Added to their loveliness was a new mysterious suffering, perfectly silent, visible in the blue puffiness beneath their eyes or the way they would sometimes stop in mid-stride, look down, and shake their heads as though disagreeing with life.

Heartbreak is funny to everyone but the heartbroken.

I saw the movie, he said. I know what it's about. Listen to this. When girls get to be about twelve or so - he leaned toward us - their tits bleed.

A seven-year-old girl can take only so many walks with her grandfather.

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

Basically what we have here is a dreamer. Somebody out of touch with reality. When she jumped, she probably thought she'd fly

I think, especially when you're in college, each book that you're reading tends to tell you who you are.