I think men should be able to veto women's abortions if they're willing to care for the child after it's born.

The bad things don't seem to happen to bad people.' That's because they already did. There's no original evil left in the world.

I figured anybody who talked about church as much as she did was using it a little like cocaine anyhow.

What was it about not knowing a person that allowed you to wonder whether she might be the answer to all your problems?

Most children would rather preserve the fantasy of a loving connection with their fathers and mothers, at all costs, even if it costs them their self-esteem. When you're three or seven years old, it's less frightening to think of yourself as an unlovable, disappointing screwup than to recognize the fact that you're living with a monster.

My throat tightened, but I held back the tears and reminded myself that withdrawing from a woman is no different than kicking a drug; you feel shaky and you want it, but eventually the need passes, and you feel restored.

People blush when one of their core truths is revealed.