I know a lot about being white - because I have to, I live in the white world. A white person doesn't live in the Indian world. I have to be white every day.

There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away. (107)

If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads.

[F]rank knew he was guilty of arrogance and misanthropy, but he compensated by being kind to strangers and tipping really well at restaurants.

The world is divided by two different tribes. The people who are assholes and the people who are not.

Yep, my daddy was an undependable drunk. But he'd never missed any of my organized games, concerts, plays, or picnics. He may not have loved me perfectly, but he loved me as well as he could. (189)

I grew up in a storytelling culture, a tribal culture, but also in an American storytelling culture.