The Collector, John Fowles
Only once, before she came to be my guest here did I have the privilege to see her with it loose, and it took my breath away it was so beautiful, like a mermaid.
I can't say what it was the very first time I saw her, I knew she was the only one.
then again I knew it was ridiculous, people oonly married for love, especially girls like Miranda. There were even times I though I would forget her. But forgetting's not something you do, it happens to you. Only it didn't happen to me.
She spoke as she walked, as you might say.
That's the thing about money. There are no obstacles.
you never know with girls these days
It finally ten days later happened as it sometimes does with butterflies. I mean you go to a place where you know you may see something rare and you don't, but the next time not looking for it you see it on a flower right in front of you, handed to you on a plate, as they say.
I know it's old-fashioned to say you love a woman, I never meant to do it then. In my dreams it was always we looked into each other's eyes one day and then we kissed and nothing was said until after.
But when I had her there imy head went round and I often said things I didn't mean to.
The truth was she couldn't do ugly things. She was too beautiful.
We all want things we can't have. Being a decent human being is accepting that.
'I thought all men had to know dirty jokes'
'I wouldn't tell you one if I knew it' 'Why not?' 'They are for men.' 'What do you think women talk about? I bet I know more dirty jokes than you do'
The beauty confuses you, you don't know what you want to do anymore, what you should do.
Sex is just an activity, like anything else. It's not dirty, its just two people playing with each other's bodies. Like dancing.
It was no good, she had killed all the romance, she had made herself like any other woman. I didn't respect her any more, there was nothing left to respect.
I know what I am to him. A butterfly he has always wanted to catch.
The ordinary man is the curse of civilization.
He is ugliness. But you can't smash human ugliness.
I have a strange illusion quite often. I think I've become deaf. I have to make a little noise to prove I'm not. I clear my throat to show myself that everything's quite normal. It's like the little Japanese girl they found in the ruins of Hiroshima. Everything dead; and she was singing to her doll.
I never go to bed with the people I love.
Men are vile.
Just those three words, said and meant. I love you. They were quite hopeless. He said it as he might have said 'I have cancer'. His fairy story.
But now I think of G.P. and I compare him to Piers. And Piers has got nothing on his side. Just a golden body throwing stones aimlessly into the sea.
Men are a joke. We're so weak physically, so helpless with things. Still, even today. But we're stronger than they are. We can stand their cruelty. They can't stand ours.
I think we are just insects. We live a bit and then die and that's the lot.
Only once, before she came to be my guest here did I have the privilege to see her with it loose, and it took my breath away it was so beautiful, like a mermaid.
I can't say what it was the very first time I saw her, I knew she was the only one.
then again I knew it was ridiculous, people oonly married for love, especially girls like Miranda. There were even times I though I would forget her. But forgetting's not something you do, it happens to you. Only it didn't happen to me.
She spoke as she walked, as you might say.
That's the thing about money. There are no obstacles.
you never know with girls these days
It finally ten days later happened as it sometimes does with butterflies. I mean you go to a place where you know you may see something rare and you don't, but the next time not looking for it you see it on a flower right in front of you, handed to you on a plate, as they say.
I know it's old-fashioned to say you love a woman, I never meant to do it then. In my dreams it was always we looked into each other's eyes one day and then we kissed and nothing was said until after.
But when I had her there imy head went round and I often said things I didn't mean to.
The truth was she couldn't do ugly things. She was too beautiful.
We all want things we can't have. Being a decent human being is accepting that.
'I thought all men had to know dirty jokes'
'I wouldn't tell you one if I knew it' 'Why not?' 'They are for men.' 'What do you think women talk about? I bet I know more dirty jokes than you do'
The beauty confuses you, you don't know what you want to do anymore, what you should do.
Sex is just an activity, like anything else. It's not dirty, its just two people playing with each other's bodies. Like dancing.
It was no good, she had killed all the romance, she had made herself like any other woman. I didn't respect her any more, there was nothing left to respect.
I know what I am to him. A butterfly he has always wanted to catch.
The ordinary man is the curse of civilization.
He is ugliness. But you can't smash human ugliness.
I have a strange illusion quite often. I think I've become deaf. I have to make a little noise to prove I'm not. I clear my throat to show myself that everything's quite normal. It's like the little Japanese girl they found in the ruins of Hiroshima. Everything dead; and she was singing to her doll.
I never go to bed with the people I love.
Men are vile.
Just those three words, said and meant. I love you. They were quite hopeless. He said it as he might have said 'I have cancer'. His fairy story.
But now I think of G.P. and I compare him to Piers. And Piers has got nothing on his side. Just a golden body throwing stones aimlessly into the sea.
Men are a joke. We're so weak physically, so helpless with things. Still, even today. But we're stronger than they are. We can stand their cruelty. They can't stand ours.
I think we are just insects. We live a bit and then die and that's the lot.