Anger can offer a sense of indignity to replace a sense of shame, and offer a voice-raised above others-which can finally be heard. Those voices are most effective when they are raised in unison, when they have mercy as well as anger behind them, and when, instead of roaring at the anger of old pain, they sing about the glorious possibilities of a future where anger has a smaller house than hope.

I am constantly surprised that the simple word 'feminism' raises more eyebrows and initiates more sad-faced head-shaking than any elaborate stream of invective I have ever leveled at either the I.R.S. or the D.M.V.

If anger were mileage, I'd be a very frequent flyer, right up there in First Class.

Think of the funniest story from your life. Chances are, it was something awful at the time.

Having a lean and hungry look was frowned upon in my Italian neighborhood where a girl was considered too skinny if she could make her knees touch.

I have an intimate relationship with books. After all, I take them with me into the bathtub-not an invitation I offer lightly.

Laughing together is as close as you can get to a hug without touching.