Violets Quotes

“Memory is an unannounced visitor. It lies crumpled in some corner of the body, then suddenly knocks on the door of reality and makes you scream.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“When their warm bodies meet, San feels a surge of loneliness she's sure will last for the rest of her life.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“Violets are very small plants. So small, they’re easily overlooked as weeds. That’s why I decided on the title Violets. There are women all around us who exist in silence, anonymous and without anything special about them; she could be me and she could be you. To amplify the voices of those women, whom no one could hear unless one was listening very carefully, to let them speak through my words—this is Violets.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“This desire grew slowly, stronger and stronger, but it never had any place to escape except for into sorrow. It has caused her to choose neglect. It has refused to be sublimated, but instead reappeared as a fresh green sadness.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“Violator: Noun, one who breaks rules, invades, insults, rapes
Violence: Noun, a disturbance, disruption, destruction
Violet: Noun, a plant, a swallow flower... purple, the color, also used to describe… an oversensitive person, a shy person ("shrinking violet")
Violin: Noun, a musical instrument... a player of, a violinist”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“Only my death can make her love me. And if I have to die, I’ll die right here,”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“She stares until the white of the petals pierces back into her eyes, losing all sense of distance, leaving her feeling empty inside. Whenever this happened, she would close her eyes. Trying to overcome the lethargy that felt like she was falling into a hollow of white.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets

“Unbelieving, her eyes blink as they get teary. A dull ache blooms in her chest. It’s the sorrow of being unable to follow, the regret of being unable to take off after. A far, far-off longing. Not knowing where she’s going, San begins to walk.”
― Shin Kyung-sook, Violets