Christmas Presents Quotes

“Those of us who come alive in the pages of books, and struggle with the “real” world—we recognize each other.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“He's always loved a broken thing, not seeing its ruin but its potential for rebirth.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“The kitchen is the heart of the house. Family is the soul. And love is the foundation.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Love is a resilient thing. It doesn't die even when you try to kill it.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“All the good things are a little dangerous.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“I dream of Evan Handy, my own personal boogeyman. I run and run. He never catches me, but I'm never free.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Youth. It only knows the jump, not the landing. And falling can feel like flying, at first.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“That’s the thing about growing up in a small town; people rarely update the version of you they carry in their minds.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Bookworms always make the best detectives.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Madeline."
"Yes, Steve."
"I love you. I've always loved you. I've loved you since kindergarten. I loved you when I married someone else and every day after that. There's only ever been you."
More emotions flooding through my body - this time a love that I took for granted, the deep abiding friendship of a person you've known all your life, a new desire, one that's healthy and strong and rooted in respect for self and other.
"You're my best friend," I whisper, with a smile. "And so much more. I love you."
And then his lips are on mine, the scruff of his beard, the strength of his arms. Since Evan, I've been in this tight cocoon, not allowing myself to feel, not trusting myself to move on. Now, finally, I'm free.
And then we hear applause, and everyone is crowding into the kitchen.
"Oh, my god," says Miranda. "It's about damn time."
I feel heat come up on my cheeks, my scar burning. Even Badger blushes as everyone piles into the kitchen, laughing and clinking glasses. The kitchen is the heart of the house. Family is the soul. And love is the foundation.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Family - it's partially what you're given, and partially what you choose. It's rarely perfect. But this Christmas night, I am grateful for what I have, however flawed, especially considering what's been lost.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Lolly?" she says, dropping to her knees in the road. "Is it you?"
I nod. "He's behind me. He's coming."
But when I look back the road is empty. "Who?" asks the big, bearded man she's with. "Who's following you?"
"Santa," I breathe, using the last bit of strength. And the snow is so, so cold as a terrible darkness falls.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“Things with Bekka were really bad, and I had to face the fact that I never loved her. That in my heart, I always had this seed of hope that you'd look at me a different way one day. She knew it, you know. She knew I loved you. We fought about it sometimes."
"I'm sorry." I reach for his hand, and he laces his fingers through mine.
"You always loved geodes. How something so dull and common as a rock might hide magic inside of it. I thought maybe it was an allegory. Something as common as friendship, might be something more if you just looked past what you expected to see when you looked at me."
"An allegory," I echo, my voice just a whisper.
"You were always on me to read Rilke. I finally did."
"You did?"
"I live my life in growing orbits, that spread out over the things of the world...I still don't know if I'm a falcon, or a storm, or a great song."
All these years. All these gifts. Not clues. Not messages from Even Handy.
Christmas love poems from my best friend.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“I slice the paper, proud of the even, clean line I make, place the book facedown in the center of the square, carefully start to fold. The act of wrapping a gift is a sacred thing. Most people just throw things in a bag these days, fluff up some tissue paper, call it a day. Wrapping takes time, care, patience. My corners are precise. I press the tape with my fingernail so that it becomes invisible.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“I don't even like Christmas. I mean, it's a bit of a crock, isn't it? Just another thing that could be beautiful and true - a time of giving and communion, a moment of connection with the divine. Lights glittering, families gathering in love and laughter, meals shared in peace. Could be but isn't. In this busy, addicted, technology-addled, image-obsessed world, Christmas has just become another thing to buy and sell, to crop and filter, to hashtag and edit for reels and stories. But maybe that's me just being cynical.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“never forget that the truth is always stranger than fiction”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“I had to try - move past it. Life goes on, right?"
That's what they say. But it isn't true for all of us, is it?”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“The person who lives on the page often bears little resemblance to the one who occupies the world.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“We Are All In Hell Here”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“The past is alive”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents

“My years with Dr. Maggie Cooper, a therapist who practiced in The Hollows just a short ride from school, helped me navigate the ugly terrain of survivor’s guilt and PTSD.”
― Lisa Unger, Christmas Presents