“Her hands twisted restlessly together like a pair of pink and hairless animals at play.”

“Working with him was sort of like trying to defuse a bomb with somebody standing behind you and every now and then clashing a pair of cymbals together. In a word, upsetting.”

“She ran out of her marriage the way a woman can run out of a pair of sandals when she decides to let go and really dash.”

“She knew with suddeness and ease that this moment would be with her always, within hand's reach of memory.She doubted if they all sensed it - they had seen the world - but even George was silent for a minute as they looked, and the scene, the smell, even the sound of the band playing a faintly recognisable movie theme, was locked forever in her, and she was at peace.”

“Roland’s heart seemed to twist like a rag inside his chest, and there was a moment to wonder how it could possibly go on beating in the face of this.”

“Bill could smell Its breath and it was a smell like exploded animals lying on the highway at midnight.”

“And then the car was beside him, not idling but panting like a deadly animal which may or may not be tamed.”