Certainty is missing the point entirely.

Novels ought to have hope; at least, American novels ought to have hope. French novels don't need to. We mostly win wars, they lose them. Of course, they did hide more Jews than many other countries, and this is a form of winning.

And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth but when people put a pretty bow on scary things instead of saying, 'This is a nightmare. I hate everything. I’m going to go hide in the garage.'

For me, Jesus is my cleft in the rock. He is my safest friend, my safe totally loving accepting big brother.

It was not facing what life dealt that made you crazy, but rather trying to set life straight where it was unstraightenable.

I go to church every Sunday, which is like going to the gas station once a week and really, really filling up.

I think that is why we stay close to our families, no matter how neurotic the members, how deeply annoying or dull- because when people have seen you at your worst, you don’t have to put on the mask as much.