Evening in Paradise Quotes

“Existe un vínculo entre los pacientes de diálisis, como entre los alcohólicos anónimos o los supervivientes de un terremoto. Son conscientes del indulto, se tratan unos a otros con más ternura y respeto que la gente normal.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“Hay cosas de las que la gente nunca habla. No me refiero a las cosas difíciles, como el amor, sino a las más bochornosas, como por ejemplo que los funerales a veces son divertidos o que es emocionante ver arder un edificio. El funeral de Michael fue maravilloso.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“Besides the lonely people and the ones who thought we were darling, there were some … two that day … who really felt it was an omen to open the door and be offered a chance, a choice. They took up the most time, but we didn’t mind … waited, breathless too, while they talked to themselves.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“Ma wrote true stories; not necessarily autobiographical, but close enough for horseshoes. Our family stories and memories have been slowly reshaped, embellished, and edited to the extent that I’m not sure what really happened all the time. Lucia said this didn’t matter: the story is the thing.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“I used to be terrified of going to the bathroom until Uncle John taught me to start at the front door, whisper over and over to myself, “God will take care of me. God will take care of me,” and run like hell.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“The love affair between Lisa and Tony was inevitable, or so Tony said. Cheaply predictable, Paul said. Benjamin said nothing at all. She was nineteen years old. Not to excuse her, just that she was at an age that needs a good talking to. She loved it when Tony said things like “We were meant for each other. Our eyebrows both grow together in the middle…” One night when Benjamin came home she said, “Ben. I want words! I want words! I want a word with you!” He looked at her. He took off his bow tie and the nine ruby studs from his tuxedo shirt. He took off his jacket and his shoes and sat down next to her on the rollaway bed. “Babs,” he said. (He used to call her Babs.) He was silent then, taking off his pants and shorts and socks. He sat naked on the bed, tired, and she knew what a good man he was. “I’m a man of few words,” he said. He held her head in his piano-playing hands. “I love you,” he said. “I love you with all my heart. Don’t you know that?” “Yes,” she said and she turned over and cried herself to sleep.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“Miksi muka on hienostunutta olla ikävystynyt? Tyylikkäillä matkailijoilla ja teatterissa kävijöillä on usein sama tuskastunut, ikävystymisestä kielivä ilme. Miksei voisi sanoa: "Ai matka? Miten jännittävää! Suurenmoinen näytelmä!”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories

“By late afternoon I'm ready to strangle Riva Chirenko's daughter. I don't know her name. Nobody calls her Mrs. Tomanovich. She's Mr. Tomanovich's wife. Riva's daughter. Irena Tomanovich's mother. She's what's wrong with all of us women, that schleppe from the steppe. But at other times it is this same woman, Riva Chirenko's daughter, that I respect, revere. If I could only accept as she has done, just accept. Acceptance is faith, Henry Miller said. I could strangle him too.”
― Lucia Berlin, Evening in Paradise: More Stories