People Should not be protected from the world.. -It cripples them.

sharing is the secret of civilization.

You know a relationship has deteriorated past the point of salvage when one person detests another's gestures.

People do sometimes change, of course. Habits, allegiances, dreams are all alterable, but only under extraordinary pressure - like great love, fear, grief. More often, people don't change. A girl who never missed a day of work does not suddenly decide to stay home in bed, for no good reason.

Bobbie Ann Mason's genius only grows stronger and wiser and funnier with every new book, and Zigzagging Down a Wild Trail is my absolute favorite so far. What an ear she has for the telling phrase, what an eye for the heartbreaking detail. These new stories are stunning.

Like most good looking women, she was never sure of her beauty, and had to keep checking on it, to make sure it was still there.

People Should not be protected from the world.. -It cripples them.