“Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.”
Doris Lessing (October 22, 1919 – November 17, 2013)
Today, Doris Lessing, the novelist who waged a battle against racism and gender politics, has passed at the age of 94. Her life’s work is a testament to courage, resourcefulness and determination. We are richer for having her in our timeline.
“What’s terrible is to pretend that second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don’t need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you’re capable of better.”
Doris Lessing, The Golden Notebook
On The Road Book Club 
Remarkable person!
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I agree!!! 🙂
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Thanks Rebecca, I think Doris Lessing is a very interesting person, have you seen a little video on her comments of winning the Nobel Lit. Prize, she was sort of sarcastic … I once read her book “Love Again”, not too much in love with it, she lives a full life… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuBODHFBZ8k
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Thank you for adding so much to this dialogue!! An excellent link. Doris Lessing was extraordinary. She reminds me a great deal of how Georgia O’Keeffe (just finished reading her biography) reacted to reporters and well-wishers. Doris Lessing herself admitted that “As you get older, you don’t get wiser. You get irritable.”
Here’s a quote that gave me a smile!
“Parents should leave books lying around marked “forbidden” if they want their children to read.”
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Reading the first quote makes me feel I must be more resolute. And, yes, thank you, Doris Lessing.
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I felt the same way. She has quite a history! Check this out!
http://www.mobile.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSBRE9AG09920131117
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Quite a story. I didn’t realise that she had written 55 novels.
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Neither did I!!! Have already ordered a couple of books through the Vancouver Public Library!!
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An autobiography perhaps 🙂
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No luck so far – you and I are on the same wavelength. I think her story is more interesting than the stories that she wrote!! I will keep on looking…
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I have read Doris Lessing long ago. From what I remember of her books I think I would find them too ‘heavy’ for my current state of being.
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I wouldn’t doubt it! She did not take on easy subjects.
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I like this quote from her editor ” Even in very old age she was always intellectually restless, reinventing herself, curious about the changing world, always completely inspirational” I want that to be me 😀
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Me too!!! I have a feeling she was not an easy person because of her sharp wit and blunt answers. But I would rather have truth said with bluntness than lies layered with sweetness…
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Blunt but not unkind, I think.
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I agree – blunt can be the kindest gift of all.
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yes – I have read some of her novels of Africa, I didn’t know she was so prolific a writer until I checked just now.
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I didn’t know either – it seems that she had 55 novels and collections of short stories and essays. She was not afraid to take on difficult subjects!!! Big shoes to fill – hope that we all have big feet! 🙂
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