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Jacqueline Harpman Books

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Orlanda

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“Sometimes, I used to sit under the sky, on a clear night, and gaze at the stars, saying, in my croaky voice: “Lord, if you’re up there somewhere, and you aren’t too busy, come and say a few words to me, because I’m very lonely and it would make me so happy.” Nothing happened. So I reckon that humanity— which I wonder whether I belong to —really had a very vivid imagination.”

GodExistentialism
Book:I Who Have Never Known Men
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“They bustled around chatting. It was the first time I listened closely, and I was astonished at how much they had to say, the passion with which they repeated the same thing in ten different ways so as to avoid noticing, in fact, that they had absolutely nothing to say to each other for ages, but human beings need to speak, otherwise they lose their humanity”

HumanityConversationInterpersonal Relationships
Book:I Who Have Never Known Men
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“Even now, I like to look in the mirror. Over the years, I’ve followed the progress of the wrinkles furrowing my brow. My cheeks have grown thinner and my lips have become pale, but it’s all me and I feel a sort of fondness for the reflection in the mirror. [...] I was just over forty. That was twenty-two years ago. I suppose I am an old woman, but I still love looking at my face. I don’t know if it’s beautiful or ugly, but it is the only human face I ever see. I smile at it and receive a friendly smile back.”

HumanityLonelinessVanity
Book:I Who Have Never Known Men
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“Je m'assis devant Laurette, j'aurais sincèrement voulu lui dire des paroles utiles, qui la renourrissent, mais, en vérité, sur cette terre stérile, dans le silence et la solitude, ignorante et stérile moi même, que pouvais je lui donner ? Pourquoi aurait elle souhaité vivre ? Nous ne faisions rien, nous n'allions nulle part, nous n'étions personne.”

VivreMourir
Book:Moi qui n'ai pas connu les hommes - Nouvelle édition
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“Our century abounds in intense, lengthy discussions on the question of identity, a name and surname are not enough. The debate reaches such remarkable levels of subtlety that it is sometimes difficult to follow. When we say I, who do we mean? If someone else can say that he is me, where is me, here or there? Each of us is absolutely convinced that we are ourselves, and we rely on that assurance for our stability.”

IdentityExistentialismJaqueline HarpmanOrlanda
Book:Orlanda
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