In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to become to write that book.

What a surprise (we all know how tolerant the tolerant are).

The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.

She was the kind of girlfriend God gives you young, so you'll know loss the rest of your life.

We know story collections end when they end, as well - the pages serving as a countdown - but nevertheless the standard story anthology hews closer to what makes being human so hard: it reminds you with each story how quickly everything we are, everything we call our lives can change, can be upended, can disappear. Never to return.

You were at the age where you could fall in love with a girl over an expression, over a gesture

We're on speaking terms today. I say, Maybe we should hang out with the boys, and you shake your head. I want to spend time with you, you say. If we're still good, next week maybe. That's the most we can hope for. Nothing thrown, nothing said that we might remember for years. You watch me while you put a brush through your hair. Each strand that breaks is as long as my arm. You don't want to let go, but don't want to be hurt, either. It's not a great place to be but what can I tell you?