I have always believed that, in a story, if something traumatic or calamitous enough happens to a kid at a formative age, that will make him or her the adult they become.
John IrvingWhen people say that German or any other language is romantic... all they really mean is that they've enjoyed a past in the language
John Irvingwhen however small a measure of jealousy is mixed with misunderstanding, there is always going to be trouble.
John Irving