"Life is short but a novel long."
This quote by Thomas Mallon suggests that life's brevity contrasts with the length and complexity of a novel, emphasizing the depth and richness that can be found in both experiences. It implies that even though our lives may be short, there is still ample opportunity to create, explore, and delve into the intricacies of human existence - just as one does when writing a novel. Essentially, life and literature provide us with an endless source of potential for depth, complexity, and meaningful exploration.
"The secret of a good adventure is leaving undiscovered countries undiscovered."
Thomas Mallon suggests that the essence of a fulfilling adventure lies in exploring uncharted territories, maintaining an element of mystery and untouched beauty. By choosing to leave some places unexplored, we preserve the thrill and enigma of discovery, which is integral to any great adventure. This quote encourages us to respect and value the unknown, fostering a spirit of curiosity and exploration in our journey through life.
"Every book is a kind of letter that readers write to authors."
This quote suggests that when we read a book, we engage in a unique form of communication with its author. The interpretation, emotions, thoughts, and discussions triggered by the book become our response or "letter" to the author. In essence, reading is not just passively consuming words on a page; it's an interactive process where readers actively participate and contribute their personal perspectives and insights to the work.
"A novelist's task is to see the familiar made strange again."
The quote by Thomas Mallon underscores the importance of novelists in exploring fresh perspectives on commonplace realities, thereby enriching our understanding and appreciation of everyday life. By making the familiar seem unfamiliar, they challenge our preconceived notions, stimulate critical thought, and foster empathy and curiosity. In essence, they encourage us to look at the world anew.
"There are no small parts, only small writers."
This quote by Thomas Mallon emphasizes that the importance of a role or task does not depend on its size or perceived insignificance, but rather on the skill and talent of the person performing it. In other words, even seemingly minor roles can be significant if approached with professionalism and creativity, thus making the writer (or actor) who delivers an impactful performance, rather than the role itself, notable.
The cosmic game changed forever in 1992. Before then, logic told us that there had to be other planets besides the nine (if you still count poor Pluto) in our solar system, but until that year, when two astronomers detected faint, telltale radio signals in the constellation Virgo, we had no hard evidence of their existence.
- Thomas Mallon
One's politics are part of one even when one is writing. But if I want to say anything about the state of civil society, I will write an essay. The responsibilities you feel as a novelist are literary ones, I think, not civic ones. And I think politicians are interesting to write about.
- Thomas Mallon
For almost every novel I've written, I've read the daily newspaper of the time almost as if it were my current subscription. For 'Two Moons,' which was set in 1877, I think I read just about every day of the 'Washington Evening Star' for that year. For 'Henry and Clara,' I read the 'Albany Evening Journal' of the time.
- Thomas Mallon
The Czech Republic, severed from its old Slovak half, sits in apparent landlocked contentment, inside the European Union but outside the troubled Euro Zone, set into the new Continental mosaic like one of the small sturdy paving stones, just a few inches square, that form the sidewalks under the visitor's ambling feet.
- Thomas Mallon
John Quincy Adams ranks with Jimmy Carter on the roster of ex-presidential redemption. Instead of completing a biography of his father, he let himself be elected to the House, where he spent nine terms in Whiggish opposition to the Democrats, supporting a national bank and a protective tariff and internal improvements.
- Thomas Mallon
I like writing dialog but don't think I'd be much good at a screenplay. I once had to write a treatment for a novel of mine - a condition of its being optioned by a movie producer - and I turned out something pretty lackluster. So my inclination would be to stay out of the way of an experienced screenwriter.
- Thomas Mallon
Nixon had been to China. He had been to Russia doing arms negotiation. And so, he was on his way toward what happened in November, which was an electoral win with 49 states. And the sheer unnecessariness of the Watergate break-in is something that must have tormented him and his allies in all of the years that followed.
- Thomas Mallon
One decision I made in writing 'Henry and Clara' was that I would keep Lincoln's appearances and any dialogue by him to an absolute minimum, because I think readers don't quite believe it when novelists have Lincoln walking around and saying things. They just know they're in the presence of stage machinery.
- Thomas Mallon
I often tell people who want to write historical fiction: don't read all that much about the period you're writing about; read things from the period that you're writing about. There's a tendency to stoke up on a lot of biography and a lot of history, and not to actually get back to the original sources.
- Thomas Mallon
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