Have books ‘happened’ to you? Unless your answer to that question is ‘yes,’ I’m unsure how to talk to you

For example, the wind has its reasons. We just don't notice as we go about our lives. But then, at some point, we are made to notice. The wind envelops you with a certain purpose in mind, and it rocks you. The wind knows everything that's inside you. And not just the wind. Everything, including a stone. They all know us very well. From top to bottom. It only occurs to us at certain times. And all we can do is go with those things. As we take them in, we survive, and deepen.

If you never noticed, it never happened.

We never choose anything at all. Things happen. Or not.

I can't imagine how American readers will react to a novel, but if the story is appealing it doesn't matter much if you don't catch all the detail. I'm not too familiar with the geography of nineteenth century London, for instance, but I still enjoy reading Dickens.

I may be the type who manages to grab all the pointless things in life but lets the really important things slip away.

When the fire goes out, you'll start feeling the cold. You'll wake up whether you want to or not.