Ellesse

“Between 1970 and 2019 alone, nearly a third of all birds had disappeared from North America. Once, the forest would have been deafening.”
― Daniel Mason, North Woods

“Klaus will not look at Ona or acknowledge anything she says. Ona is a ghost to him or less because of her 'Narfa', her spinsterdom and her burgeoning belly. I have observed that being a ghost suits Ona.”
― Miriam Toews, Women Talking

“What we give cannot be taken from us.”
― Anne Michaels, Held

“Forgiveness is moot if not heartfelt. The only thing we must do is protect our God-given souls! We must find it in our own hearts to forgive the men of Molotschna ... and even if the men don't ask for it themselves and even if they claim their innocence all the way to their graves!"

"So you believe that maintaining the condition of your own soul is more important than obeying God?" Mirika says, less calm now.
"They are the same thing really," Ona says, steadily. "I believe that my soul, my essence, my intangible energy is the presence of God within me and that by bringing peace to my soul I am honouring God. If I can understand how these crimes may have occurred, I am able to forgive these men and I am almost able, certainly from a distance, to pity them... to love them. Love is good and better than retaliation.”
― Miriam Toews