The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne Quotes

“Maybe he is my earth. He is solid and real. Grounded. And I am the star. Electrically charged, chaotic, and sometimes lost. Hurtling through space. Looking for a home.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne

“You and I are very similar, Gracie. We’re both restless souls. Maybe we needed to learn that any story – any life—no matter how exciting or dazzling it seems, still has bad moments mixed with the good. And that being more than just ourselves isn’t necessarily better. Just different. I’ve come to understand that there’s a reason we can’t control every aspect of our lives, or fix everything that’s broken, or undo our mistakes.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne

“Just tell me what you want me to do... and I’ll do it.”
Somehow, it feels like we’re no longer just talking about him being helpful in the kitchen.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne

“stories are their own self-contained universes.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne

“Why, I wonder, isn’t my life like that? Hot pink lips. Shorts that make my ass look amazing. A boyfriend with cool clothes, great hair, and perfect cheekbones. His mouth whispering in my ear. His fingers stroking my back.
Instead, I have a feral dog, sweaty armpits, and an injury that, if it happened in a movie, would be 100 percent comedic.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne

“I run my hand over the blank page of my college-ruled spiral-bound notebook. All that white space. So many possibilities. It makes me feel like I’m on the edge of a diving board, about to launch myself off. Just go. Don’t think. Just write.”
― Shannon Takaoka, The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne