Where does contagion end and art begin?

There's a but, isn't there?" said Coraline. "I can feel it. Like a rain cloud.

I'm probably slightly more famous than I've been comfortable with. Famous enough to have my phone calls returned is about as famous as I want to be.

Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found. Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn. Trust dreams. Trust your heart, and trust your story. (from 'Instructions')

We do not always remember the things that do no credit to us. We justify them, cover them in bright lies or with the thick dust of forgetfulness. All of the things that Shadow had done in his life of which he was not proud, all the things he wished he had done otherwise or left undone, came at him then in a swirling storm of guilt and regret and shame, and he had nowhere to hide from them. He was as naked and as open as a corpse on a table, and dark Anubis the jackal god was his prosector and his prosecutor and his persecutor.

There are some as are what they are. And there are some as aren't what they seem to be. And there are some as only seem to be what they seem to be.

You know I love you,' said the other mother flatly. 'You have a very funny way of showing it,' said Coraline.