She Did Not Care For Childrens Books In Which The Children Grew Up, As What Growing Up Entailed (in Life

“She did not care for children’s books in which the children grew up, as what “growing up” entailed (in life as in books) was a swift and inexplicable dwindling of character; out of a clear blue sky the heroes and heroines abandoned their adventures for some dull sweetheart, got married and had families, and generally started acting like a bunch of cows.”

— Donna Tartt, The Little Friend

...on a summer's day winter always feels like something you have dreamt or heard spoken of, and not a thing you have lived.

Once Upon a River; Diane Setterfield

Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again

HOMER, THE ILIAD.

“And now, dear reader, the story is over. It is time for you to cross the bridge once more and return to the world you came from. This river, which is and is not the Thames, must continue flowing without you. You have haunted here long enough, and besides, you surely have rivers of your own to attend to?”

-Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield

*Harmless Untruths

Cat's Cradle; Kurt Vonnegut