My youngest brother had a wonderful schtick from some time in high school, through to graduating medicine. He had a card in his wallet that read, ‘If I am found with amnesia, please give me the following books to read …’ And it listed half a dozen books where he longed to recapture that first glorious sense of needing to find out ‘what happens next’ … the feeling that keeps you up half the night. The feeling that comes before the plot’s been learned.

One didn't stop to talk with creatures from one's nightmares.

The deeds of men, as footprints in the desert. Nothing under the circling moons is fated to last. Even the sun goes down.

The heart has its own laws... and the truth is... the truth is that you are the law of mine.

The world could bring you poison in a jewelled cup, or surprising gifts. Sometimes you didn't know which of them it was.

... everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world.

You'd never killed anyone. Then you had.