“India has always had a strange way with her conquerors. In defeat, she beckons them in, then slowly seduces, assimilates and transforms them.”

“To explore strange new worlds ... and assimilate them.To seek out new life forms ... and new civilizations ... and assimilate them.To boldly go where no Borg has gone before ... and assimilate them.”

“She let them go all night and in the mornings would find them coming toward her where she slept, with that alert and nervous air unridden horses always have at dawn. They are remembering some far time when predators came for them at first light. So they came toward her with the strange and painful air of fallen angels, treading carefully and slowly as if the earth were foreign soil.”

“Margaret had always thought a man seduced a womanby making her aware of his charms: his body, his wealth,his kisses. How naive she had been.Ash Turner seduced her with the promise of her ownself.”

“He was the crazy one who had painted himself black and defeated the world.She was the book thief without the words.Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain.”

“You know, Emily was a selfish old woman in her way. She was very generous, but she always wanted a return. She never let people forget what she had done for them - and, that way she missed love.”