Snow (St. John Strafford, #2)

by John Banville

His strongest drive was curiosity, the simple wish to know, to be let in on what was hidden from others. Everything to him had the aspect of a cipher. Life was a mundane mystery, the clues to the solving of which were strewn all about, concealed or, far more fascinatingly, hidden in plain view, for all to see but for him alone to recognize.

Some people make it their life’s work, being unhappy. And making everyone around them unhappy, too, of course. It probably begins as a kind of game, in order not to be bored, or something, and then it just sort of hardens into a way of life, and you don’t notice anymore that you’re doing it to yourself.”