“The girl from the front row grabbed AIMii on the arm. “Remember, it’s bumpy.” “Why is the color of silence bumpy?” AIMii asked. “Because it’s hard to do,” she whispered loudly.”

“Never much of a fantasy fan, I knew one thing for certain: Odell Greenry loved Precious every bit as much as Gollum loved his “precious.” And while both objects of obsession could be possessed neither could be mastered.”

“When something or someone is no longer bringing you up, but pulling you down—it’s time to let go. When something or someone is no longer adding to your life, but subtracting from it—it’s time to let go.”

“What do you mean, ruined?"From the way Emily swallows slowly, you'd think we were talking about smoking crack. "Compromised. By...by another man.""Oh!" I say, too loudly. "You mean, if the girl's not a virgin, the guy won't marry her?"She nods, her eyes wide, as if being a non-virgin is akin to being an ax-murder.”

“Why do yo keep doing this?""Because I've wanted to be with you for three years, okay? That's why.”

“Everything is Song. Everything is Silence. Since it all turns out to be illusion, perfectly being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, you are free to die laughing.”

“You were twisting your wet hair up into a ponytail, and then you saw us, and you smiled....""Then why didn't you-""Because you were smiling for him. And I would have had to have been an idiot to get in between that.”