Far Far Away Quotes

“He says that all that happens when you go far, far away is that you discover you've brought yourself along.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Distance means so little, when someone means so much.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“One does not know love until it arrives, and it's arrival will always surprise.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Well, it is true. Sometimes avoiding something can give it more and more meaning rather than less and less.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“He turned toward my voice. "Am I well?" His mocking tone was unmistakable. "Am I well? Why can't you just talk like everyone else? Why can't you just say, 'How you doin'? You doin' good?'"

Very well, then, I said. I look forward to the day when every schoolchild will read Shakespeare's great comedic play All's Good That Ends Good.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“When my nephew passed beyond, Wilhelm comforted himself that a child in his innocence would be delivered speedily to heaven, and there be given an honored place. “In this small, simple throne,” Wilhelm said, and I said, “With secret compartments for his bird’s nests and smooth stones.” Wilhelm believed this. He had to believe this. I, too, repeated this conception to myself again and again, trying harder to harder to believe it. But a Creator who takes a child so small, so kind, so tender? What can be made of that? The tales we collected are not merciful. Villains are boiled in snake-filled oil, wicked Steifmutter-stepmothers-are made to dance into death in molten-hot shoes, and on and on. The tales are full of terrible punishments, yes, but they follow just cause. Goodness is rewarded; evil is not. The generous simpleton finds more happiness and coin than the greedy king. So why not mercy and justice to sweet youth from an omnipotent and benevolent Creator? There are only three answers. He is not omnipotent, or he is not benevolent, or-the dreariest possibility of all-he is inattentive. What if that was what happened to my nephew? That God’s gaze had merely strayed elsewhere?”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“It was as Ginger's grandfather had said. It did not matter how far you go, you always take yourself with you.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“You can't let buffoons rule your life.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“The studies, Jeremy, I said. The studies, the studies, the studies.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“And then, before I could shout in alarm, the tear spilled free—and there was nothing for me to do but rush past and, with the smallest draft, ever so slightly alter its flight. The tear landed, safely, on her cheek. Her eyes snapped open in surprise.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“In the old tales, kindness is the purest form of heroism. Find the character who meets the world with a big heart and an open hand and you have found your hero or heroine.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“But that is the way of the world, is it not? Every day a child steps away from the parent by the littlest distance, perhaps just the width of a mouse-whisker, but every day it happens and the days go by, one after another after another”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Sten Blix.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“They were quiet for a while, and it had to be admitted that these two youths at ease with themselves and each other made a pleasant picture, and I suddenly understood that, for Jeremy, the surprise of love would not arrive, as it does in the tales, with a strange enchantment or with a single smiting glance or with a lilting voice riding the wind through the woodland. No, for Jeremy, the surprise of love would be carried on the lazy currents of friendship.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“But a Creator who takes a child so small, so kind, so tender? What can be made of that? The tales we collected are not merciful. Villains are boiled in snake-filled oil, wicked Stiefmütter—stepmothers—are made to dance into death in molten-hot shoes, and on and on. The tales are full of terrible punishments, yes, but they follow just cause. Goodness is rewarded; evil is not. The generous simpleton finds more happiness and coin than the greedy king. So why not mercy and justice to a sweet youth from an omnipotent and benevolent Creator? There are only three answers. He is not omnipotent, or he is not benevolent, or—the dreariest possibility of all—he is inattentive. What if that was what happened to my nephew? That God’s gaze had merely strayed elsewhere?”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“After a long silence, Jeremy said in a quiet voice, “What did you do when your nephew died?” I died a kind of death. My heart shrank and blackened and I died. Though I did not quite know it at the time. But of course I could not tell Jeremy this. I went on, I said. My life had changed and I had changed, but I went on.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“But this boy, this little man, he would try to smile even as his eyes bulged from his face. He never complained. In his sleep, he would sometimes cry out for his mother or father or for his uncle Jacob, but he never complained.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“A good-bye two hours before dawn or two hours after—it’s all a good-bye.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“But before he could go, Jeremy pointed to the third door, the one that the baker had not opened, and said, “What’s in there?” “Oh,” the baker said, his eyes falling on the door. “Nothing, nothing. Please do not open it.” Again the baker made to leave, and again Jeremy stopped his progress. “Mr. Blix?” “Yes?” “You can’t do that.” The baker seemed confused. “Can’t do what?” “You can’t leave and tell us not to open the door, because that happens all the time in fairy tales and movies, and everyone knows that sooner or later whoever isn’t supposed to open the door is going to open the door, and …” “Yes?” the baker said. “And that’s when things start happening.” A laugh rumbled up from the baker’s belly. Then he walked over to the third door and lifted the latch. He pushed the door gently open and stepped aside so that Jeremy and Ginger could peer in. Well! This room was just like the other two, except that the gleaming shelves were already stacked with sacks of flour and sugar, baking soda and salt. “Frank Bailey and I cleaned this one last week and loaded the shelves, which”—he winked—“you will know something about before your workday is over.” He smiled at Jeremy. “I didn’t mean to be mysterious. I just didn’t want anything disturbed or any dust to get in. You understand?” “Sure,” Jeremy said. “Sorry.” The baker seemed unperturbed. “Not at all,” he said, pulling the door closed again. “Perhaps it’s been too long since I read a story or went to a movie.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Fine girl. Smart as a whip. Conk’s nuts about her, but I don’t encourage it. He’d bore that girl in a year, if not sooner.” He shrugged. “Probably anybody would.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“My grandfather says there’s no point in traveling. He says all that happens when you go far, far away is that you discover you’ve brought yourself along.” Well, there is truth in that. Look how far I have traveled, and yet here I am.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Do you think the reason he’s so glad to see us when we come in is that his life is as dull as ditchwater?” “Are you kidding?” Maddy Saxon said in her low voice. “There are tons of boring people in this town, and none of them are happy to see us.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away

“Examine, if you will, the vibrating space around you, what is between and around your hands and your hearths and your homes. This is where I, or another like me, might be: in the Zwischenraum—the space between.”
― Tom McNeal, Far Far Away