“On any woman, the shine was brilliant. But, in contrast to their dark skin, it truly was the Milky Way of watches.” — Holliday Vann Dark skin Copy Share Image
“Yuck. Apple Martinis. Green rubbing alcohol in a crooked glass.” — Holliday Vann Martinis Copy Share Image
“The day was several shades of gray depending upon where the eye wandered, and the streets were wet. But in a lower… — Holliday Vann Darkness Copy Share Image
“Dessah smiled, but only for a brief second, realizing that children nowadays knew that they were poor. If the children were not… — Holliday Vann Children Copy Share Image
“He was watching. But her muscles in her back would not let her turn around to let him see in her eyes… — Holliday Vann Love Copy Share Image
“The suicide attempt, like the rest of Dessah’s life, hadn’t worked out. She had awakened the next morning groggy as hell and… — Holliday Vann Life Copy Share Image
“When you get to the house . . .” The child’s head was already saying yes before he could finish his question.… — Holliday Vann Children Copy Share Image
“Dessah pulled her legs up to her chest and laid her head between her knees. The mother that used to live inside… — Holliday Vann Mother Copy Share Image
“Dessah’s mind kept taking her to places she didn’t want to go. Hearing about her aunt’s heart attack, all of a sudden,… — Holliday Vann Black coffee Copy Share Image
“Sherry would have been attractive, but hard living was not only worn on her yellow face. It was in the wrinkled frailty… — Holliday Vann Life Copy Share Image
“The River Li—like my name—sometimes lies green and quiet and flat like a long, winding mirror, without so much as a ripple… — Holliday Vann Breath Copy Share Image
“The boys didn’t say a word. They stared at their mother, through to the back of her eyes, looking for her, but… — Holliday Vann Eyes looking Copy Share Image
“The tiny snowflakes seemed not to be falling at all, just hovering in the air. So few flakes and so minute, it… — Holliday Vann Flower Copy Share Image
“She’s dead.” Dessah was, at first, taken aback by the comment. “Did you hear me, Dessah? I said, ‘My mama is dead’.”… — Holliday Vann Said Mama Copy Share Image
