Bellevue Square Quotes

“When these pocket computers started getting common, old people like me catastrophized about how bad it was going to be, but we were wrong. It’s much worse. We’ve been looking at each other’s faces for a million years. But now you don’t see faces anymore. At night on the sidewalks of Toronto people walk around in the dark looking down into tiny lamplit rooms they hold in their hands.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Men want to be right. Let them, I say. It drives him crazy when I won't take the other end of the rope. "Okay, you're right" are three devastating words.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Winter here arrives, stays, persists, goes away a little, then comes back and people start leaping off the bridges. That's approximately March, when jumping is at its apogee, but even then, winter isn't over. What it likes to do is go away for a week in April and then return for three days and finish grandpa off.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Where does it go, all this happening? The books that took root as pictures and sounds in my mind - sensations sometimes absolutely like life - are gone as soon as the book is finished. Same as my days. It's like a fuse is burning just steps behind me, reducing my lived life to ash.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“we’re the only species that looks into its mate’s eyes during intercourse? It developed our concept of the other,”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“That you really have nothing to complain about makes you lucky, it doesn’t mean you’re good or that there’s a god who loves you personally.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Someone’s hand clamps down on my shoulder and it’s one of the men trimming the vegetables on Baldwin Street. He wears a white apron stained with dirt and smears of green and red. “Go from here,” he says to me.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“If you see Ingrid, don’t look at her. Walk the other way.” I give him a two-dollar coin and he returns to the background, like he’s part of an endless line of characters provided by a talent agency.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“I do my own habitual scan. I’ve already completed mental check-offs of the drunks, the painfully pierced, and there have been two iced coffees and a couple sharing a starfruit. Miriam is back in her spot. I go over and ask her, “If you could go back in time and kill Hitler as a baby, would you?”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“How are you!” Katerina came around her counter to hug me. I stiffened in her embrace. “Are you okay? I worried about you, you know.” “About me?” “Of course! Come in the back, I make a coffee.” She ushered me toward the rear of the food mall more quickly than necessary, I thought.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Stop it. I’m sure she looks more like herself than she looks like me.” “No, no. You must come see now. She buys my pupusas!” “Your what?” “My pupusas!” “Katerina—” “Jean?”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“The way Mr. Ronan had acted seemed to be of a piece with this woman’s behaviour. I felt a need to see where she was leading. It was none of her business, so I lied.”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square

“Yes! It’s real! See? Real hair attached to my own, personal head.” “Oh god.” “What is wrong with you?” He grovelled to the other side of the desk. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I must be having another attack.” “Another attack! Of what? Do you want me to call an ambulance?”
― Michael Redhill, Bellevue Square