And all you can do is just read," she said. She raised her voice an screamed, "You just read and read and read!" Then she threw herself down on the table and wept.

She started thinking about all the euphemisms for death, all the anxious taboos that had always fascinated her. It was too bad you could never have an intelligent discussion on the subject. People were either too young or too old, or else they didn't have time.

I don't want to hear about them any more. I could vomit on the Moomintrolls.

My bag was as light as my happy-go-lucky heart.

The hemulen woke up slowly and recognised himself and wished he had been someone he didn't know.

All men have parties and are pals who never let each other down. A pal can say terrible things which are forgotten the next day. A pal never forgives, he just forgets, and a woman forgives but never forgets. That's how it is. That's why women aren't allowed to have parties. Being forgiven is very unpleasant.

Everyone must imagine his own snakes because no one else's snakes can ever be as awful.