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Quote by Dennis Lehane

Work

Shutter Island

This novel delves into themes of madness, memory, and the human psyche, as the protagonist navigates a treacherous landscape of secrets and lies. more

Author

Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane

Dennis Lehane, born on August 4, 1965, is a renowned American author known for his crime and suspense novels. His works, often set in Boston, delve into the dark side of human nature and the complexities of society. more

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“Beautiful, enticing, forbidden fruit will be offered to you when your "hunger" is greatest. If you are foolish enough to reach for it, your fingers will sink into the rotten mush on the back side. That's the way sin operates in our lives. It promises everything. It delivers nothing but disgust and heartache.”

“The virus seemed to be thriving on his misery, relentlessly tearing through his insides. Every day it made its rounds through his body. It started at his fingers, making them itch to touch her until he could almost feel her fleshy lips beneath his thumb, the silky strands of her hair sliding through his fingers. It would then move up to his arms, creating an urge to hold her, an urge that could not be fulfilled. Next it went for his eyes, causing him to see her everywhere, in every little thing. He would see her in the kitchen, making coffee. He would see her cuddled up on the sofa, watching T.V. He had to blink several times before he realised that she wasn’t really there. It would then move to his heart, ruthlessly choking it until it was so heavy and so sore, he could feel the pain of losing her in every beat. And then, finally, just as night fell, it would attack his brain, invoking images of her. Thoughts and memories and dreams. He could not take much more. It was slowly driving him insane. He could not break out of these shackles.”

“It's our version of "me" that causes us the most stress and heartache. Which is why it comes as a relief to discover that this version is as transient as a cloud in the sky. Focus on the cloud and the result is uncertain. Focus on the sky and we discover clarity.”

“I will never return home to Elham. I can’t. To see her would crush me. I need to let her go now. And I need to move on. I’ve come to realise that she was right. We were two completely different people, and we didn’t belong together. But I will never hold any regrets of what we had. It will always be a time of my life that was perfect. Goodbye sweet Nell.”