“His skin is so hard and rough, it’s like shaking a piece of tree bark.”

“That moment. That instant when your fingers curl round the handles of a shiny, uncreased bag—and all the gorgeous new things inside it become yours. What’s it like? It’s like going hungry for days, then cramming your mouth full of warm buttered toast. It’s like waking up and realizing it’s the weekend. It’s like the better moments of sex. Everything else is blocked out of your mind. It’s pure, selfish pleasure.”

“Honestly, it’s so easy to get what you want from people if they think you’re a psycho.”

“Except...I do. Of course I do. Because as his hands gently cup my waist, I don't make a sound. As he swivels me around to face him, I don't make a sound. I don't need to. We're still talking. Every touch he makes, every imprint of his skin is like another word, another thought, a continuation of our conversation. And we're not done yet. Not yet.”

“So I buy it. The most perfect little cardigan in the world. People will call me the Girl in the Gray Cardigan. I’ll be able to live in it. Really, it’s an investment.”

“She believes in love and romance. She believes her life is one day going to be transformedinto something wonderful and exciting. She has hopes and fears and worries, just like anyone.Sometimes she feels frightened.' He pauses, and adds in a softer voice, 'Sometimes she feelsunloved. Sometimes she feels she will never gain approval from those people who are mostimportant to her.'As I stare at Jack's warm, serious face on the screen, I feel my eyes stinging slightly.'But she's brave and goodhearted and faces her life head on …' He shakes his head dazedlyand smiles at the interviewer. 'I'm … I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened there. I guess Igot a little carried away. Could we—' His voice is abruptly cut off by the interviewer.”

“she doesn’t really have a sense of humor. I think she’d like to have one—it’s just that she doesn’t quite understand what jokes are for.”