The True Deceiver (New York Review Books (Paperback))

by Tove Jansson

PERHAPS THE REASON PEOPLE called Anna Aemelin nice was because nothing had ever forced her to exhibit malice, and because she had an uncommon ability to forget unpleasant things. She just shook them off and continued on her own vague but stubborn way. In fact, her spoiled benevolence was frightening, but no one had ever had time to notice.

There’s nothing so hideously easy as giving someone a bad conscience ...

Anna leaned across the table and said, “Katri, there is something about you that’s too...” she searched for the word “ ... absolute. And it leads nowhere.