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Quote by Jean Kwok

Work

Girl in Translation

This novel follows the journey of a young girl who moves from Japan to the United States with her family. It delves into the complexities of navigating two cultures and languages, and the challenges of finding a sense of belonging in a new environment. more

Author

Jean Kwok
Jean Kwok

Jean Kwok is a writer whose works often focus on themes of immigration and identity. Her specific birth and death dates are unknown. more

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“She made me a stranger unto myself, she was all of those calm nights and tall eucalyptus trees, the desert stars, that land and sky, that fog outside, and I had come there with no purpose save to be a mere writer, to get money, to make a name for myself and all that piffle. She was so much finer than I, so much more honest, that I was sick of myself and I could not look at her warm eyes, I suppressed the shiver brought on by her brown arms around my neck and the long fingers in my hair. I did not kiss her. She kissed me, author of The Little Dog Laughed.”

“It hurts to put in the effort and taste no success. Pray that your diligence will yield the right results, but do not rely solely on prayer. You also need to act. Combine your faith with action, and you will see a significant impact.”

“Adrian", I whispered, my tears starting to flow faster. His head snapped up--and then he moved with his incredible speed, gripping me in those powerful arms. Tilting my head back and covering my mouth in a bruising kiss that made joy rip through me with all the intensity of the pain I'd felt before. When he finally broke away several minutes later, I could hardly breathe, but I still managed to speak. "I love you," I choked out. "I love you, I love you, I love you--" His kiss cut me off again, and this time, I wasn't crying when I kissed him back. I was smiling.”

“It was just a quick touch of his lips and it left her breathless, as always. In that moment his kiss infuriated her. This was only supposed to happen in the movies! It was a feeling designed by books! She wasn’t supposed to feel her lungs seize and butterflies were not supposed to run rampant in her stomach, just because a man pressed his lips to her lips”

“And suddenly I realize that all those books and movies had gotten it wrong. When you find your souls reflection in another, you shouldn’t be aware of anything other than their body, yours, and the space between. You shouldn’t be looking for someone whose kiss causes you to escape reality by transporting you to another time and place. Look for the person whose kiss grounds you firmly in the moment, whose arms hold you safely in the now.”