“It’d been difficult to make it as a female tattoo artist in the 1990s, but at that point, she wouldn’t have known what to do if she didn’t have to fight for her place in the world. Every taunt and incredulous look thrown her way was powder in the keg. She wasn’t going to be good. She was going to be explosive.” WomenFeminism Book:Paint Eater Source: Paint Eater
“He’d been alone. Alone, alone, alone. He’d look at the stars and think to the universe, you are infinite. And I am alone.” LonelyMental HealthAlone Book:In This Iron Ground Source: In This Iron Ground
“There was something about children and animals liking you that felt especially honest.” ChildrenAnimal Book:In This Iron Ground Source: In This Iron Ground
“After learning that Sasha wouldn’t be able to take time off work to go to Russia during the winter, Jason pilfered Sasha’s sister’s number from his phone, contacting her about what they usually had for dinner on New Year’s Eve, and making it—or attempting to, anyway—as a surprise for Sasha. Jason would never forget Sasha’s face that night. Confused, at first, when he smelt the food before seeing it all laid out on Jason’s table. Pickled vegetables glinted alongside a beetroot and herring salad—if it could be called a salad, really, with the amount of mayonnaise in it. There were cut fruits and lemons, and in the middle, a mountain of pork and potatoes that could feed far more than two people. Sasha had stared, tears welling up in his eyes at once, to Jason’s repressed mortification and pleasure. Before Jason could try and downplay the gesture, Sasha had swept him up into a bear-hug so crushing and delightful that he’d genuinely not been able to breathe for a few seconds. “Best friend!” Sasha declared him at once, swinging him around and almost braining Jason on the wall.” FriendshipFoodRussianWholesome Book:Crybaby Source: Crybaby