When a reader finishes a wonderful story and lays it aside, he should have to pause for a minute and collect himself.

Life and death matters, yes. And the question of how to behave in this world, how to go in the face of everything. Time is short and the water is rising.

My life is going to change. I feel it.

I'm moving to Nevada. Either there or kill myself.

It's strange. You never start out life with the intention of becoming a bankrupt or an alcoholic or a cheat and a thief. Or a liar.

Happiness. It comes on unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really, any early morning talk about it.

A man can go along obeying all the rules and then it don't matter a damn anymore.