The Consequence of Anna Quotes

“Mistakes and consequences. None of those things matter, because in the end, God always has the last word. He corrects all errors, straightens all paths, and mends all broken ties.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“My husband . . . May you never lie, steal, or cheat. But if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life. If you must steal, steal away my sorrows. And if you must cheat, cheat death, because I could never live a day without you.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“A face with no freckles is like a flower with no bloom.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“What is a moment in a day but a grain of sand . . . until that moment means everything in the world?”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“May the sun always shine on your face, the wind be at your back, and blessings fall at your feet.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“The whole world is a hungry stomach with teeth.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“When a sheila gives birth, death holds her hand for a spell,”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Anna went into her bedroom and opened her cedar hope chest, removing the sculpture James had carved of Rose all those years ago. The one she had ripped from his hands in the distillery that night, chastising him for creating it. She put the figurine on the vanity in front of her and stared at it in ardent wonder, thinking of how her ex-husband had carved it with no flaw. Two perfect legs. The meaning behind it was lost to her then, but not now. No, now she understood. James was in love with Rose–mind, body, and soul–and her flawed limb was invisible to him. How fitting to bring it out in this moment, she thought. To gaze at it, hold it close, and reminisce about a most beautiful time in their lives. The relic represented all the wonderful stories the three of them shared when they were young.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Time, fate, destiny. Mistakes and consequences. None of those things matter, because in the end, God always has the last word. He corrects all errors, straightens all paths, and mends all broken ties.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“A calm passed over them, as if a fever breaking. God himself muted the sounds around them; even the birds held their song. Both knew in that moment that the sisterly love they once shared had survived it all.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“empathy when called for, and how to control her outbursts and tantrums, her nonstop rambling, and other idiosyncrasies.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“She sought out answers for the third, unnamed disorder Dr. Octavia said she had, as well, receiving an official diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, or high-functioning autism. Learning from the books the doctor recommended, she trained herself how to socially interact appropriately, how to recognize the feelings and emotions of others and display empathy when called for, and how to control her outbursts and tantrums,”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“titles of his originals . . . An Irishman’s Tears James, Her Muse Sùilean Uaine (Green Eyes) The Fire Dance The Heart of the Ocean Paintings Come to Life The Consequence of Anna”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“On the long drive home that night, Anna hummed the dramatic song James had written, inspired by her . . . The Consequence of Anna.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“I feel like a spider caught in my own web”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Wanting to leave, but emotionally extorted to stay for the health and welfare of my mercurial cousin, is impuissance. How does one escape purgatory? I am but Alice in Wonderland, a real-life woman in Anna’s favorite fantasy, and I have fallen into the rabbit hole with no way out.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“used to think music was simply the vibrations I could feel through the wood of the piano. A delightful resonance infusing into my skin. Now I know it’s much more . . . Music is what emotions sound like.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“My sister The soul tree The shadow people The Black Shuck The bloodied man Genevieve watching over me Lottie’s desire to have a child”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Anna The things that surround me . . . Sugar Alexandria The Australian gale The Southern Ocean My darling daughters My beloved cousin Rose’s paintings Chypre de Coty that lingers The strong aroma of black licorice Vanilla crème soap on her alabaster skin Her violin The piano The scent of James’ whiskey The voices My mother”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“He’s mine you know, Lottie,” Anna teased, dimples popping, gap between her teeth showing. Rose watched husband and wife embrace. “Yes, Anna. I know James is yours.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“If it had been an opera, it would be dramatic, plausible, and even commendable, if it were not for the stolen glances, prolonged looks, and obvious yearnings. At the heart of it all is a naïve young woman with severe hidden mental illness, in complete denial of the passion growing between two people, right under her nose.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“After his next song, Rose asked, “What is music to you, James?”, her voice breathless. “How would you explain this magic?” He smiled. “It’s the universe talking to you. It’s God’s spirit running through your veins. It’s the unsurpassed connection to everyone and everything beautiful in the world. The ultimate universal language.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“They all laughed out loud, harder than usual because of the alcohol. The laughter continued all night, at times until they cried. This would be one of many golden moments for the familial triad. Treasured times, before the heartbreak would show itself. Before the gift. Before the betrayal. Before the madness.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“The silent, ineffable bond of the imperfect, the flawed, the irreparably damaged.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“She has me read her favorite books to her while she breastfeeds her babies. In so many ways, she is still a child who pretends to be an adult, and I am an adult who pretends to be a child, for her sake. It is a curious situation, but I do not mind, for even the Bible says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“The funny thing is, the more the garden comes to life and thrives, I know the more I too will heal.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Anna stared at him a moment. “The way you play sometimes scares me,” she said. “As if something possesses you.” He tossed back the measure of whiskey from a shot glass sitting on the edge of the piano, opening his arms wide as he spun around on the bench. “Perhaps I am a possessed station owner, and a free soul only when I play at night.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“At night, when I go walkabout, I hear you play your piano,” he said, his characteristic tone slower than usual, almost a drawl. “For years, now.” “And what do you think?” The sapient old Aborigine patted James on the shoulder, switching back to Nukunu. “I think you should be playin’ for many people, not just an old Aboriginal man and the midnight moon.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Banjora tilted back his Akubra hat, a single ostrich feather sticking out from it. “You do a lot for your cook,” he said, switching to English. “I do.” “You ever say ‘no’?” “She’s not a sheila you can easily say that to.” “It would be good for her to hear ‘no’ sometimes. ‘No’ teaches you.” “Teaches you what?” “To accept the word ‘no’.” James chuckled.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna

“Your dad was right. When you see the shadow people again, ignore them. Pay them no mind.” “James,” she said, consonance in her eyes. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do my whole life.”
― Kate Birkin, The Consequence of Anna