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.

Why are you in such a rush?" Sophia asked, and her grandmother answered that it was a good idea to do things before you forgot that they had to be done.

Maybe my passion is nothing special, but at least it's mine.

You must go on a long journey before you can really find out how wonderful home is.

One ought to have the right to have a secret and to spring it as a surprise. But if you live inside a family you have neither.

I mean, anyone can let Danger out but the really clever thing is finding somewhere for it to go afterwards.

Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he's been through; it is a sheath of memories and security.