Well, at least this time I get to be a person in the story. The last time you told one of your Russian parables I was a bag of chickens.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
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Nora Ephron's "Heartburn" presents a humorous take on storytelling and personal identity, as illustrated by a character's reflection on their previous narrative role. The quote highlights the shift from being a mere object, like a bag of chickens, to embodying a more relatable and human character in the story. This change suggests a desire for connection and depth in storytelling, emphasizing the importance of individual experiences in shaping narratives.

The contrast between being an inanimate object and a fully realized person underscores a common theme in Ephron's work—finding personal significance within one's own life events. It illustrates the complexities of relationships and the significance of character development in storytelling, suggesting that every story deserves genuine representation of its characters, which resonates with readers seeking authenticity in literature.

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Heartburn
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Nora Ephron
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February 01, 2025
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Other quotes in Heartburn

But the story I'm telling here began the day I discovered the affair between Mark and Thelma, and it ended exactly six weeks later. It has a happy ending, but that's because I insist on happy endings; I would insist on happy beginnings, too, but that's not necessary because all beginnings are intrinsically happy, in my opinion. What about middles, you may ask. Middles are a problem. Middles are perhaps the major problem of contemporary life.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
But the story I'm telling here began the day I discovered the affair between Mark and Thelma, and it ended exactly six weeks later. It has a happy ending, but that's because I insist on happy endings; I would insist on happy beginnings, too, but that's not necessary because all beginnings are intrinsically happy, in my opinion. What about middles, you may ask. Middles are a problem. Middles are perhaps the major problem of contemporary life.
You'd be amazed how little choice you have about loony bins.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
You'd be amazed how little choice you have about loony bins.
When I first met him, he had a recurrent nightmare that Henry Kissinger was chasing him with a knife, and I said it was really his father, and he said it was really Henry Kissinger, and I said it was his father and he said it was Henry Kissinger, and this went on for months until he started going to the Central American shrinkette, who said Henry Kissinger was really his younger sister.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
When I first met him, he had a recurrent nightmare that Henry Kissinger was chasing him with a knife, and I said it was really his father, and he said it was really Henry Kissinger, and I said it was his father and he said it was Henry Kissinger, and this went on for months until he started going to the Central American shrinkette, who said Henry Kissinger was really his younger sister.
Well, at least this time I get to be a person in the story. The last time you told one of your Russian parables I was a bag of chickens.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
Well, at least this time I get to be a person in the story. The last time you told one of your Russian parables I was a bag of chickens.
{S}ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn't cross your mind until it's too late. {Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of tossing capers into just about everything but milkshakes before I came to terms with the fact that nobody really likes capers no matter what you do with them. Some people to like capers, but the truth is that any dish that tastes good with capers in it tastes even better with capers not in in.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
{S}ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn't cross your mind until it's too late. {Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of tossing capers into just about everything but milkshakes before I came to terms with the fact that nobody really likes capers no matter what you do with them. Some people to like capers, but the truth is that any dish that tastes good with capers in it tastes even better with capers not in in.
I must try this again, I thought; I must try again someday to sit still and not say a word. Maybe when I'm dead.
Nora Ephron Heartburn
I must try this again, I thought; I must try again someday to sit still and not say a word. Maybe when I'm dead.
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I found Esau's field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau's neat hand.
{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
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{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
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