I knew Catherine Newman was a kindred spirit (“the happy-saddest person who ever lived” – we might be tied) and I knew I loved her writing. But wow. I just finished We All Want Impossible Things and I am actively crying and feeling that deep ache of how beautiful life is, at the same time. This gorgeous book made me sad and happy simultaneously, made me laugh and cry, reminded me of all the ways life is mundane and luminous in the same day, same hour. It’s about friendship and family and being confused and being clear, about the people who accompany us in this life, about all the ways we abide by and honor those we love most. Run, don’t walk. This book is glorious and heartbreaking and abolutely vital. As CS Lewis said, we read to know we are not alone. Thank you, Catherine Newman, thank you for doing that with this book (and all your work, honestly).
One of my favorite quotes is below. The other is:
“Is it better to have loved and lost? Ask anyone in pain and they’ll tell you no. And yet. Here we are, hurtling ourselves headlong into love like lemmings off a cliff into a churning sea of grief.”
I need to read this. I have been a fan of her writing and blog for at least a decade. And I think I found your blog a long time ago because of our mutual fandom of Catherine Newman.
You’ll love it. Catherine Newman fans unite!!