Mama was always saying I was a brain snob, that I didn't like people who didn't think. I didn't know if that was snobby. Who wanted to walk around explaining everything to people all the time?

Even with all of its changing, Brooklyn's architecture still feels like home, the language feels like home. It's changing so quickly that it's surprising. It's surprising still, when someone looks kind of askance to see me walking towards them.

Time comes to us softly, slowly. It sits beside us for a while. Then, long before we are ready, it moves on.

When I'm writing flawed characters, I just think about my own flaws.

I do believe that books can change lives and give people this kind of language they wouldn't have had otherwise.

Maybe this was our last summer as best friends. I feel like something's going to change now and I'm not going to be able to change it back. —Margaret

I have met women who don't have close women friends, and I've always been like, "How could that possibly be?"