I finished reading The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson. It’s a sometimes harrowing adventure story about searching for peace and home, and while it wasn’t written specifically for this time we’re in, it has passages that hit home in the moment we’re navigating. The more I look at the things I highlighted, the more the through-lines of hope, finding who you are, and the power of truths shine out.

On happiness and struggle, a character says,

“Let me tell you something important. The real struggle on this earth is not between those who want peace and those who want war. It’s between those who want peace and those who want justice. If justice is what you want, then you may often be right, but you will rarely be happy.”

And on survival:

Her breath would come only in gasps, long stuttering things that burned her throat, but she took them, one after another, agreeing with each one to live a while longer.

I’m really grateful for this lovely and evocative novel.