Marisha Pessl Quotes - Page 3

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Man's wobbly little mind isn't equipped for hauling around the great unknowns. Very few people realize, there's no point chasing after answers to life's important questions. They all have fickle, highly whimsical minds of their own. Nevertheless. If you're patient, if you don't rush them, when they're ready, they'll smash into you. And don't be surprised if afterward you're speechless and there are cartoon Tweety Birds chirping around your head. (Gareth van Meer)

Marisha Pessl

Men, Birds Chirping, People

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...the deepest secrets about ourselves that we, in the ultimate act of humanity, will spare those we truly love.

Marisha Pessl

Humanity, Secret, Spares

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To be next to her was to have everything.

Marisha Pessl

Next

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But when you flee someone, no matter how far you roam, that person will follow you as doggedly as the stars.

Marisha Pessl

Stars, Matter, Persons

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…deep-diving love, a love that excavates you. It’s something you have to have before you die in order to have lived.

Marisha Pessl

Order, Diving, Dies

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…how monstrous the people you loved could be.

Marisha Pessl

People, Monstrous

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Sadly, American teenagers are to a weightless vacuum as seat cushions are to polyurethane foam -

Marisha Pessl

Teenager, Vacuums, Foam

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.130, Penguin

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It's a common feeling for people to feel intermittent antipathy toward individuals they're familiar with.

Marisha Pessl

People, Feelings, Common

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.229, Penguin

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I hate to think of a day where a compelling book or a compelling authorial voice would be lost simply because that person doesn't have a Web site. But I think that, to use the Internet in a positive way, to turn people on to reading, is something that authors shouldn't really shy away from necessarily.

Marisha Pessl

Hate, Reading, Book

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Mortal fear is as crucial a thing to our lives as love. It cuts to the core of our being and shows us what we are. Will you step back and cover your eyes? Or will you have the strength to walk to the precipice and look out?

Marisha Pessl

Eye, Cutting, Looks

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In America, people of a certain age ask, 'Where were you when Kennedy was shot?' In my house you were more likely to be asked, 'Where were you when you first read 'The Catcher In The Rye?

Marisha Pessl

America, People, House

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In college I studied '60s and '70s radicalism, student activism, forms of political violence, groups like the Weathermen, the Black Panthers, the Symbionese Liberation Army, the New Left.

Marisha Pessl

Army, College, Political

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Occasionally when I'm procrastinating writing, I'll while away the hours on iTunes. You can just keep going forever and find these bands you'd never normally hear of.

Marisha Pessl

Writing, Forever, Band

"Random Rules: Marisha Pessl" by Andy Battaglia, www.avclub.com. November 14, 2006.

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When I'm creating characters, I definitely think of theme songs. Writing for me is very visual, so I sometimes think of it in terms of a movie with a soundtrack, and try to transfer that to words.

Marisha Pessl

Song, Writing, Character

"Random Rules: Marisha Pessl" by Andy Battaglia, www.avclub.com. November 14, 2006.

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It's funny how the night that changes your life forever starts out like all the others.

Marisha Pessl

Night, Forever, Changing Your Life

Marisha Pessl (2013). “Night Film”, p.149, Random House

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What, really, was the difference between something hounding you and something leading you somewhere?

Marisha Pessl

Differences

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Sometimes it takes more courage not to let yourself see. Sometimes knowledge is damaging - not enlightenment but enleadenment.

Marisha Pessl

Enlightenment, Sometimes

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.160, Penguin

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When you grow up--and from the look of things, you have awhile--but you learn things never go back to normal simply because everyone's sorry. Sorry is ridiculous.

Marisha Pessl

Growing Up, Sorry, Looks

Marisha Pessl (2013). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.216, Penguin UK

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I believe writers need to be chameleons, or like Meryl Streep, who can play all sorts of characters. A good writer should be able to cross gender lines and people of all social classes. So for me, writing from a male point of view would be a great challenge, that I would look forward to taking on.

Marisha Pessl

Believe, Character, Writing

"Off the Page: Marisha Pessl". Live chat, www.washingtonpost.com. October 26, 2006.

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Certainly one of the surprising truths of having a book published is realizing that your book is as open to interpretation as an abstract painting. People bring their own beliefs and attitudes to your work, which is thrilling and surprising at the same time.

Marisha Pessl

Attitude, Book, People

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I haven't always been a writer and I suppose I tiptoed around the idea of writing full time, because it's so isolating.

Marisha Pessl

Writing, Ideas, Havens

"Off the Page: Marisha Pessl". Live chat, www.washingtonpost.com. October 26, 2006.

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People had an illogical, self-serving rationale when it came to interpreting the behavior of others.

Marisha Pessl

Self, People, Behavior

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Well, it doesn't look good. Makes me look like one of those unloved latchkey children they make after-school specials about." "Don't sell yourself short. You're more Masterpiece Theatre.

Marisha Pessl

Children, Father, School

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.94, Penguin

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Funnily enough, it is the subject one dreads talking about at length one ends up talking about at length, often without the slightest provocation.

Marisha Pessl

Talking, Enough, Length

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.200, Penguin

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Justice wields an erratic sword, grants mercy to fortunate few. Yet if man doesn't fight for her, 'tis chaos he's left to.

Marisha Pessl

Fighting, Men, Justice

Marisha Pessl (2006). “Special Topics in Calamity Physics”, p.498, Penguin

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Born: October 26, 1977
Occupation: Writer
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