“Elisabeth was the same as ever, and I was the same as ever around her; no longer a confident college senior, I… — Melanie Benjamin Fitness Copy Share Image
“Who was this woman before me, her face imprinted with the expectations of others? I was Mom. I was Wife. I was… — Melanie Benjamin Life Copy Share Image
Why were there so many barriers between us, always? Barriers of clothing, of etiquette, of time and age and reason. — Melanie Benjamin Age Copy Share Image
“my breath sour against my fist, which I still held to my mouth as if this was a sorrow that could be… — Melanie Benjamin Grief Copy Share Image
“And this was the greatest gift that aviation could ever give me; not the sense of freedom but the sense of permanence,… — Melanie Benjamin Freedom Copy Share Image
“ashamed of it even as I craved it. “Oh, she does! There’s a party tomorrow,” — Melanie Benjamin Copy Share Image
“Now and adult, allowed a glimpse of these first cracks in my family's perfect surface, I couldn't help but wonder what else… — Melanie Benjamin Family Copy Share Image
“To live for oneself is a terrifying prospect; there is comfort in martyrdom... p 364” — Melanie Benjamin Marriage Copy Share Image
“For I can think of no fate drearier than sitting at home...for the rest of my life, watching all of you go… — Melanie Benjamin Destiny Copy Share Image
“And this—instead of happiness—would be only what the two of us deserved, after all.” — Melanie Benjamin Happiness Copy Share Image
“...all his smiles were just a little sad around the edges, as if he knew happiness never could last very long” — Melanie Benjamin Happiness Copy Share Image
“And I did not speak German well; I found the language harsh and guttural, my ear simply couldn’t find it pleasing, and… — Melanie Benjamin Language Copy Share Image
“No, this was the career I wanted; a writer could be employed for as long as she could hold a pencil; for… — Melanie Benjamin Life Copy Share Image
Unlike men, women got less sentimental as we aged, I was discovering. — Melanie Benjamin Discovering Copy Share Image
“His death notice included the mention that in 1880, he had married Alice in Wonderland. I like to think he would have… — Melanie Benjamin Death Copy Share Image
Most readers of historical fiction are content to just get caught up in a good story, and that is what I want… — Melanie Benjamin Books Copy Share Image
I had wanted to live forever as a gypsy girl; I had wanted to live forever as a child, tumbling down a… — Melanie Benjamin Children Copy Share Image
“Mother shook her head impatiently. 'You need to...stop looking for heroes, Anne.' Her speech was slow, slurred, but understandable. 'Only the weak… — Melanie Benjamin Marriage Copy Share Image
“Never before had I imagined leaving home, but that wasn't because of lack of desire, only lack of possibility.” — Melanie Benjamin Desire Copy Share Image
“Reality had so intruded in my life that flowery verse seemed fanciful, foolish, even.” — Melanie Benjamin Life Copy Share Image
What very mysterious things days were. Sometimes they fly by, and other times they seem to last forever, yet they are all… — Melanie Benjamin Forever Copy Share Image
“Tonight, all I want to do is dream of that movie. Is that bad? That I’d rather dream of a movie than… — Melanie Benjamin Dreams Copy Share Image
“Pray remember, Alice—love isn’t all. There is family, and education, and potential. Also property, of course.” — Melanie Benjamin Education Copy Share Image
“I still can't stop marveling that this same boy chose me; and I'm glad that I can't, for we should rejoice in… — Melanie Benjamin Copy Share Image
“Suddenly my mood shifted, as it always seemed to do whenever I was with my family. Away from them, I could be… — Melanie Benjamin Family Copy Share Image
