David Wong/Jason Pargin kicks ass

So this wasn’t what i intended to write about today, or, um, yesterday. I think I missed yesterday. Either way though, I ran across this earlier today in an internet search about a book that I’m rereading, and, now, when I’m about to finish the book and go to sleep, finally actually hit the quote.

The book in question is Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits by Jason Pargin. His long term pen name was David Wong. His first few books, including this one, were published under that name, as were the piles of columns he wrote for cracked.com. If you’ve never read 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person, well, I will provide a link and a long and rambling description soon. But, while that particular article is, in my opinion, very important, it is not today’s focus.

The book that I am rereading is the start of a series. And I do not recall exactly what inspired me to investigate and learn kintsugi. I have spent an enormous amount of time, money, and energy in Japan, learning various types of arts. Did I study kintsugi in Japan? No. Wabisabi, life’s imperfections can give us strength and beauty.

Here is the quote from the book.

The room was full of flowers, and Zoey was trying to figure out the minimum amount of time that would be polite to let them stay before having them cleared out–she hated the smell, they reminded her of funerals. But the vase with Wu’s banquet was cool–ancient looking turquoise with threads of gold running through it.

Wu said, “They call it kintsugi. The pot is shattered, then carefully reassembled with a resin mixed with gold. It symbolizes how we must incorporate our wounds into what we are, rather than try to merely repair and forget them.”

“Wow, it’s really pretty. And it looks like a pain in the ass to do, trying to remember where all the shards go.”

“It wasn’t easy.”

I will spare any possible reader all of my thoughts on this other than saying, yes, exactly.

But, go get any of Jason Pargin’s books wherever you buy books. They are all good.