Spiderweb Quotes

“[She] was to consider her own experience in the field and examine the implications of being a woman, with the wisdom of hindsight and comparisons of her reception by different cultures and communities. She was to record her own problems in relation to such questions as conformity, reciprocity and culture shock, and discuss how her own attitudes and methods of adjustment had altered over the years. She was to take a long view. She was to consider her self a guru, a pundit.”
― Penelope Lively, Spiderweb

“anyone”
― Penelope Lively, Spiderweb

“a woman in late middle age is the most neutral figure of all, Stella discovered. She poses no sexual threat nor challenge. For young men, she is of so little interest as to be effectively invisible. For women younger than herself, she is a comforting reminder that they have not themselves got that far yet, thanks be. For those around her own age, she is a reassurance: we are not alone. Accordingly all three groups are reasonably well disposed, the defences are down, an overture will be accepted with equanimity and in some quarters enthusiasm.”
― Penelope Lively, Spiderweb