“Douglas Ainslie: Look. Can you hear yourself? Can you? Do you have any idea what a terrible person you have become? All you give out is this endless negativity, a refusal to see any kind of light and joy, even when it's staring you in the face, and a desperate need to squash any sign of happiness in me or... or... or... anyone else. It's a wonder that I don't fling myself at the first kind word or gesture that comes my way, but I don't, ou... ou... ou... out of some sense of dried-up loyalty and respect, neither of which I ever bloody get in return. Jean, his wife: [long pause] I checked my emails. There's one from Laura.” Marriage AdviceNaggingMarriage Counseling Book:The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Source: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
“I sit there. My breasts press against the cotton of my chemise; my thighs burn under my petticoat. I am conscious of my throat, my earlobes, my pulsing blood. My body is throbbing but this is because I have a fever. This is why I am aching, why I am both heavy and featherlight. The painter works. His eyes flick to me and back to his canvas. As he paints I feel his brush stroking my skin.... I am in bed with my sisters. I keep my eyes squeezed shut because I know he's sitting there, watching me. His red tongue flicks over his teeth. If I open my eyes the wolf will be there, sitting on his haunches beside my bed. My heart squeezes. I mutter my rosary... Holy Mary, Mother of God... I can feel his hot, meaty breath on my face. My hands cupping my budded breasts. I mutter faster, willing him to move closer.” Sexual AttractionBig Bad Wolf Book:Tulip Fever Source: Tulip Fever
“Once a character has gelled it's an unmistakable sensation, like an engine starting up within one's body. From then onwards one is driven by this other person, seeing things through their eyes.” PersonsCharacterBodyEyeSeeingStartingDrivenSensationsEnginesStarting Up Author:Deborah Moggach
“I'm mad about gardening. I have an allotment on the other side of Hampstead Heath, and I keep three hens in my garden.” ThreeSidesGardenMadGardeningHensAllotments Author:Deborah Moggach
“When I was young, I couldnt imagine women of 60 falling in love. For one thing, people used to stay married; they werent out in the jungle, searching for romance. Besides, these women just looked so ancient - permed hair, beige cardis.” PeopleRomanceYoungUsedFallImagineOne ThingHairMarriedFalling In LoveAncientJungle Author:Deborah Moggach
“But it's also true that the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing. All we know about the future is that it will be different. But perhaps what we fear is that it will be the same. So we must celebrate the changes.” KnowsPersonsDoeDifferentRiskCelebrate Author:Deborah Moggach
“The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment.” TryingRealDisappointmentMeasure Of Success Author:Deborah Moggach
“Everything will be alright in the end so if it is not alright it is not the end.” IfsEndsPeaceTravelAlrightEverything Will Be Alright Author:Deborah Moggach
“Whatever you do they will love you; even if they don't love you they are connected to you till you die. You can be boring and tedious with -sisters, whereas you have to put on a good face with friends.” IfsFacesDiesLove YouBoringConnectedMy SisterSiblingSisterTediousSisterhoodSiblings SistersSister LoveOther SisterBaby SisterSisters FriendshipCute SisterhoodRakhiSisters And MothersSisters And FriendsGood Sister Author:Deborah Moggach
“You keep your past by having sisters. As you get older, they're the only ones who don't get bored if you talk about your memories.” IfsPastMemoriesBoredMy SisterOur PastYour PastSiblingSisterOur MemoriesSisterhoodOlder SisterSiblings SistersOther SisterBaby SisterFunny SisterSisters FriendshipCute SisterhoodCute SisterInspirational SisterhoodFunny SisterhoodRakhiSisters And MothersOlder Sibling Author:Deborah Moggach
“I was never a lonely child who sat looking at the rain sliding down the window.” ChildrenRainWindowLonelySatLonely Child Author:Deborah Moggach
“Discover the times when you're most creative - mornings, nights, afternoons - and clear the time to work then. Many writers find the mornings are best, and the afternoons are only good for editorial corrections, or getting the washing done. Others can only work through the night, drunk.” DoneNightMorningCreativeClearDrunkAfternoonWashingCorrectionsEditorials Author:Deborah Moggach