Postcards From a Stranger Quotes

“He never wanted any of my friends round. I had plenty of friends when we first got married, but if they came to visit when he was at home, he’d be rude to them and make them feel uncomfortable. So, eventually, they made excuses and stopped coming.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“But remember, before you rush to judgement, that all mothers are ultimately driven by the same engine, despite their differing makes and models. We are all just doing what we think is best for our children.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“So many fabulous-looking lives are fake. People only share the good parts and skip over the bad.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“And what she does may not be what she would choose to do in an ideal world; life is all about compromise, after all.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“I like the grey,’ I say. ‘It makes me feel safe, cosseted. You can keep your picture-book blue heavens. Give me clouds any day of the week.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“So condemn me if you choose, criticise my decisions, compare how you would have played my hand if it had been yours. But remember, before you rush to judgement, that all mothers are ultimately driven by the same engine, despite their differing makes and models. We are all just doing what we think is best for our children.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“However, the one thing that drives each mother on is a visceral need to do her best for her offspring. She may make mistakes, have regrets, wish for another spin on the merry-go-round, but each mother truly believes that the decisions she makes about her children are the best that she is capable of making at the time that she makes them. There is not a day goes by that I don’t wish that things had turned out differently.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“I’ve thought about a lot over the years. I’m certain all mothers do, as they try to process the crushing guilt they feel for the mistakes they believe they have made.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“world seem more palatable or be brutally honest from the outset? Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny . . . are these all legends that enrich childhood or lies that destroy trust?”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“insides”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“we both sit quietly for a moment, imagining how flawed a perfect life really is.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“Love is a learned behaviour, I understand. If you’re not shown it then you struggle to demonstrate it to others.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“you get to The Limes,’ I say, smiling through gritted teeth. ‘Come on now. Let’s not keep him waiting.’ I take Dad’s hand and give it a squeeze. There is no response. He follows behind me, splashing straight through the milk and to the door, where Brian takes control. ‘Come on now, Joe,’ Brian rasps. ‘Let’s get gone. Patricia’s in the minibus already. She’s a bit frisky this morning. I think you might be in there.’ I pull a face at Brian. I can’t quite believe that he said that but he just winks at me. Whatever it takes to get”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“I open the door and there stands Brian, short and stocky with hands like shovels and a voice you could grate cheese on.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“Every mother has to work this out for herself. She must decide what she thinks is best for her children at any given moment. Yet this decision cannot help but be coloured by so many other factors: her own childhood, her financial position, her partner’s views, her mental fortitude. And what she does may not be what she would choose to do in an ideal world; life is all about compromise, after all.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“What makes the perfect mother? This is something that I’ve thought about a lot over the years. I’m certain all mothers do, as they try to process the crushing guilt they feel for the mistakes they believe they have made.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“delighted for her and so Ursula’s reaction comes as a shock. ‘You can’t marry”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“London,”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“with the gentle silence between us.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“Whatever my dad chose to do all those years ago has nothing to do with the man who needs me to help him to the bathroom.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“She may make mistakes, have regrets, wish for another spin on the merry-go-round, but each mother truly believes that the decisions she makes about her children are the best that she is capable of making at the time that she makes them.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“Should the perfect mother let her children make mistakes or sweep in to protect them against every false step? Does she twist the truth to make the world seem more palatable or be brutally honest from the outset? Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny . . . are these all legends that enrich childhood or lies that destroy trust?”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“There are no more tears, though. My eyes are dry. But my heart aches.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“You are married, Anneliese,’ says her mother. ‘You took vows. For better or worse, that’s what you said. You have a duty to make things work. You can’t just up sticks when the going gets tough. Being married is hard work.”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“When did the world become so unfriendly?”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger

“started without losing any more precious time. I might have expected that my best friend getting married would require endless discussions about which florist to use and what would be the best hors d’oeuvres to serve with the champagne. There is almost none of that. Greg’s ludicrously short timescale puts paid to any gentle deliberation. Instead we both seem to be running a solo race to our own goals. More than once I regret that the whole wedding-preparation thing is not turning out the way I had imagined, but it can’t be helped. There is just no time to waste chatting. Apart from making the dress, the main event as far as I am concerned is the shopping trip to buy the bridesmaid dresses. There will be three of us: me and Greg’s two nieces, who are to be flower girls. Beth”
― Imogen Clark, Postcards From a Stranger