Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can. But life leaps over oblivion lightly, losing only a thing or two of no importance, and gloom is but the passing shadow of a cloud.

We believe what we see.’...What do you do when you’re in the dark?

We are all born like Catholics, aren't we—in limbo, without religion, until some figure introduces us to God?

The idea of a flip book still really appeals to me. That idea of fiction and non-fiction.

Books are something social - a writer speaking to a reader - so I think making the reading of a book the center of a social event, the meeting of a book club, is a brilliant idea.

Afterwards, when it's all over, you meet God. What do you say to God?

I ask you, is it the fig tree's fault that it's not the season for figs? What kind of thing is that to do to an innocent tree, wither it instantly?