Books say: she did this because. Life says: she did this. Books are where things are explained to you, life where things aren't. Julian Barnes bookexplainlife Change image and share on social
I have an instinct for survival, for self-preservation. Julian Barnes instinctpreservationsurvival Change image and share on social
Paris is certainly one of the most boastful of cities, and you could argue that it has had a lot to boast about: at various times the European centre of power, of civilisation, of the arts, and (self-advertisingly, at least) of love. Julian Barnes advertisinglyargueart share on social
Often the grind of book promotion wearies you of your own book - though at the same time this frees you from its clutches. Julian Barnes bookclutchfree Change image and share on social
The land of embarrassment and breakfast. Julian Barnes breakfastembarrassmentland Change image and share on social
When you read a great book, you don't escape from life, you plunge deeper into it. Julian Barnes bookdeepescape Change image and share on social
All bad things are exaggerated in the middle of the night. When you lie awake, you only think of bad things. Julian Barnes awakebadexaggerate Change image and share on social
I was initially planning to write about grief in terms of Eurydice and the myth thereof. By that point the overall metaphor of height and depth and flat and falling and rising was coming into being in my mind. Julian Barnes comedeptheurydice share on social
Reading and life are not separate but symbiotic. And for this serious task of imaginative discovery and self-discovery, there is and remains one perfect symbol: the printed book. Julian Barnes bookdiscoveryimaginative Change image and share on social
