READ,WRITE & LIVE YOUR TRUTH

Category: I Read Therefore I Am

I write fiction but I also read it. We read to explore, to think, and to feel. In this section I share my thoughts on the value of reading and how it makes us human.

  • Best Quotes Ever. Searching for More -PART TWO

    E.G. Kardos

    I love quotes! And I am always searching for the best quotes ever.

    In a recent post, I shared how my search for one or two quotes led to over 500 of the best quotes ever for my book Zen Master Net Door: Parables for Enlightened Everyday Living.

    A person walking on a beach near the ocean

    Drawing from that post, where I shared some of the quotes I found for my book, I want to share a few more. These quotes cover topics such as: Simplicity and Living in the Ordinary, Happiness, Imagination, Compassion, Truth, Humility, Friendship, Kindness, Forgiveness, and Love.

    Photo by Parker Coffman

    Over Five Hundred of the Best Quotes Ever

    Quotes are relatable because they are simple, powerful words that, regardless of culture, religion, or upbringing, help show how little separates us. Many times, they remind us to let go and live inspired lives.

    Quotes tug at our emotions and serve as a kind of balm for what ails us.

    They give us validation when, unfortunately, others miss the chance to do so.

    The connection they create is incredible, as some of the greatest minds over a thousand years have thought and felt the very same things as us.

    We all strive for the same things in life, no matter our upbringing, religion, culture, or circumstances.

    Folks, we’re in this together; we are the same.

    Enjoy exploring some of the best quotes ever!

    Simplicity and Living Ordinarily

    Mental toughness is many things.  It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and meekness is the sign of true strength.  Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication.  It is fearlessness, and it is love.

    –Vince Lombardi

    Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does Nature, because in her inventions, nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.  Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.  

    –Leonardo da Vinci

    Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity

    -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

    There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and     truth. 

    –Leo Tolstoy

    All great change in America begins at the dinner table.  

    –Ronald Regan

    Simplicity is the final achievement.  After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.

    –Frederic Chopin

    It’s true.  I’m a simple person.  Some people tend to live from trauma to trauma, and that energizes them.  I have a hectic schedule, but my mind seeks simplicity – like being in nature, a long bike ride, or sitting on the back porch. 

    –Amy Grant

    Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. 

    –Aesop – The Astrologer 

    What we have to learn to do, we learn doing.

    –Aristotle

    Happiness

    Be content with your lot. 

    –Aesop – The Fox and the Crab

    Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

    –Mahatma Gandhi

    There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself. 

    –Henry David Thoreau

    Happiness can exist only in acceptance. 

    -George Orwell

    To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind.  If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him. 

    –Buddha

    Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.  It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. 

    –Helen Keller

    Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. 

    –Eleanor Roosevelt

    Imagination

    Everything you can imagine is real.

    –Pablo Picasso

    Imagination is more important than knowledge.

    –Albert Einstein

    Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.

    –C.S. Lewis

    Compassion

    Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

    –Dalai Lama

    Forget injuries, never forget kindness.

    –Confucius

    The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference.  He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter. 

    –Norman Cousins

    I believe that man will not merely endure.  He will prevail.  He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. 

    –William Faulkner

    The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another. 

    -Thomas Merton

    Truth

    Whatever is, is right.

    –Alexander Pope

    We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. 

    –Plato 

    From the evening breeze to this hand on my shoulder, everything has its truth. 

    –Albert Camus

    Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone. 

    –Jesus 

     

    Humility

    We often make much of the ornamental and despise the useful. 

    –Aesop – The Stag and His Reflection

    Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends. 

    –Dwight D. Eisenhower 

    Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. 

    –Saint Augustine 

    Power is dangerous unless you have humility. 

    –Richard J. Daley 

    There is no gardening without humility.  Nature is constantly sending even its oldest scholars to the bottom of the class for some egregious blunder. 

    –Alfred Clayton

    Friendship

    Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead.  Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow.  Walk beside me that we may be as one.

    –Ute saying

    Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.        

    -Aristotle

    The only way to have a friend is to be one. 

    –Ralph Waldo Emerson

    I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world. 

    –Thomas A. Edison

    But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. 

    –Thomas Jefferson

    Kindness

    No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. 

    -Aesop – The Lion and the Mouse

    Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people.  A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough. 

    –Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom. 

    –Theodore Isaac Rubin

    Kindness and faithfulness keep a king safe, through kindness his throne is made secure. 

    –King Solomon

    Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. 

    –Mark Twain

    That best portion of a man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. 

    –William Wordsworth

    Forgiveness

    Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom. 

    –Hannah Arendt

    Life is an adventure in forgiveness. 

    –Norman Cousins

    Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again. 

    –Dag Hammarskjold

    To err is human; to forgive, divine. 

    –Alexander Pope

    He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven. 

    -Thomas Fuller

    Love

    There is no remedy for love but to love more. 

    –Henry David Thoreau

    Love takes up where knowledge leaves off. 

    –Saint Thomas Aquinas

    To love another person is to see the face of God. 

    –Victor Hugo

    Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better. 

    –William Shakespeare

    The greatest pleasure of life is love. 

    -Euripides

    Love has features which pierce all hearts, he wears a bandage which conceals the faults of those beloved.  He has wings, he comes quickly and flies away the same. 

    –Voltaire

    Love is a chain of love as nature is a chain of life. 

    –Truman Capote

    Where there is love there is life. 

    –Mohandas Gandhi

    Without love in your life, you have nothing. 

    –Wynonna Judd

    Love is life.  And if you miss love, you miss life. 

    –Leo Buscaglia

    Meditation and Prayer

    You become what you think about all day long.

    –Ralph Waldo Emerson

    If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer.

    –Frank Bianco

    Prayer for many is like a foreign land.  When we go there, we go as tourists.  Like most tourists, we feel uncomfortable and out of place.  Like most tourists, we therefore move on before too long and go somewhere else. 

    –Robert McAfee Brown

    It is the prayer of my innermost being to realize my supreme identity in the liberated play of consciousness, the Vast Expanse.  Now is the moment, Here is the place of Liberation. 

    –Alex Grey

    Prayer indeed is good, but while calling on the gods a man should himself lend a hand. 

    –Hippocrates

    Prayer is a thought, a belief, a feeling, arising within the mind of the one praying. 

    –Ernest Holmes

    I like the silent church before the service begins better than any preaching.

    –Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Experiences

    Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. 

    –Charles Adams

    If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we’d all be millionaires. 

    –Abigail Van Buren

    Life is the art of drawing without an eraser. 

    –John W. Gardner

    Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. 

    –Auguste Rodin

    If you enjoyed this post, take a look at these: Searching for a Quote, and Finding the Best One or Maybe More,If You Were Able to Talk to Your OLDER Self, Eddie Zen: A Zen Master Next Door, Love is a Strange Thing, The Time We Have

    All quotes within this manuscript have been found in publications and the internet and remain the intellectual property of those to whom they have been attributed.  Usage of all quotations adheres to the fair use copyright principle. 

    Share your favorite quotes in the comment section below!

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • What is Real? Harry Potter Knows. Do You?

    E.G. Kardos

    “Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”

    Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure.

    “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

    ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

    What is real? What is merely just in our heads? I love this quote, not just because I enjoy reading and writing fantasy, but because the question of what is real and what is happening in our heads extends far into our own thoughts and feelings more than, perhaps, we realize.

    Sometimes we act on the thoughts in our heads by moving them to the “real” world. Other times, our thoughts sit idling in our heads always to live there and never to see the light of day.

    But could both scenarios be real?

    Here’s how I interpret this scene in the book and movie:

    grey concrete castle under blue sky during daytime

    “Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”

    Photo by Jules Marvin Eguilos

    Like most of us from time to time, Harry is unsure of himself and confused about what’s going on around him at that very moment. Or, could it be that he may be a bit fuzzy about all the experiences he has had since he first talked to the snake at the zoo? What’ more, he knows Dumbledore is dead, but he’s with him as they say, in the flesh—talking with him. If it were me, I’d be asking the same thing.

    After all, Harry’s a teenager still full of questions rather than answers. Knowing he’s the chosen one, and having been involved in countless supernatural events, doesn’t give him unlimited insights about everything. He keeps questioning his life, as he should.

    So when he asks, “Is this real?” what does he mean when he uses the word “this”? I’d like it to mean his entire adventure, his long journey, as well as that specific moment.

    But why would he ask, “…has this been happening inside his head?” when the person he’s talking to could also be in his head? Again, I have to believe that Harry is talking about his journey as he has attempted to understand it since he first arrived at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

    But that’s when Dumbledore says so matter-of-factly…

    “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry,…”

    But the defining moment comes when Dumbledore finishes his sentence and says,

    “… but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

    So, what is real? According to the “greatest wizard who ever lived”? Simply put, everything.

    And that’s all Harry needed to hear to complete his task.

    As the wise wizard, he might be saying more

    Dumbledore might be talking to Harry, but he’s also talking to us. He might be saying to us as well that what we find inside ourselves is real as well. We might not be able to touch it, smell it, hear it, taste it, or see it, but it’s as real as we are.

    It’s how we interpret life that makes it magical—or not.

    I love this quote because it makes so much sense to me. The magic of our lives isn’t what’s right in front of us; it’s how we feel about what’s right in front of us. Our emotions are powerful, and they drive our actions.

    When we feel strongly about something, we do something about it even if it seems impossible. We act out of love, we act out of fear, or with great hope. Sometimes we act with anger or despair, but we always act on what is in front of us because of what is inside our head—and heart. Our emotions make it real.

    If a thought is not in our heads, where else would we find the inspiration, drive, or desire to act? 

    One may not agree with me or may have an entirely different interpretation of this quote, and that is fine…no, that’s wonderful. Let me know what you think.

    If you like this post, you may like: Fantasy Fiction and Real Life are the Same, Mentors in Young Adult Fantasy, The Fantasy Trilogy: Saving the World One Book at a Time, or the Category, About Fantasy.

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

    Most Viewed Posts

    All Posts

    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

  • Fantasy Fiction and Real Life are the Same

    E.G. Kardos

    I’m certain that fantasy fiction and real life are inseparable.  First of all, I should say that real life is full of conflict, split-second decisions, emotional upheavals, villains, and monsters. Real life is about doom, redemption, joy, and sorrow. Loss, power, injustices, and morality are all part of real life.

    Unless you are completely unacquainted with fantasy fiction or movies, you will agree that fantasy fiction includes all the above and more.

    Thus, fantasy fiction and real life are one and the same.

    But some readers and critics say fantasy fiction is mere escapism. They want something “real”. Well, I’ll say it is a good escape as are other sub genres in fiction, but it is so much more than that. It is about real-life issues, but most time these real-life issues are displayed with more color and, perhaps, in a more satisfying way. There, I said it.

    It’s a Mirror

    Night fantasy image of mystic woman riding deer in magical forest illumination . Sublime Generative AI image .

    In fantasy fiction, writers use supernatural, whimsical, and bizarre settings primarily to reflect our lives and everything within them in a relatable and intriguing way.

    Dragons aren’t just creatures that spit fire; they symbolize something larger and sometimes more sinister. Other times they represent something entirely the opposite. The evil sorcerer isn’t just some strange outsider to ignore but represents the evil and injustices we should stand against. Living in 2025, we should be able to connect with, as well as look for such symbolism in fantasy fiction.

    Universal Themes

    If you’re human, you can relate to themes such as power, loss, social injustice, death, birth, love, and hope. Using symbolism the author shines a light on these themes as they are brought to life for the reader to ponder, but with some distance. This distance is what lies between the symbol and what it represents. It makes us think—to feel—rather than the representation being spelled out.

    This distance is powerful. 

    The reason readers keep coming back to fantasy and fiction of all sorts is that universal themes are the engine that propels not only a good story, but gives our lives substance.

    Here’s Why Fantasy Fiction Can Feel so Much Like Real Life

    Commentary of our world

    You may have heard the term “world-building”. Authors may design a fictional world to critique real-world social structures to include the political climate, the social focus and the internal landscape within the character to project a very human story.

    Sometimes these worlds depict oppression, rebellion, inequality, and other injustices. These fantastical worlds are thought-provoking and real.

    Belief Systems

    We all have them. The structures we need to build walls around our lives and to make sense of them. Hopefully, these walls have doors and arches so that we may pass through them and attempt to understand other belief systems that we don’t hold as our own.

    These structures are religions, politics, and various other associations we “need” or seek out in our lives. Fantasy fiction uses these structures that are near and dear to us to tell a story. Good versus evil comes to mind.

    Basic Human Emotions

    Fantasy stories are deeply embedded in the human experiences. Love and loss, trust and betrayal, ambition and indifference and the mere struggles we have getting from one point to another.

    The Characters

    Like in all fiction, fantasy fiction allows us to experience life through the eyes of a character that we have come to love, and by doing so, we feel for that character. Our empathy grows while reading fantasy fiction we become the hero of the journey. As our compassion grows we begin to understand and are open to others and their struggles beyond the fantasy workd and into the real world.

    Although fantasy fiction on the surface seems to many as pure escapism, it is so much more as it reflects our own lives and the world we live in. Like other types of fiction, the aim of the author is similar, but fantasy writers choose to use other ways to tell the story.

    Fantasy fiction and real life are the same. There is no way to get around that.

    Other posts about fantasy: Why Fantasy is. a Good Read, The Time We Have, From a Struggling Reader to a Writer of Fantasy, About Fantasy (category)

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

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    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

  • How to Find Your Next Good Novel

    E.G. Kardos

    Because a novel is on the New York Times Best Sellers list, does this make it worth reading?  I’m not sure. Maybe. Yeah, the list has great books, but with the millions of novels “out there”, this is a very short list to choose from as there are literally millions that could be tagged as a good novel and worth a look.

    Maybe it’s time to consider lesser-known novels and begin to add more inventive ways to your next good novel search. Could it be time take a few more risks to find your next read? Frankly, the risk is minimal.

    Most “Best Sellers” Lists are Limited

    Something close to 4 million new books will be published in 2025 compared to about 2.7 million a decade ago, and only a mere 280,000 in 2005. Wow! Most truly great reads are buried.

    Close up of open books on table

    Although there are many estimates from a variety of sources on the number of published books, these figures could be off slightly–but not much. But one thing that is certain, they definitely reflect the growth in the publishing industry. If nothing else. it is safe to say that newly published books have grown by 15 times in the US over the last twenty-five years.

    Take a Risk and Treat Yourself to Something New and Different

    Instead of the old “best sellers” list and everyone’s lists on GoodReads and social media book groups, chart your own course. There’s more to a good novel than the same formulaic, refomatted story. Novels are personal and what one stranger may think is a great read may not be to you. The question should be what resonates with you and NOT what do others say you SHOULD be reading.

    I’ve noticed that online book groups, however, only promote the two percent of all books that make up about ninety-eight percent of all sales–the same old same old. That’s kind of boring.

    Using a few keywords that describe what you like to read, you could consider going to online to any/many online booksellers and use those keywords and see what comes up. I’m sure you will come up with some intereesting and intriguing possibilities. Plunk down $12.95 (a couple of lattes) and in a few days you’ve got something new to explore..

    This may be a “no brainer” but so is the same old same old we hear about all the time.

    Lots of Good Books but with Fewer Readers

    I have both traditionally and independently published books. I have learned from this journey that very few people read novels, but I still write them. But the stats are staggering.

    • Less than 40 percent of adults have read one novel in a given year.
    • More women read than men,
    • and those woman with a college degree, who earn a higher income and are under 50 years of age, read the most.

    Two Requests for Those Who Read Novels

    • Please encourage others to join you. If not you, who will?
    • Broaden your scope and take a risk on a novel that you discover, and then tell your friends about it–both those who read and those, sadly that don’t.

    If You’re Still Here…

    …then you are a reader and in all honesty, keep reading whatever you enjoy. But keep in mind, a good novel is waiting for you and it might not be what everyone else is reading. Take a chance for $12.95.

    More to enjoy: Writing Literary Fiction and What I’m Learning, Self Discovery Books – an Excerpt from Cutting of Harp Strings, Keep Reading , Why Read Fiction? 

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

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    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

  • Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, and a Moment of His Time

    E.G. Kardos

    Our life is all about moments. We string togehter our moments and that is our life. We hope we have more good moments than not, but all of those moments no matter what make us who we are. I try to remember my moments that made a difference for me like the one I had with Bill Moyers .

    That one moment — and it was just that, a single moment — that I have never forgotten is when I received a message from the late Bill Moyers,  (June 5, 1934 – June 26, 2025).

    Photo from the ap

    Reaching Out to Bill Moyers

    I wrote to Bill Moyers assistant inquiring if he would be interested in accepting a copy of the first book in my fantasy trilogy, “The Amulet: Journey to Sirok”. It didn’t take long before she responded, sharing with me that he would be happy to receive my book.

    I sent him the book with this email:

    August 4, 2017

    Dear Mr. Moyers,

    I am very honored to have this opportunity to not only send you my book, The Amulet: Journey to Sirok, but to tell you that The Power of Myth and Joseph Campbell inspired me to write it. I have read the book several times, as well as other books by or about Campbell, but your interview style and questions bring great clarity to the vastness, and sometime complexity, of mythology. Thank you.

    My book takes a new spin on the Hero’s Journey as I feel I have written it for our time. This is a time when stereotypes are been thrown to the wind and, those who have their eyes open and looking forward, are embracing humanities beautiful differences.

    I would like to urge you to read my story. I hope you can sharewith me your thoughts. Please share with (assistant’s name) that I appreciate her warm and inviting response to me.

    Thank you for your consideration, and I hope for only the best to come your way.

    Warmly,

    Ed Kardos

    Ten Days Later, Mr. Moyers Responded

    Aug 14, 2017

    Dear Mr. Kardos:

    Thank you for your generous words about THE POWER OF MYTH and for your book. I look forward to reading it.

    My best to you,

    Bill Moyers

    There are many other articles written about Bill Moyers that reflect the generous and powerful impact he made during his lifetime, but what I found profound was the moment he gave to me. It was both generous and powerful.

    Most folks of his stature, and those with far less stature (and we all know who they are), would have dismissed my original email. But in less than two weeks, Bill Moyers not only accepted a copy of my book, thanked me personally, and, according to his assistant, “took the book home”. There’s so much packed into these moments.

    He validated my place as a writer.

    I meant it when I shared with him: “I have read the book several times, as well as other books by or about Campbell, but your interview style and questions bring great clarity to the vastness, and sometime complexity, of mythology…”.

    Those “questions” that brought “great clarity” made all the difference for me

    My Take on The Power of Myth

    The Power of Myth explores how universal themes and symbols in myths provide insight into our humanity. This includes our relationships with others, the powers of the universe, and ourselves.

    The “Hero’s Journey” is analyzed and clearly demonstrates that following one’s bliss has been essential to humanity since our earliest thoughts and will remain so as long as we exist. In other words, myths are just as important today as they were long ago.

    As the Hero’s Journey is central to my work, I have read this book and a dozen others about Joseph Campbell’s work many times. I recommend this one in particular because of Bill Moyers’ contributions.

    Mr. Moyers made numerous contributions during his lifetime in many areas and we are better off because of him. What a wonderful man.

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

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    Please notify me when you publish a new blog post.

  • C.S. Lewis, Fairytales and You

    E.G. Kardos

    “One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”
    ― C.S. Lewis

    Have you ever read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? For that matter, have you ever read any fairytales, fables, myths, legends, folktales or any story that takes you on a magical adventure?

    Well, I’m pretty sure we’ve all read a tale or two when we were young. Lucky are those of us who have included these stories—I would include fantasy in this category—in our lives as we’ve moved beyond the innocence of childhood and have experienced the layers of age. 

    So what did Lewis mean when he said,“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”?

    Just as the first few stars that appear in the early night sky are followed by many more, in Lewis’ twelve word quote, we realize there are countless ways to interpret his words. I have a few thoughts to share.

    When We First Read Stories of Magic, Marvel, and Mystery

    Innocence Lost, but is that Forever?

    We all wanted to be that kid—at least I did and still do. You know, the kid with the sword, in the spaceship, the one who went on an adventure and became the hero. Or the kid that found something marvelous and magical—or the one that went back in time, into the future or was a princess or a prince. The kid that won the “golden ticket” or flew with dragons.

    house inside tree

    As kids we search for magic as we know it is there. It’s a question of how do we get to it. Maybe there’s a special cave, or a hidden door to an undiscovered land. Maybe a wand in a trunk or a map with a code that we can crack. Maybe it is in an old trunk in Grandma’s attic.

    But We Grow Up

    As we grow older, something changes all that. We decide, or it is decided for us, that the thoughts, feelings and desires of our childhood should be left behind. Grown-ups know best…they know it all and that’s what we should aim for. Yeah, right.

    Deeper Layers

    What many grown-ups don’t always realize is that there is wisdom in fairytales and stories that take us on magical and mystical adventures. That’s why they were written in the first place–wisdom. This deeper layer of meaning may be missed by children but when it comes to grown-ups, they have no excuse. That’s a good reason to return to such stories.

    Just like the simplicity of Lewis’ quote, fairy tales and the like may seem uncomplicated and naïve, but they are full of wisdom.

    Wisdom is, unfortunately, a word that is seldom used or valued anymore.

    A Place for Magic

    When we grow older, the sheen of adulthood fades, however. Sometimes we see this when we are twenty-five, sixty-five or somewhere in between. Don’t get me wrong, the wonders and beauty of life grow exponentially forever, but the powers of some and the structures they impose have a way of ensnaring the best and dampen our journey–our life’s journey that should be filled with riches.

    We are here but once, and to live it in a box is unappealing to say the least. If we haven’t yet found magic since we were a kid, whether we are twenty-five or sixty-five, we just might want to pause and ask why. Then look for it once again.

    Magic is found in many places, and we don’t have to go far to find it in books both old and new. Wow! What a diversion. What a way to learn what it is to be human. Yes in any story that takes you on a magical adventure?

    Thinking About It a Little More

    I may have overcomplicated this twelve-word quote. I’m not nearly as elegant as C.S. Lewis but here are my twelve words:

    You will find magic if you remember the marvels of your childhood.

    It’s time to read a fairytale…a legend…a myth…or any story that takes you on a magical adventure. You deserve it.

    YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: THE TIME WE HAVE, FROM A STRUGGING READER TO A WRITING FANTASY, FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND LIVE YOUR TRUTH

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Coming-of-Age or Bildungsroman or Both? A Separate Peace Comes to Mind

    E.G. Kardos

    Coming-of-age or bildungsroman? When you hear the word “bildungsroman” what’s your initial thought? You probably have a good idea of what “coming-of-age” means in literature. For most, bildungsroman is not a term we use or hear regularly. If I had to guess, very few people know much about it. I was among this group until a few years ago as I used the term coming-of-age broadly. However, there are distinct differences between coming-of-age and bildungsroman novels.

    The origin of the genre is German, where the word “bildung” means “formative” and the word “roman” means “novel”. Since bildungsroman novels are among my favorites I know plenty of others appreciate this genre. However, it is safe to say that most of us might not recognize the term so I thought I would share some thoughts. 

    So what is a Bildungsroman? 

    A bildungsroman is a coming-of-age story highlighting a young person’s psychological and moral development. Typically written in the first person, the protagonist shares their journey to maturity. 

    You might say that sounds like just another coming-of-age novel. A bildungsroman is always a coming-of-age story whereas not all coming-of-age novels are bildungsroman. A bildungsroman delves into themes of self-discovery and the search for identity. A protagonist’s inner journey including their values, spirituality, and understanding of the world is always a part of the bildungsroman.

    A bildungsroman delves into themes of self-discovery and the search for identity.

    Coming-of-Age versus Bildungsroman

    A coming-of-age novel is a broader designation that oftentimes refers to any novel in any genre that explores the experiences and challenges of a character’s journey from childhood to adulthood. Coming-of-age stories emphasize growing up or coming to terms with the world. The operative phrase is coming to terms with the world. The way I look at it, in a bildungsroman, the protagonist is coming to terms with their view of the world that is found deep within them. As an actual genre or sub-genre, depending on who you talk to, these stories specifically focus on the protagonist’s psychological and moral development.

    Although there are others, the major difference between a coming-of-age and a bildungsroman novel is that the protagonist mostly grapples with external challenges. In a bildungsroman the protagonist’s challenges are deep inside of them regardless of where they are in the physical world. Although in some coming-of-age stories, the protagonist struggles with internal issues, their loss of innocence may center more around relationships, sexual awakening, death and mortality, family issues, or social justice concerns.

    The Structure of a Bildungsroman

    • Loss – the protagonist endures a profound emotional loss
    • Journey – because of their loss, the character embarks on a journey. The journey can be physical in nature, metaphorical, or both. They search for answers to what gnaws at them with hopes to better understand the world and how they fit or must navigate in that world.
    • Obstacles/conflict and growth – But as the story continues, like forcing a square peg in a round hole, the protagonist makes decisions that are not always the best. They eventually, willfully or not, resolve themselves to accept society’s ways. 
    • Maturity/enlightenment – Psychological growth and change lead to, maturity. Many times the protagonist helps others who are on the same journey.

    Although I have found the same books on lists for both bildungsroman and coming-of-age novels, the following, I feel, seem to be good examples of bildungsroman novels:

    • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
    • A Separate Peace by John Knowles
    • Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
    • The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
    • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 
    • Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
    • The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

    What do you think? Are all of these books bildungsroman? Coming -of-Age? What books would you add to the list? Which ones would you remove?

    A Review of Sorts – some of my brief thoughts: A Separate Peace by John Knowles

    One of my favorite books in this category is A Separate Peace. I first read it at age fifteen and it made an indelible impression on me. It inspired my novel, Cutting of Harp Strings many years later. 

    The novels I love evoke strong emotions and provoke thought. A Separate Peace does this for me as I experienced each moment alongside Gene during a poignant period of his life. He navigates a friendship—a love—that is difficult for him to understand. I know he would do anything for a “do-over” and I empathize with him and Finny.

    Gene, the protagonist, tells the story of when he was a boy full of jealousy and self-doubt to an adult who learns from his mistakes and finally accepts the consequences of past actions.

    With World War II as a backdrop, Knowles compares and contrasts both societal and personal loss of innocence. Gene struggles with his complex relationship with his roommate, Finny, as the immorality of war casts a shadow on all they do.

    A good book is worth reading many times, and I have done just that. Each time, I learned something new about this once-in-a-lifetime friendship. Like all relationships, it is full of joy and pain. Knowles was a master at lulling us into what seems to be a simple and innocent adventure but is, in truth, a deep and dark journey within. It reminded me that we must always search for the truth. Finding it, however, can be elusive; we may hear the voice within, but listening to it is another matter.

    I hope your next read is a bildungsroman. I hope to hear from you.

    NOTE: This is a great source for more information on writing – Master Class

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Why Fantasy is a Good Read

    E.G. Kardos

    I don’t say that fantasy is a good read because I wrote a fantasy series, but because it just is, and I’ll share with you why I say that.

    But first we should take a step back…

    Back in the day, whenever that was, there were only four genres in literature: fiction, nonfiction poetry, and drama. Now we have so many variations that you’d be hard-pressed to come up with a true number of literary genres. I’ve seen lists well into the fifties.  

    In my research, there appear to be eleven popular genres, and they are: Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Horror, Thriller/Suspense, Action Adventure, Historical Fiction, and Contemporary Fiction. Poetry and Drama don’t even appear on this list anymore. 

    Eighteen Fantasy Sub-Genres

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    According to Masterclass, there are eighteen Fantasy sub-genres. About thirty-six to forty percent of all genres are fantasy. Clearly folks like to read fantasy! My series includes elements of both High and Low fantasy with that of Sword and Sorcery and some Crossroads fantasy.

    Photo by jplenio

    “Don’t like Fantasy?” I Just Can’t Believe It

    When folks share with me that they don’t like fantasy, I’m always a bit puzzled. Fantasy at its core is the reflection of us–of them. Stories of the supernatural, the horrific, and ones that focus on a hero or superhero have sustained, bedazzled and taught humanity since the beginning of time.

    Belief systems mirror fantasy and fantasy mirrors belief systems.

    Belief systems mirror fantasy and fantasy mirrors belief systems. I, of course, respect that they don’t “like” fantasy, but I often respond that if they want to learn more about themselves and all of humanity, they might just do so reading fantasy as well as finding a sense of wonderment and awe.

    But Many Find Fantasy a Good Read

    Fantasy readership has exploded in the last few decades. According to a recent study I found on New Book, a significant portion of fantasy readers span the generations.

    Fantasy readership statistics show that a significant portion of readers are young adults, with many over 18 years old. Many started reading fantasy at around 15. The average age, however, is 42 and a slight majority (55%) is female. No matter what age a fantasy reader is, no reading level is out of bounds. Trends show a growing adult audience that is reading young adult fantasy. That’s good for me as I like reading and writing fantasy that may be geared to younger readers. 

    Around 46% of those surveyed favored fantasy as their preferred genre. Many who read fantasy enjoy elements of escapism and adventure.

    Don’t Older Folks Read Fantasy?

    I’m an older reader and writer of fantasy and it bothers me that my demographic doesn’t appear in this study or others. I can’t believe folks around my age don’t read any sub-genre of fantasy. It amazes me that I grew up in a time of lots of fantasy and sci-fi in books, on TV as well as in the movies. Dune, The Lord of the Rings, Brave New World, the Lion Witch and the Wardrobe, Out of the Silent Planet, and A Wrinkle in Time were some of the popular reads. On TV and film there was Star Trek, the Twilight Zone, The Planet of the Apes, Willie Wonka among mnay others.

    So why do older readers shun fantasy? I sometimes think that the older we get we grow further apart from admitting we need a superhero or appreciating the magic that at one point was firmly secure in our imagination. Escaping int a story or going on a mystical adventure has been replaced with stressing out over current events and worrying about the future or regreting the past. This has a way of draining our soul. That’s the last thing we need. We need more fantasy!

    Fantasy is a Good Read as it Does it All

    Fantasy does it all. It entertains and by doing so, we see our reflection in the characters. We relate to their values, and we are there with them on the adventure. The story gives us pause as we think if that could be us one day. Sometimes we see that it is us already good or bad. In fantasy there is always an element of hope–of something greater.

    Fantasy at its very core is a very human story. That’s why fantasy is a good read.

    For the older reader, learn from the youger reader. I say that we yearn for magic, mystery and marvel and we shouldn’t let it slip away. Fantasy at its core is a very human story. It gives us an adventure of a lifetime. It has a way of teaching us something about humanity, our universe and our very existence even when we don’t look for it. 

    Note: I wrote The Elias Chronicles

    You may also like these posts: From a Struggling Reader to Writing Fantasy, The Time We Have, The Hero’s Journey, Magic in a Simple Message

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • The Time We Have

    E.G. Kardos

    “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

    ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Time We Have

    If you have read any of the books or watched any of the movies, you may agree that The Lord of The Rings is a powerful saga. Yes, I said it—saga. Tolkien was masterful with the entirety of the story but what I find wondrous is that all the bits and pieces along the way are full of flavor and are stories in themselves. They are powerful all on their own. 

    The quote above is part of a brief conversation between Gandalf and Frodo. If you haven’t read the books or watched the movies, you may still appreciate its depth as it is rich with meaning whether in or out of the story.

    These fifty-one words are all about humanity’s age old divide between those who seek power and those who seek to live the life they were meant to live.

    The powerful, many times, feed off the destruction of their own making only to disrupt humanity to, well, gain more power. I’m in the camp that power based in love, compaaion and insight lifts humanity.

    Each sentence in this quote is revealing. this is how I look at it.

    Frodo says… I wish it need not have happened in my time

    Although Frodo is a Hobbit, he expresses a very human feeling we all, at some time feel. Every so often this feeling results from a natural phenomenon like an earthquake or a hurricane, but most of the time, it results from man and his intentional actions. War would be a big one as would dehumanizing those who are not like us.

    History is full of men who overreach to claim power and control. By doing so, those who seek to live their lives the best they can and how they see fit are whipped into colossal, turbulent waves. They get caught in the wake of the murky froth of the power-hungry and their dark and self-serving decisions. 

    Humanity and everything about how we live is dualistic. We have good, so there is bad; we have love, so there is hate; we have the rich, so we must have the poor, and so on. Power without love, compasion or insight exists to prey on the weak…the poor…or those deemed as unworthy.

    What is imagined in the mind can become a reality.

    The above neutral statement is easily corrupted when the cunning manipulator is searching for a “treasure” that benefits the few. If only those who sought power also sought good.

    Gandalf follows his statement and says…So do I

    These three words show empathy. The experienced and wise wizard has seen much in his long life, but it is with his experience that his empathy flows naturally. More importantly, it is soothing—it is healing.

    He is reafirming in these three words. He offers, as all good teachers do, a broder view with what he says next.

    …and so do all who live to see such times. 

    We search for answers — for perspective. As long as humans have roamed the planet they have, from time to time, created devatation. The wise teacher reminds young Frodo (and us too) that we are not alone. 

    But Gandalf goes on to say…But that is not for them to decide. 

    When we realize that most of us feel the same way, our imagination, too, may shape what is next. With the hard truth, Gandalf moves Frodo away from taking a turn into self-despair as self-despair is exactly what the powerful want from those they wish to control.

    He helps Frodo to focus when he says,

    …All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

    When outside forces suffocate us, will we find the spark within us to take charge of our next step…and then the second step… and then…

    Simply, we are not alone. We always have help. We always have hope. And with that, it is us who decide what to do with the time that is given us.

    …you may also like, It’s All Created In the Mind

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Keep Reading

    E.G. Kardos

    Keep reading. Whatever it is you read–keep reading. I have written and published literary fiction, fantasy, and short stories, but I’ve read books from various fiction and nonfiction categories. Most of the time, I confess, I read literary, general fiction, and fantasy and sprinkle in some nonfiction. I love variety. Don’t you?

    My mantra is whatever you like to read, keep reading it. At the same time, be open to new genres

    What You Read is Open to Interpetation

    fantasy, love, sea, child, nature, rocks, beach, sunset, interpreting fiction, magic behind reading, reading through a lens, reading across genres, stories as art. Importance of story, relationships between readers and characters

    As a writer of fiction, I believe all works of literature are open to interpretation. I completely encourage this. There’s magic behind reading, and it comes from taking the time to reflect on what we are reading.

    My best reads are those that give me something to think about.

    Non-fiction vs Fiction

    Non-fiction, for the most part, is less about interpreting the prose but about accepting or, sometimes, questioning the facts that are laid out in front of us. But nonfiction has broad categories as well. I’m thinking of self-help, how-to, historical accounts and biographies, and books on belief systems among many others.

    Even if you read non-fiction, you just can’t believe everything you read. It’s good to read a variety of non-fiction books about the same subject matter and by doing so, we gain rich perspectives. What’s important in my mind, is, however, whatever you like reading, keep reading.

    More about Fiction

    When you pick up a book, each story is new and fresh to us, and when we immerse ourselves into each paragraph, sentence, and word it is, of course, through our personal lens—and all the many relationships we have. This is among my favorite reasons to both keep reading and writing fiction.

    Fiction is about Relationships

    We are all about relationships. Not just relationships with humans, but relationships with animals and any living being including plants, trees, and insects – if you don’t believe me, many belief systems revere many different kinds of living beings. But we also have relationships with our earth, and our God, or not — depending upon what we believe.  We can’t forget our relationship with ourselves which I think is sometimes overlooked. 

    What did I miss?

    Given just this short list,  building, and sustaining relationships is a full-time job! It only goes to show that when we read literature, depending upon which relationships we value most, certain parts of a story mean different things to every reader. Reading fiction is a very personal undertaking unless you are on some kind of mission to read 500 books a year! But that’s a different sort of reading altogether.

    We are unique in every way and, perhaps, it is because of the way we view our existence.

    Just think about the reviews you’ve read. Some readers love a book while others hate it. Some readers identify an obscure part of a story and latch on to it while others miss that part altogether. We owe it to ourselves to invite differing opinions on the written word and if we do, perhaps more people will keep reading.

    Humans and our Love and Need of the Written Word

    There is nothing more human than the written word that we created many centuries ago. Yes, drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other forms of expression are vital and should be appreciated, but the written word does more and allows us to live among those in the story.

    Words allow us to tell the story of what it is to be human, to interpret it, and to realize that every emotion we feel today has been felt by millions before us, whether we were queens, farmers, or factory workers. This makes our relationships with each other all the more important.

    It is how the characters respond to what comes their way and our response to the character.

    When we think of all the genres in fiction, such as horror, mystery/crime, science fiction, thriller/suspense, romance, fantasy, western, historical, or young adult, every story depends on how the characters respond and react to their various relationships in their lives. This opens the magic door for us to eavesdrop and get drawn in. Yes, the plot is important, especially for specific genres, but even so it is all about how we interpret the relationships in the story.

    No matter what, keep reading.

    What do you think?

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

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  • Why Read Fiction?

    E.G. Kardos

    read fiction, fiction takes us to new worlds, cosmos, universe, space, woman, tree, starry sky, galaxy, milky way, fantasy, dream, sleep, happiness, pleasure, dream trip, thoughtful, melancholy, nature, stars, night sky, moon, full moon, night, background, ai generated

    Why read fiction? I have a few ideas. If you know someone who dislikes to read fiction, I bet they never really gave it a chance. There are many benefits to reading fiction that I bet even the most avid fiction reader has yet to consider.

    I look at it this way. Non-fiction is mostly about learning something new. We pick up a “how to” book or a book about WWII andhope to learn something new.

    Photo by Terranaut

    But most who read fiction, and those who don’t read fiction, may not think of it as a learning process.

    But like non-fiction, believe it or not, there’s much to learn when we read fiction.

    My reasons to read fiction

    I’ll begin with my favorite reason to read fiction—and this concept may be a real lightning rod for some folks—but here it goes. Fiction WILL enhance empathy.

    Yep…it will.

    Empathy is our ability to make sense of the feelings of another person. When we are empathetic, we share what the person is feeling. We feel the emotions of others and relate to them on a whole new level. We feel joy when they win the race of their life, or they escape a burning building. Or we feel misery when they just lost their job, or they are diagnosed with cancer, or when their dog died.

    Good writing means good characters so when we get to know them and immerse ourselves in their emotions and their lives, we develop the ability to relate with others outside of the fictional world. Just think, perhaps if we read more fiction we will see our personal relationships enhanced. Maybe we might think differently about our fellow humans across the planet. Enhancing our empathy is a top reason for me to read fiction

    Creativity

    When we read fiction it will heighten our creativity and we may be more receptive to new and unique ideas.

    When we read fiction we uncover an endless supply of new ideas and new ways to think.

    Our perspective is broadened. That’s what being creative means—to think in new ways and be open to other’s ideas as well.

    It transports us

    We can go anywhere in the world, in the universe and parallel universes, and do it all by staying in the comfort of our favorite place to read.  It can transport us back in time, in the future, to another planet or under the sea–the list goes on. We see new worlds develop right in front of our mind’s eye. The author gives the reader enough room so they, too, are part of the world-building.

    That’s pretty cool. We are reminded that the world is not black and white, and fiction urges us to color our own lives. 

    Another favorite – our imagination

    Our imagination takes off when we read fiction. Unfortunately, as we age most of our imagination becomes stagnant but when we read fiction, like magic, it reappears. We become immersed in unique adventures, taking journeys and going on quests we will never take in “real life”. But we can do so much more when reading fiction. When we read fiction it ignites something in our mind. Our imagination grows. We gain a spectacular and new perspectives and this spills out to our real life.

    How we think

    Reading fiction improves how we think and improves our cognitive skills. All eight genres, as well as literary fiction, can be complex whether the novel is a horror, mystery/crime, science fiction, thriller/suspense, romance, fantasy, western, historical, or young adult.

    As we think through the complexities of the plot as well as each character we meet, we improve our memory and our critical thinking skills.

    We start to get in the heads of the characters, and we think through the situation with them. We may ask, “Why did you do that?” or “Don’t even think about it.”

    Entertainment, escapism and emotional well-being

    It’s obvious! We read fiction for entertainment or for escapism. Many books take us to our “happy place” or meet us where we feel today, right now. Sometimes we need a good romance or be whisked away is a good suspense or young adult story.

    With millions of books, every kind of story is only a click away.

    When we read fiction, it is like talking to an old friend who brings us a smile when we need it. We can turn off the real world and enter a fictional world, and we are better off for it. Good fiction is worth multiple reads as we learn or feel something new each time. We find another gem that the author is sharing with us. 

    Similarly, fiction helps improve our emotional well-being. We can cry, laugh, or feel sorrow, but then we can put it aside—it can be very cathartic. Fiction allows us to feel every emotion and can be releasing and cleansing.

    Engaging with others

    How you engage others will grow with reading fiction. Just being exposed to different authors from all over the world, or from just down the street, we learn of the many cultures that make up the world. Maybe we’ll pick up something new that helps us when we reach out to others. Maybe we will add words to our vocabulary as well.

    By the very nature of “fiction”, many folks think, is it made up…it’s all pretend. But I don’t think so. It gives us the truth but just in different ways.

    Humans have always learned from stories and we need as many stories as we can get our hands on especially today.

    Can you think of other reasons? I want to hear from you.

    About E.G. Kardos

    I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write.  Here’s more about me and my books.

    Latest Posts

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