“I write because the lives of all of us are stories. If enough of those stories are told, then perhaps we will begin to see that our lives are the same story. The differences are merely in the details.”

“The young accept the extraordinary as normal because they do not compare their lives with those of others when everyone is like them.”

“Being a failure at living your own life as best as you can is better than being a success living the life somebody else says you should live.”

“If I canot know your name, may I light a lamp so I can see your face?'If you sould ever see my face, you will lose me forever.' Why?' Psyche wanted to know. 'Are you ugly? Are you afraid I won't love you if I see your face?'Perhaps I am afraid that if you see my face, it will be THAT that you will love and not me.' I understand, believe me. I know what that feels like.”

“We remember with our emotions. The things that were important in our emotional life, that's what we remember.”

“Dying ain't important. Everyone does that. What's important is how well you do your living.”

“While the subject matter is lynching, on a deeper level, this novel is about identity. Whom and what we identify ourselves with determines our characters, determines who we are, and what we do.”