Our fundamental task as human beings is to seek out connections-to exercise our imaginations. Katherine Paterson More Quotes by Katherine Paterson More Quotes From Katherine Paterson Lord, let me heed the angels you put in my path. Katherine Paterson angel path inspirational I think if a book has the power to move a reader, it also has the power to offend a reader. And you want your books to have power, so you just have to take what comes with that. Katherine Paterson book moving thinking The gift of creative reading, like all natural gifts, must be nourished or it will atrophy. And you nourish it, in much the same way you nourish the gift of writing - you read, think, talk, look, listen, hate, fear, love, weep - and bring all of your life like a sieve to what you read. That which is not worthy of your gift will quickly pass through, but the gold remains. Katherine Paterson hate reading book You think it's so great to die and make everyone cry and carry on. Well it ain't. Katherine Paterson cry wells thinking We do have trouble dealing with death, but it's the one thing that is guaranteed we are all going to have to do, and we are going to have to face it many times before we die ourselves. Katherine Paterson dealing-with-death trouble faces You never know ahead of time what something's really going to be like. Katherine Paterson ahead-of-time knows My heart is heavy, she thought. It’s not just a saying. It is what is—heavy, a great stone lodged in my breast, pressing down my whole being. How can I even stand straight and look out upon the world? I am doubled over into myself and, for all the weight, find only emptiness. Katherine Paterson heart looks world It's such a thrill when an adult comes up to me and says, 'I read your book as a child and really loved it.' That's a tremendous compliment. Katherine Paterson adults book children I realize, of course, that I wasn't born knowing how to read. I just can't imagine a time when I didn't know how. Katherine Paterson realizing imagine knowing This is what art is all about. It is weaving fabric from the feathers you have plucked from your own breast. But no one must ever see the process - only the finished bolt of goods. They must never suspect that that crimson thread running through the pattern is blood. Katherine Paterson running blood art I'm sure my first nine years have had a powerful influence on the kind of books I write. Katherine Paterson powerful writing book The children's book world has given me wonderful friendships and an unbelievably rich life. Katherine Paterson rich-life book children More than fifty years ago Sputnik dramatically raised the nation's awareness of what was lacking in science and math education in America. What we need to wake people up to now is the crisis in imagination and concern for the greater good. Katherine Paterson math america years We can read the paper or current magazines and learn about national and world events, think about controversial subjects, learn how to disagree respectfully, and how, finally, to act on our convictions. We can read for pure delight, and if we do this as a family or classroom or other group we can build wonderful memories. Katherine Paterson groups memories thinking We book people are always preaching about reading aloud to children, but unless you do, you can't realize how it enriches family life. Katherine Paterson reading book children What I really want to do is to write a hilarious farce. Katherine Paterson farce want writing Since my first novel was rescued from a slush pile, it makes me sad that most publishing houses no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts. Nor are many willing to take chances on novels that are not deemed immediately "marketable." Katherine Paterson publishing-house take-a-chance firsts What we need to wake people up to now is the crisis in imagination and concern for the greater good. We have no idea what the next ten years, much less the next fifty years, will demand of the coming generation. What we do know is that unless we have a people prepared and eager to meet those crises creatively and compassionately, there is not much hope for this poor old planet of ours. Katherine Paterson imagination years ideas Teachers have almost stopped reading aloud to their classes because of the pressure of testing and tight curricula, but it is the books we read together and talk about together that bring us closer together. Katherine Paterson reading teacher book Reading has made such a profound difference to my life. I'm sure I became a writer because of the power of literature in my own life. Katherine Paterson differences reading profound
