The Heat's On Quotes

“While she was dressing he listened to the sound of a recording coming from the lounge. Other recordings had been playing before, but he hadn’t heard them. It was a saxophone solo by Lester Young. He didn’t recognize the tune, but it had the “Pres” treatment. His stomach tightened. It was like listening to someone laughing their way toward death. It was laughter dripping wet with tears. Colored people’s laughter.”
― Chester Himes, The Heat's On

“These boys that turn up nowadays,” he bemoaned. “If they was chicks they’d never get hatched.”
― Chester Himes, The Heat's On

“But instead she was thinking, Well, I’m back on my bare ass where I started, but I ain’t yet flat on my back.”
― Chester Himes, The Heat's On