“Because we were not in our country, we could not use our own languages, and so when we spoke our voices came out bruised.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share Image
“Aunt Fostalina says when she first came to America she went to school during the day and worked nights at Eliot’s hotels, cleaning hotel rooms together with people from countries like Senegal, Cameroon, Tibet, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and so on.… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share Image
“Further and further we go, and the sun keeps ironing us and ironing us and ironing us.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“...and the women spread their ntsaroz and sit on one side, the men on the other, like they are two different rivers that are… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“Because we were not in our country, we could not use our own languages, and so when we spoke our voices came out bruised.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“Heaven is boring. Didn't you see, in that picture book back when we used to go to school? It's just plain and white and… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“You pray and pray and pray and nothing changes, like for example I prayed for a real house and good clothes and a bicycle… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“It's not the lying itself that makes me feel bad but the fact that I'm here lying to my friends.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“a country is a Coca-Cola bottle that can smash on the floor and disappoint you” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“Look at them leaving in droves despite knowing they will be welcomed with restraint in those strange lands because they do not belong, knowing… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“He speaks with this tone like he owns things, but we know that even the baton stick in his hands is not his, that… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“At first it comes in small drops; that's how pee does, if somebody is watching, then it just won't come. I get more tiny… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“When you look into their faces it's like something that was in there got up and gathered its things and walked away.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“Others with names like myths, names like puzzles, names we had never heard before: Virgilio, Balamugunthan, Faheem, Abdulrahman, Aziz, Baako, Dae-Hyun, Ousmane, Kimatsu. When… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry… — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
“If Messenger would be to open his mouth right now, his voice would be a terrible wound.” — NoViolet Bulawayo Copy Share
