It was a style not of perfection, but warmth. Even mistakes had a good feeling about them

How'd it feel?" Rube asked himself. "I don't know exactly, but it made me want to howl.

Because you don't learn anything unless you can find the patience to read. TV takes that away from you. It robs you from your mind.

I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life.

The human child – so much cannier at times than the stupefyingly ponderous adult.

It was Russia, January 5, 1943, and just another icy day. Out among the city and snow, there were dead Russians and Germans everywhere. Those who remained were firing into the blank pages in front of them. Three languages interwove. The Russian, the bullets, the German.

Have faith, Ed, all right?' I search the coffee mug, but there's none in there.