their significance even after lying dormant for a long time. Once these memories surface, they cannot simply be forgotten or tucked away; they hold a lasting presence in our lives.
Themes
MemoriesFleetingEmotionsHiddenSignificance
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech, one might use this quote to reflect on the importance of cherished memories.
More from Jodi Picoult
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But if you seek forgiveness, doesn't that automatically mean you cannot be a monster? By definition, doesn't that desperation make you human again?
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when you [lose someone], it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out. You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all nerves are still a little raw
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