Letters, like compilation tapes, were really vehicles for unexpressed emotions and she was clearly putting far too much time and energy into them.

She was reaching the limits of how much its possible to change a man

Read a book at the right age and it will stay with you for life.

He could feel her laughter against his chest, and at that moment he thought that there was no better feeling than making Emma Morley laugh.

I still find it absurdly difficult to concentrate on a novel if there's a phone or computer to hand; I have taken to locking them outside the room like noisy pets.

Maybe I've just read too many novels. In novels, alcoholics are always attractive and fuuny and charming and complex, like Sebastian Flyte or ABe North in Tender in the Night, and they're drinking because of a deep, unquenchable sadness of the soul, or the terrible legacy of the First World War, whereas I just get drunk because I'm thirsty, and I like the taste of lager.

She shouldn't speak her thoughts; nothing good ever came of speaking your thoughts.