The Spectacular Quotes

“Why do we have to go our separate ways?” I say finally. “We don’t. As a matter of fact, I’m free for the next however-many years, and I want to be by your side for them all. Will that do?”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“How easy it is to idealize someone when your time together was fraught and short. We were never bored together, never grated on each other’s nerves. It wasn’t real.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“As they moved into the kick line for the big finale, her body tingled with anticipation and suddenly they were kicking in perfect tandem as the audience broke out into applause.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“I’m aware of my limitations, but I’m not defined by them.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“In 1956, with no leads and public outcry mounting, the police turned to James A. Brussel, a psychiatrist and criminologist and the assistant commissioner of the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, who lived with his wife on the grounds of Creedmoor State Hospital in Queens. Brussel examined the letters from the bomber and the crime scene photos and came up with a “portrait” of the bomber—the very first case of criminal profiling ever. Among his many predictions: that when he was found, the bomber would be wearing a double-breasted suit, buttoned.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“Both sisters knew the story well. For the past sixteen years, starting in 1940, someone had been planting pipe bombs around New York City, in subway stations, department stores, theaters, even Grand Central Terminal. The newspapers called the culprit the Big Apple Bomber, and so far, a dozen people had been injured, some seriously. The very first bomb was planted in a toolbox at a Met Power compound on Sixty-Fourth Street, with a note reading Met Power crooks—this is for you. That one hadn’t gone off. But since then, the bomber had expanded his reach and his skill, setting off explosions in well-populated places like the Port Authority and Penn Station, sometimes repeating the same target years later. And now he’d hit the library. Even worse, the madman’s pace was picking up.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“The Rockettes have been around for ages, starting back in the 1920s when Russell had the idea of doing a Ziegfeld Follies–style show featuring sixteen girls. It became a smash hit, traveling all around the country.” Bunny spoke quickly as the elevator rose. “Eventually, the impresario S. L. Rothafel, a.k.a. Roxy, brought the troupe to his Roxy Theatre in New York and changed the name to the Roxyettes.” “That’s a mouthful.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“A little history for you first. I founded a precision women’s dance company in 1925 in St. Louis, known as the Missouri Rockets. We came to New York and performed on Radio City’s opening night, way back in 1932. And we’re still going strong today, God help me.” He put a hand to his forehead and pretended to faint, making the girls laugh again. Marion felt her muscles loosening.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“She turned to see Peter leaning against the building a few feet away. He wore a navy peacoat and a woolen cap over his head, and some of his curls peeked out from the sides. His eyes were blue and bright; he looked like some handsome sailor who’d just arrived in town. Something about him was different, and it took her a moment to realize it was because he was smiling. Usually, he was such a serious man.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular

“They were like robots, saying absolutely nothing to each other that was meaningful.”
― Fiona Davis, The Spectacular