“The word "miss" is so wistful. As is the word "wistful," for that matter. They both have sighs embedded in them, that "iss" sound. Which also sounds like if.” — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
[On suicide:] It's the only cause of death that can be used as a noun to describe the dead person. If you die of cancer you are not called 'a cancer.' If someone else shoots you, you are not referred… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“Young" and "Poor" sounded so promising, the way my mother always told the story. Temporary conditions: poignant "befores" that existed only to contrast with… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“What we did not say was that with these hurts an edge was worn down. It happens out of necessity -- it would not… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
And while some healing does happen, it isn't a healing of redemption or epiphany. It's more like the slow absorption of a bruise. — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“Not just the beating. The words. 'Boris, you're stubborn, lazy, worthless, you can't do anything right, you're evil' -- at least once I heard… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
A love story - your own, or anyone else's - is interior, hidden. It can never be accurately reported, only imagined. It is all… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“The word "miss" is so wistful. As is the word "wistful," for that matter. They both have sighs embedded in them, that "iss" sound.… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“Those moments of knowing are sharp and merciless, but then they fade out, like stars when the sky gets light in the morning. You… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“That's how it went between us. We would have a horrible fight, which at the time would feel insurmountable. It was impossible to see… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“My feelings-let's hold on to this idea of them as shuffling Victorians, let's make them servants, an entire uniformed household staff- were fresh, raw,… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“Or maybe she simply couldn't stay merry. That subversive, candid merriment of hers was enchanting, electric; but it was a social phenomenon. It was… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
But who is ever able to apply to her own current love affair a word like "similar"? — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
“You are like a nearsighted person who can see the cracks in the bowl when she's wearing glasses -- and so chooses not to… — Joan Wickersham Copy Share Image
![“[On suicide:] It's the only cause of death that can be used as a noun to describe the dead person. If you die of cancer you are not called 'a cancer.' If someone else shoots you, you are not referred to as 'a murder.' But if you shoot yourself, you are labeled as a suicide. Your death becomes your…” quote by Joan Wickersham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7e9/joan-wickersham-29935_cancer_on-suicide-it-s-the-only-cause-of-death_2283766.jpg)
