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Portrait of Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben

(1962) Writer United States

351 quotes in 1039 categories

A mystery novel’s author searches for a perfect, hauntingly familiar song while driving, comparing the feeling to a warm cold sore. Harlan Coben draws a thin line between good and evil, likening it to a baseball foul line, and he admits he can’t stop working, saying he would be dead without his creative output. He also jokes about the colors of Esperanza’s side and the absurdity of calling thrillers puzzles.

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Harlan Coben is a writer from the United States, best known for Tell No One.

Quick Facts About Harlan Coben

Born: January 4, 1962
Nationality: United States
Profession: Writer
Notable works: Tell No One
Known for: Myron Bolitar

About Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is an American writer of mystery and thrillers. The plots of his novels often involve the resurfacing of unresolved or misinterpreted events in the past, murders, or fatal accidents and have multiple twists. Twelve of his novels have been adapted for film and television.

Awards & Honors

Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original Shamus Award Barry Award for Best Paperback Original New Jersey Hall of Fame Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Paperback Original Q137162548

Quotes by Harlan Coben

“bent down closer to”

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I'm a little bit of a control freak.

Control

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“You could trust nature but not man.”

Nature

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You bring your own weather to the picnic.

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“Secrets don't like to stay underground.”

Secret

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“He said he’d see you soon . . .”

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“Her smile shames the sun”

Smile

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I'm not a big sports fan.

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“Watch out for people who belong in your past. Don’t let ’em back in your life.”

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“If you give desperation any wiggle room, it will toy with you.”

Desperation

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“I can only be as happy as my saddest child. Do”

Child

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If I don't write, I hate myself. Simple as that. My life is out of balance.

Balance

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Amazing what we can self-rationalize when we really want something

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Kate Atkinson is an absolute must-read. I love everything she writes.

Absolutes

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“What do you say?” “Nothing yet. I just kinda stare at him. Let him bloviate.” He”

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“Tripp was like this—a suburban-dad philosopher. “You tell me.” “It’s”

Philosopher

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I'm not very happy idle. There's always this voice in my head that says, 'I should be writing.

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“Cherish and take care of what you value. Happiness is fragile. Appreciate every moment and do everything you can to protect it.”

Every moment

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“It was obvious and a bit of cliché, but we don’t really age in a straight line. We age in a circle,…

Children

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The first sip of beer on a hot day is like that first finger-dip when you open a new jar of peanut…

Beer

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“It was more about understanding that you could give it your all, give yourself the best chances, but control is an illusion.”

Control

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Losing my parents was the most crushing thing that ever happened to me. I lost my dad when I was 26, and…

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“known what she’d say. “What sort of carpet?” “Orange shag. That’s where Mercer fell”

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“Those who claim they can spot a lie are usually just fooled with greater conviction.”

Faith

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“He drove past the new hot yoga place on Franklin Avenue—by hot he meant temperature of the class, not popularity or looks—and…

Hot yoga

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The muse is not an angelic voice that sits on your shoulder and sings sweetly. The muse is the most annoying whine.…

Angelic

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“Each writer had a bedroom in the main house and a shack or “work cottage” in which to write. We all met…

Internet

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“She had also reacted by, what, running away? Did that make sense? She had run so quickly and haphazardly, barely contacting him…

Running away

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“It was how pitiful and weak this act of dominance made his father look, how, even though she was on the receiving…

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I don't necessarily love the sports per se, I love the stories behind them. Also in a kind of perverse way I…

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The actual writing time is a lot shorter than the thinking time. I don't do too many notes. I keep it mostly…

Book

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“Making friends?” Tripp asked. “I’m a people person,” Adam said. “You know he’s the VP of the board, right?” “I must remember…

Friendship

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I used to wonder why Lucy liked those songs so much. You know what I mean? She sits in the dark and…

Cry

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I wish i could tell you that through the tragedy i mined some undiscovered, life-altering absolute that i could pass on to…

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“In sum," Midlife said, giving the room his best you-the-jury baritone, "Our defense will be...?" He looked to Matt for the answer/…

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“That was when Adam spotted Merton’s gun. It was across the room, not far from the window. The gunman’s back was turned.…

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“We get mad at someone for cutting us off in traffic or for taking too long to order at Starbucks or for…

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“My great-grandfather, Dad often told us, saved his best wines for special occasions. He was killed when the Nazis invaded Paris. The…

Drinking wine

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“Mayor Gusherowski approached Adam with a Guy Smiley smile—the perfect blend of game show host and Muppet. “Wonderful to meet you, Adam!”…

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I remember one time I heard this English professor asking the class what the world's scariest noise is. Is it a man…

All alone

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Harlan Coben by topic

Writing (36) Time (33) Life (29) Writer (28) Books (24) Thinking (18) Love (14) Book (14) Children (13) Happiness (12) Truth (11) Parenting (11) People (10)