In America right now, we use words like 'smart' to talk about bombs. American rhetoric is grounded in ideas of capital-G Good, capital-E Evil, and it's very clear who is on which side. But in a book you can do just the opposite. You can use all lower-case words.

We shared the smile of recognizing ourselves in each other.

To remember my values, I need to lose certain tastes and find other handles for the memories that they once helped me carry.

We were quiet on the car ride home. I turned on the radio and found a station playing "Hey Jude." It was true, I didn't want to make it bad. I wanted to take the sad song and make it better. It's just that I didn't know how.

Reality Hunger is more than thought-provoking; it's one of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time.

...and when is enough proof enough?

She extended a hand that I didn't know how to take, so I broke its fingers with my silence.