Biblical Quotes and Inspiration in Another Life

I ended my new novel ‘Another Life’ with a relevant quote from Ecclesiastes 1:11.

‘There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.’

Although not an adherent of any religion, I have an eclectic interest in its many forms, including a love of the language of the King James Bible. I found the above verse while researching for suitable quotes. The discovery made me realise how unfamiliar I was with this book of the Bible, other than the first eight verses of chapter three, which most people would recognise as the inspiration for Pete Seeger’s Turn, Turn, Turn, a song made even more famous by The Byrds.

I’m currently going through Ecclesiastes looking for more sources of wisdom that might provide the material for a novel. I don’t find the book as pessimistic as some commentators suggest. As with all Biblical readings, I am discovering the origins of many familiar sayings, including one close to my heart:  ‘man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry’ (8:15).

That’s all very but a novel needs drama and conflict. Perhaps I should switch to the Book of Job.