“A writer needs four things to achieve greatness, Pasquale: desire, disappointment, and the sea.”“That’s only three.”Alvis finished his wine. “You have to do disappointment twice.”Jess Walter book Beautiful RuinsSource: Beautiful Ruins
“All we have is the story we tell. Everything we do, every decision we make, our strength, weakness, motivation, history, and character-what we believe-none of it is; it's all part of the story we tell. But here's the thing:”Jess Walter book Beautiful RuinsSource: Beautiful Ruins
“Then she smiled, and in that instant, if such a thing were possible, Pasquale fell in love, and he would remain in love for the rest of his life--not so much with the woman, whom he didn't even know, but with the moment.”Jess Walter book Beautiful RuinsSource: Beautiful Ruins
“He thought it might be the most intimate thing possible, to fall asleep next to someone in the afternoon.”Jess Walter book Beautiful RuinsSource: Beautiful Ruins
“He wished he could reassure his mother: a man wants many things in life, but when one of them is also the right thing, he would be a fool not to choose it.”Jess Walter book Beautiful RuinsSource: Beautiful Ruins