Maria Malonzo > Quotes

“Maybe I’ll never be able to figure out what I’m passionate about. But when I choose something, it has to be something that when I wake up it’s the first thing I think about, and it’s also the last thing I think about before I go to sleep. I read about other people and how much they love their jobs—like, how they just want to do it all the time and it doesn’t feel like work because they love it so much. I want that to happen to me.”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #1 : Hello/Привет

“Daniel: So, how are you?
Sophie: Buckling under the weight of a thousand expectations. You?”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #1 : Hello/Привет

“How’s your first week so far?” Isabele asks.
“Well, let me see,” I begin. “Chloe says my penmanship is shit, and I was only thirty minutes early this morning, which apparently means I’m late, but on the bright side, she thinks her non-fat, half-sweet, no-whip soy latte didn’t taste right and then she told me she’s not paying for it. Other than that, work is just fine.”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #1 : Hello/Привет

“That’s Russian bureaucracy for you,” says Kirill.  “Talking to them, it is like—kak serpom po yaytsam.”
“What did you say?” I ask.
“Like a sickle to the balls,” says Kirill grimly. 
I wince at the vivid imagery. Russians and their idioms.  
“It means this is a bad situation,” Kirill explains.
“I got that from the context clues, thanks.”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #3

“In a political campaign, you can never ever retract anything or admit a mistake."
"Obviously, John subscribes to the Napoleon school of politics," Sophie says. "And look where he ended up...”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #2

“I’ve been told I’m a glass half-empty sort of person.”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #1 : Hello/Привет

“You really want my honest opinion?” I ask.
Anton gestures for me to go on. “Please, this is why I hired you, devochka.”
I detect a little hint of sarcasm, but I go ahead and say, “I hate restaurants like this.”
“Why?” He seems genuinely curious to know why.
“Because—because they’re expensive.”
“What is the problem? I’m paying for everything.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that—you see,” I lower my voice, “ this is where famous people eat.”
“Famous?” Anton pretends to look around. “Where?”
“I think that’s the guy from that prank show. And there’s that guy from those vampire movies. And Maya Findlay.”
“Yeah? I don’t know who they are.”
“Really?” I ask dubiously.
“I’m not into the famous people thing too.”
“Really.”
“Yes.”
“Which is why you only date models who want to become actresses.” I notice him giving me a look. “Sorry,” I say sheepishly.”
― Maria Malonzo, Hello, Privet! #1 : Hello/Привет