Pretend I'm Dead Quotes

“She smiled. It was rare for her to find someone attractive physically and also to like what came out of their mouth.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“You respect me?" Sheila asked, surprised. "As a person?"
"No, as a pigeon.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“Feelings are just stories, Mona. They have a beginning and an end. In my view it's best to observe them silently, without judgement, and then let them go. Don't get too invested.

Feelings are just stories, she repeated slowly. And who's writing these stories?

Well, you are, naturally, Nigel said brightly. You're the author.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“Rather than a photo, Mona kept a list of her mother’s phobias in her wallet. She was afraid of the usual stuff—death, beatings, rape, Satan—but these commonplace fears were complemented by generalized anxiety over robbers, Russians, mirrors, beards, blood, ruin, vomiting, being alone, and new ideas. She was also afraid of fear, the technical term for which was ‘phobophobia,’ a word Mona liked to repeat to herself, like a hip-hop lyric.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“Your vocabulary must be pretty impressive,” she said. “Do you have a favorite word?” He thought about it for a second. “I’ve always liked the word ‘cleave’ because it has two opposite meanings: to split or divide and to adhere or cling. Those two tendencies have been operating in me simultaneously for as long as I can remember. In fact, I can feel a battle raging right now.” He clutched his stomach theatrically. She smiled. It was rare for her to find someone attractive physically and also to like what came out of their mouth.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“I got flustered and forgot to say my name. How’d you know it was me?” “You have this weird nonaccent,” he said. “I’m from Los Angeles,” she explained. “Originally, I mean.” “You must be homesick.” “Nah,” she said. “Lowell’s gotten under my skin. I don’t think I could live without all this brick and repression.” He asked why here, of all places. “Oh, I was shipped here,” she said. “When I was twelve. I’ve been here ever since.” “Must have been quite a shock, landing in this dump. You’re probably still recovering.” “It took some getting used to,” she admitted. “There’s stuff here I’d never been exposed to in L.A.” “Such as?” “Snow, wool, guilt.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“He was one of the fortunate ones. He'd emerged from childhood a whole person and his past wasn't some vast immovable mass with its own weather system.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“His lips were chapped. His eyes were a shade of blue she associated with Ukrainians and hummingbirds.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“Wind gets its own season?”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead

“Snow, wool, guilt.”
― Jen Beagin, Pretend I'm Dead