“I think the reason they are my relatives now is they are from my country too - it's like the country has become a real family since we are in America, which is not our country” — 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 Image
“...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 Image
“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
“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 there is not even any color and it's too orderly. Like there will be crazy prefects telling you all the time: Do thus, don't do that, where are your shoes, tuck in your shirt, shhh, God… — 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 Image
“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 Image
“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 they will have to sit on one buttock because they must not sit comfortable lest they be asked to rise and leave, knowing they will speak in dampened whispers because they must not let their voices… — 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 Image
“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 drops, like I'm squeezing a lemon, so I close my eyes tight and concentrate. Why are you taking so long? Forgiveness says, irritated-like, like she is somebody. Leave her alone, is she peeing with your thing?… — 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 Image
