“No. The smile had left Sarahs voice. He still works for the Basij. Beware of weak men, little sister. He never returned to help, not even to express condolences for Father. Find a strong man. Get a...”

“Being articulate is no guarantee of intelligence, Zoe said. Im not doubting the value of education. Im doubting its reach. Highly educated politicians still do stupid things. Anthony Weiner was edu...”

“Zoe stopped one last time in front of the mirror, adjusting her new American dress. She didnt see the dress, however. She saw what the big Russian did to her. She saw what al-Qaeda did to her. She ...”

“Zoe did what civilized people do when they freak out: she drank tea. She had walked from her little bungalow to Coffee & Tea. It was always filled with the well-educated, the complicated, the peopl...”

“Saul had gained his six-foot frame at sixteen, but his muscles didnt arrive until his early twenties. Between those lost years, he was a gangly, uncoordinated klutz. He was told that he could impro...”

“Zoe leaned closer to Ruth, nearly nose to nose. If they were made from better stuff, they would have pretended the fault was theirs. They would have made a moment of it--a pretty moment.”

“Saul had gained his six-foot frame at sixteen, but his muscles didnt arrive until his early twenties. Between those lost years, he was a gangly, uncoordinated klutz. He was told that he could impro...”

“Zoe leaned closer to Ruth, nearly nose to nose. If they were made from better stuff, they would have pretended the fault was theirs. They would have made a moment of it--a pretty moment.”

“Civil order mattered. Zoe didnt know why Farah continued to wear the headscarf, but most Middle-Eastern women wore modest clothing to anchor themselves to a moral order, in an upside-down world. Zo...”

“I wondered what happened when you offered yourself to someone, and they opened you, only to discover you were not the gift they expected and they had to smile and nod and say thank you all the same.”

“Well?" Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. "How was it?"Harry considered it for a moment. "Wet," he said truthfully.Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation or disgust, it was hard ...”

“People always fall in love with the most perfect aspects of each others personalities. Who wouldnt? Anybody can love the most wonderful parts of another person. But thats not the clever trick. The ...”

“I'd give anything if you'd kiss me." I said. "I mean," I said when he tilted his head to look at me, his eyes wide in shock, "I've kissed guys before. It's like a handshake these days," I lied, jus...”