In the end, it wasn't death that surprised her but the stubbornness of life.

it's amazing what you can get used to.

Grief is natural,' she said. 'Overcoming it is a matter of choice.

The more she thought about it, the more Madeleine understood that extreme solitude didn't just describe the way she was feeling about Leonard. It explained how she'd always felt when she was in love. It explained what love was like and, just maybe, what was wrong with it.

Pregnancy humbles husbands. After an initial rush of male pride they quickly recognise the minor role that nature had assigned them in the drama of reproduction.

girls forbidden to dance would only attract husbands with bad complexions and sunken chests.

Children learn to speak Male or Female the way they learn to speak English or French.