A novel is written not to be judged, but experienced.

And, in fact, this is the tale that I would love to write: history is such a romantic place, with its jarveys and urchins and side-buttoned boots. If it would just stay still, I think, and settle down. If it would just stop sliding around in my head.

People think motherhood involves a lot of domestic labor, and it doesn't. It involves being nice to your children as often as possible. That's part of my trick. I don't have that anxiety about meeting their needs.

We do not always like the people we love- we do not always have that choice.

There are men who would do anything, asleep, and I'm not sure what stops them when they wake. I do not know how they draw the line.

There are about as many ways to be dead as there are to be alive. People linger in different ways, both publicly and privately.

Cats, I always think, only jump into your lap to check if you are cold enough, yet, to eat.