Maria White

“The place names and direction signs were as jewels set into a mosaic: the Quirinale, the Orti Farnesiani, the Fontana di Trevi, the Arco di Constantine, Santa Maria Maggiore. To say those words aloud was to fizz.”
― Joseph O'Connor, My Father's House

“Hidden by that was a wrought-iron gate. As I touched it I thought I heard the clash of swords, the shouting of men and the creaking of wagon wheels. When I stepped through into the warm shade of the tree the quality of the air changed, became richer, older—untainted by particulates or petrol fumes.”
― Ben Aaronovitch, Stone and Sky

“Life is a bunch of cells walking around with a common purpose.”
― Joe Haldeman, The Forever War

“You will never escape me,” Ione had said as we lay together on our last night. “I’m a siren and we both live in the Kingdom by the Sea. Every evening I will sit on the rocks at Greyhope Bay and sing you home to me.” “Every evening?” “Obviously I might have to work, or study, or go to the pub. But definitely Wednesdays and Sundays—minimum.”
― Ben Aaronovitch, Stone and Sky