“My optimism? Where I grew up our principal cultural expression was the funeral. Whatever keeps me going, it isn't optimism.”

“My optimism? Where I grew up our principal cultural expression was the funeral. Whatever keeps me going, it isn't optimism.”

“The border between the State of Israel and the occupied Gaza Strip had always reminded him of the line between Tijuana and greater San Diego. There, too, ragged men the color of earth waited with the mystical patience of the very poor on the pleasure of crisply uniformed, well-nourished officials. Some months before, Lucas had come down for the dawn shape-up at the checkpoint, and he had not forgotten the drawn faces in the half-light, the terrible smiles of the weak, straining to make themselves agreeable to the strong.”