“I preferred that my bad dreams be vague.”

“This was all our world was made of: decomposed visions. Not atoms --- bits of dreams.”

“It looked like just the sort of family Americans dream of having: dumb and loving.”

“I still believe in love. I always will. It's my blessing and my burden.”

“I feel like my head is finally the right size. I feel like it finally fits around my mind.”

“My advice for aspiring writers is go to New York. And if you can’t go to New York, go to the place that represents New York to you, where the standards for writing are high, there are other people who share your dreams, and where you can talk, talk, talk about your interests. Writing books begins in talking about it, like most human projects, and in being close to those who have already done what you propose to do.”

“endless soaring toy-rocket dreams and schemes that let out a sad, weak 'pop' at their high climax point and then flake apart as they tumble toward some thorn patch that's also a hatching ground for baby snakes”