“My war had been so long, my winter so cold. But i had made it home. And for the first time in a long time, i was not afraid.”

“Killers aren't always assassins. Sometimes, they don't even have blood on their hands.”

“I didn't need his criticism. I carried enough guilt on my own. I had done everything wrong. I had the highest marks in school but couldn't master common sense.”

“I wanted to stay locked away from the pain and destruction. I didn't want to be strong. I didn't want to be the 'smart girl'. I was so very tired. I just wanted it all to be over.”

“What did I want? I wanted the war to be over so I could ask her out.”

“Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.”

“Revolting. If women were so careless to become pregnant at such a time, let women sort it out.”

“My arm began moving, turning the invisible crank of Death's music box. Somewhere inside, I didn't want the melody to end.”

“Dear Diary, the Heroine never cries.”

“There are two types of seeds in the mind: those that create anger, fear, frustration, jealousy, hatred and those that create love, compassion, equanimity and joy. Spirituality is germination and sp...”

“My music teacher offered twittering madrigals and something about how, in Italy, in Italy, the oranges hang on the tree. He treated me - the humiliation of it - as a soprano.These, by contrast, are...”

“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.”

“Wives?" she asked, interrupting him. For a moment, he had assumed she was tuning to the novel. Then he saw her waiting, suspicious eyes, so he replied cautiously, "None active," as if wives were vo...”

“When shrouded meanings and grim intentions are nicely polished up and pokerfaced personae are generously palming off their fantasy constructs, caution is the watchword, since rimpling water on the ...”

“Beware of the thief who is after your cash; but be more cautious of the thief in the mind that's after your kind, your promise - your dream, your future.”