“You've made a god of your fear and jealousy, Sister. For what is a god but what we go to again and again?”

“What would Jesus do with this gift of writing, this God-given love of writing? What would He write?”

“There are things I want in life - things I need, things I mean to do,' Olivia went on. 'I just don't know what they are.”

“As long as a man has two hands and a strong back, he can make things happen. It's no good being fearful. Worry won't change the future a whit, and it misses the joy of this glad day.”

“When we tell our stories, the gods hear our sorrows.”

“No, Mo," Miss Watkins said, turning to Nesta who was crying with laughter. "Nesta Williams, seeing as you clearly find it so funny. What do you think the name of God might be?""Er, not sure," said Nesta, looking caught out. "What do you think?""I don't think," said Miss Watkins."I know.""I don't think I know either," giggled Nesta. The whole class got detention, but it was worth it. I felt like i'd spent the whole morning laughing my head offWe never did get to know what God's name was.”

“Sisters are the worst. And they are the best. A sister can be awful and complicated and loving and protective and petty and competitive, and when you die she is the person you want beside you holding your hand. Somebody's gotta organize the potluck after the service and you know your husband's not gonna be up to the job.”