What I discovered I liked best about striking out on my bicycle was that the farther I got from home, the more interesting and unusual my thoughts became.

I'll tell you one thing, though. It's a terrible thing to be a disappointment to a good woman.

People in small towns, much more than in cities, share a destiny.

And there comes a time in your life when you realize that if you don't take the opportunity to be happy, you may never get another chance again.

You can be interested in a Jane Smiley novel whether or not anyone says a word. She enters into her characters thoughts with great understanding and depth.

Why mince words? Beautiful Ruins is an absolute masterpiece.

I’ve always known that there’s more going on inside me than finds its way into the world, but this is probably true of everyone. Who doesn’t regret that he isn’t more fully understood?