Σύγχρονη πεζογραφία: βιβλία για να διαβάσεις

When a flat stops being a home and becomes a place no one enters.

No one’s been in my flat this year apart from service professionals; I’ve not voluntarily invited another human being across the threshold, except to read the meter. You’d think that would be impossible, wouldn’t you? It’s true, though. I do exist, don’t I? It often feels as if I’m not here, that I’m a figment of my own imagination. There are days when I feel so lightly connected to the earth that the threads that tether me to the planet are gossamer thin, spun sugar. A strong gust of wind could dislodge me completely, and I’d lift off and blow away, like one of those seeds in a dandelion clock.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine · Gail Honeyman

Οι κανόνες για να μιλήσεις για τον ρατσισμό χωρίς να φέρεις κανέναν σε δύσκολη θέση.

If you’re telling a non-black person about something racist that happened to you, make sure you are not bitter. Don’t complain. Be forgiving. If possible, make it funny. Most of all, do not be angry. Black people are not supposed to be angry about racism. Otherwise you get no sympathy. This applies only for white liberals, by the way. Don’t even bother telling a white conservative about anything racist that happened to you. Because the conservative will tell you that YOU are the real racist and your mouth will hang open in confusion.

Americanah · Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Η συνηθισμένη ερώτηση που τον πιάνει απροετοίμαστο, ενώ νόμιζε πως είχε ξεμπερδέψει.

After nearly four years of retirement, why hadn’t he been able to formulate a pat answer? He usually reported that he supplied various churches here and there, which was true, of course, but it sounded lame. Indeed, he once said, without thinking, “Oh, nothing much.” Upon hearing such foolishness out of his mouth, he felt covered with shame.

In This Mountain · Jan Karon