Quotes from Laura Lippman

what our father called a chifforobe

The present is swollen with self-regard for itself, but soon enough the present becomes the past. This present, this day, this very moment we inhabit—it all will be held accountable for the things it didn't know, didn't understand.

Trudy couldn't imagine men writing lovelorn letters to female murderers.

Her eye was drawn to a miniature version of Esskay, a prancing greyhound, a true gray one, whereas Esskay was black with a patch of white at her breast.

The Silent Woman.

The heart knows nothing, sees nothing, but it kicks up a ruckus, throws tantrums to get what it wants.

He gave her his best smile. He loved women who brought him food. Even when they were plain and unattractive, like this dumpy, pockmarked girl, he loved them.

They could not love Rosalind as much as they loved Olivia because they knew she could be taken from them.

Where on Maslow's hierarchy of needs does one find storytelling? Technically, he supposes, it's near the narrow top, a part of self-actualization. Yet it feels as if it's the entire foundation to Gerry, as if even the basics of water, food, and shelter rely on one's ability to make sense of the narrative of one's life.

The waiting's not the hard part. Waiting can be beautiful, lush, full of possibility.

He had sometimes thought that if she had the option to be nothing but a brain in a jar, that would be fine with her.

How could 1906 and 1966 be part of the same century? In 1906, there had been no world wars, most people didn't have telephones and cars. In 1906, women couldn't vote and black men could by law, but not in practice.

Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings, limited to one square in any direction, on defense for the whole fucking

Ask questions. Keep an open mind. Listen to the other person. Focus on finding common ground, areas of agreement. Anger is one letter away from danger

the only thing worse than failing to do what was demanded of her was actually doing it.

something she was obliged to keep to herself because of others' prejudices.

I'm simply advising you to remain true to your characters. Nothing can happen now that hasn't been prepared for. As writers, we must stay within the reality we've created.

Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, he rolls onto his back

They didn't fuck me up, my mom and dad. On that score, I'm a self-made woman.

Everyone's unhappy if they have even a sliver of intelligence. Who can be happy in this world?

Two people can brave the taunts that one person finds intolerable.

It's exhausting, meaning well in a world that assumes you're a pig because of the body you're born into, but then—it's so much

She realized, somewhat belatedly, that he had not boiled his existence down to one quirk. Whoever he was, he didn't define himself as Walking Man. He had a life, a history. Perhaps a sad and gloomy one, based on these surroundings and his compulsive, constant hiking, but he was not, in his head or mirror, a man who did nothing but walk around North Baltimore.

In the animal kingdom, the male performs for the woman, woos her with his beautiful feathers or flowing mane, is always trying to out-strut the other men. Why do humans do it the other way? It doesn't make sense. Men need us more than we need them.