“While obsession with one’s personal appearance is a sign of being a vacant prat, total oblivion to it is a sign of mental illness.”

“Without stories, how do we know who we are? How can we imagine who we can be?”

“Sometimes when they all talk I feel like shouting, 'so your life went wrong—why assume mine will? Maybe it’ll work for me!' But this would only invite a pitying smile, and a 'she’ll learn' comment. You can’t win with them. You can’t even compete.”

“The moment had passed. But it had happened.”

“and if you think thats what i'd do you can fuck off back.”

“We've a bond, haven't we, Goaty? Fellow victims. Partners in survival. Though God knows what my mum will say If I try and take him home...”

“Sometimes a house has two histories. One that's less well known. One that people have an interest in keeping less well known.”