He couldn't figure out if she was immensely well adjusted or seriously messed up.

Here was a torture that Greek inventors of the Feast and the Stone had omitted from their Hades: the Blanket of Self-Deception. A lovely warm blanket as far as it covered the soul in torment, but it never quite covered everything.

I really enjoy doing both, but I didn't write nonfiction until 1994.

[T]o love a specific person, and to identify with his or her struggles and joys as if they were your own, you have to surrender some of your self.

It's healthy to say uncle when your bone's about to break.

Nice people don't necessarily fall in love with nice people.

I wanted all of her and resented other boys for wanting any part of her.