I hate sequels. They're never as good as the first book.

Everyone else had the look of tired patience people always got when listening to a sermon, no matter what the century.

The reason Victorian society was so restricted and repressed was that it was impossible to move without knocking something over.

Finch picked up one of the ancient fax-mags and brought it over to me. "I don't need anything to read," I said. "I'll just sit here and eavesdrop along with you." "I thought you might sit on the mag," he said. "It's extremely difficult to get soot out of chintz.

It was about a girl who helps an ugly old woman who turns out to be a good fairy in disguise. Inner values versus shallow appearances.

Perhaps that's how I should think of them, Polly thought, the troupe and Miss Snelgrove and Trot. And Sir Godfrey. Not as lost to her, but as removed to this moment in time for safekeeping.

Barbie's one of those fads whose popularity makes you lose all faith in the human race.