Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Alice McDermott

Quote by Alice McDermott

“But Mrs. Meany, see, the women went on, leaning forward, despite how her heart was broken, pulled herself together, anyway, to put on a good face for the rest of the family at home. And she went back, Sunday after Sunday, right up until the Sunday before she died. Mrs. Meany put her beautiful love - a mother's love - against the terrible scenes that brewed like sewage in that poor girl's troubled mind. She persevered, she baked her cakes, she hauled herself (the goiter swinging) on and off the ferry, and she sat, brokenhearted, holding her daughter's hand, even as Lucy shouted her terrible words, proving to anyone with eyes to see that a mother's love was a beautiful, light, relentless thing that the devil could not diminish.”

Quote by Alice McDermott

Book:Someone
Create image

Work

Someone

This book delves into the intricate tapestry of human connections and the search for self-understanding, offering a rich narrative that reflects the multifaceted nature of human existence. more

Author

Alice McDermott
Alice McDermott

Alice McDermott is an American author renowned for her delicate emotional descriptions and profound character portrayals. Her works often focus on the lives of ordinary people, exploring themes such as family, faith, and identity. Born on June 27, 1953, in New York. more

You May Also Like

“Have I been conditioned to believe that if I am not solicitous, if I am not forthcoming, if I am not a never-ending cornicopia of entertaining delights, they will take their collections of milk-bottle tops and their mangy one-eared teddy bears and go away into the woods by themselves to play snipers? Probably. What my mother thinks was merely cute may have been lethal.”

Men And WomenMothersConditioningMothers And DaughtersMotheringCuteness
Book:Bluebeard's Egg
Create image

“Oh!" said Moominmamma with a start, "I believe those were mice disappearing into the cellar. Sniff, run down with a little milk for them." Then she caught sight of the suitcase which stood by the steps. "Luggage too," thought Moominmamma. "Dear me -- then they've come to stay." And she went off to look for Moominpappa to ask him to put up two more beds -- very, very small ones.”

MothersHospitality
Book:Finn Family Moomintroll
Create image

“Have I been conditioned to believe that if I am not solicitous, if I am not forthcoming, if I am not a never-ending cornicopia of entertaining delights, they will take their collections of milk-bottle tops and their mangy one-eared teddy bears and go away into the woods by themselves to play snipers? Probably. What my mother things was merely cute may have been lethal.”

MothersEntertainingConditioningMothers And DaughtersMotheringSolicitousWell Behaved Women
Book:Bluebeard's Egg
Create image

“Itches and Burs There once was a mother-and-daughterly pair Who both had an itch just beneath their long hair. Each had a bur with the prickles attached Under a belt at the mid of her back. “Oh, daughter, please scratch at my itch, will you not? And pluck out the bur—I would thank you a lot!” “I can’t,” said the daughter, “My own bur does sting. And try as I may I can’t reach the darn thing!” “Oh pain!” groaned the daughter. The mom cried, “Oh drat!” As each strained to reach her own bur at her back. “It prickles like needles! It tickles like feathers!” But easing the scratch was a fruitless endeavor. The daughter about gave a sigh of despair When all of a sudden her prick was not there. The itch too was gone with some scritches and scrapes Applied by old fingers in arthritic shape. The daughter, so grateful to feel such relief, Turned ’round to her mother and plucked out her grief. She scratched her mom’s itch just as she had done hers. Now neither has itches and neither has burs.”

Richelle GoodrichRichelle E GoodrichMothersRichelleMother And DaughterDaughtersParent And ChildItches And Burs
Book:Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year
Create image