“My grandmother was a kind of Scarsdale, New York, society woman, best known in her day as the author of the 1959 book 'Growing Your Own Way: An Informal Guide for Teen-Agers' - this despite being a person whose parenting style made Joan Crawford's wire hangers look like pool noodles.”

“Perhaps if I'd had God in my life growing up I would have been able to understand the total and complete unfairness of the universe rewarding mean girls”

“It's so clear to me now: the memorizing of a fake prayer, the symbolization of objects, the struggle to relate to the invisible - I needed a religion. I was lost.”

“The real proof that I have tried to love and that people have tried to love me back was never going to fit in a kitchen drawer.”

“love is not boastful. But hate? Apparently hate has a big mouth.”

“I have never pictured my own wedding. I do want to get married. It's a nice idea. Though I think husbands are like tattoos - you should wait until you come across something you want on your body for the rest of your life.”

“Even a person like this makes mistakes, can't always hold on to everything they'd like to,can't always force the world to spin in the direction of their choosing. You'll hug him longer than necessary and tell him to keep in touch. And you'll know, finally, that it had nothing to do with you.”

“Francine looked up and mouthed, "Thank you." "any titme," I lied.”

“I thought of the past and how one should have respect for it, like the elderly.”

“Why do people always want to put their hands on vulnerability? I sped up.”

“Teddy bears are best because they understand it's nice to be alone.”