“Jess gazed at the apples arranged in all their colors: russet, blushing pink, freckled gold. She cast her eyes over heaps of… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“You're a throwback." "To what?" Jess considered this. Hi-tech at work, Emily was paradoxically old-fashioned in her life. She didn't even own… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“The sisters' voices were almost identical, laughing mezzos tuned in childhood to the same pitch and timbre. To the ear, they were… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“I prefer feeling insignificant," said Jess. "I don't believe that." "I didn't say worthless, I said insignificant, as in the grand scheme… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“She had applied to college without her parents' knowledge, and when she got her choral scholarship she broke from childhood, choosing music… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“Richard had sold Gillian's piano. He'd offered to ship it out to California, but neither Jess nor Emily played. Emily had quit… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
Know your literary tradition, savor it, steal from it, but when you sit down to write, forget about worshiping greatness and fetishizing masterpieces. — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“Sandra turned to the page with the title "Toklas' Hashich Fudge." The original hashish brownies. 'Peppercorns, nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander, stone dates, dried figs, shelled… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“Giddy with each other and the wine, they strolled outside through the Presidio, the old fort now housing restaurants and galleries. Jess explained that… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“How sad, he thought, that desire found new objects but did not abate, that when it came to longing there was no end.” — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“There were three wedding cakes, curious and historical but tasty, each labeled with a calligraphed card: "Plumb Cake" with currants, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, salt,… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“When I first enjoyed this superb view, one glowing April day," Jess read aloud, "from the summit of the Pacheco Pass, the Central Valley,… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“The wines were great, and better by the minute, even as the drinkers softened. Just as wines opened at the table, so the friends'… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“Who are you? She asked silently, as she laid away the collector's quotations, his drawings, his scraps of famous poetry: "Come live with me… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
“She was surprised because she was Emily, and she did not share Jonathan's frank assessment of coworkers as losers, whiners, bozos, sharks. No, she… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
I do not think novels are necessarily more worthwhile than games. A novel can be a trivial waste of time, and a game can… — Allegra Goodman Copy Share Image
