Yael Politis > Quotes

“Didn’t they know that life was one long narrow escape?”
― Yael Politis, The Lonely Tree

“Olivia stared at a knot in the wooden tabletop, trying to convince herself that a child like the one inside her was better off not being born. But she couldn’t hold with that. People don’t give up their own lives, she thought, no matter how bad they are. They hang on, hoping for better, even when they know darn well there’s not much chance of better coming to call. Look at Mourning, born without any parents. Do I think it would be better if he’d never come into the world?”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning

“It’s what we’re meant to do, she thought. Live the best way we can. And then we’re meant to die.”
― Yael Politis, The Way the World Is

“ladies will come get him ready for laying out. I’ll just make him presentable. Why don’t you go cover the mirrors?” By the time Mrs.”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning

“Westsylvania. Flat ground had never looked so good. Some of those wagons later took a wrong turn and clomped across a charming covered bridge. Thank the good Lord Almighty, those drivers thought. Nice bridge like that, there must be a town ahead. And there was – Five Rocks. It offered one of everything”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning

“Do we grieve for the dead only according to how dependent we are upon them? Now that I don’t need Jettie any more, is”
― Yael Politis, The Way the World Is

“cats will.”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning

“No one on the outside ever knows nothing about what goes on between a man and a woman.”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning

“the foot of the bed and stood rocking back and forth on his heels as he said, “Well, we’re orphans now. That’s what we are.” Then he went”
― Yael Politis, Olivia, Mourning