Quotes by "Tony Hoagland"

Outside the youth center, between the liquor store and the police station, a little dogwood tree is losing its mind; overflowing with blossomfoam, like a sudsy mug of beer; like a bride ripping off her clothes, dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds, so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene. It’s been doing that all week: making beauty, and throwing it away, and making more.

No matter how you feel you have to act like you are very popular with yourself; very relaxed and purposeful very unconfused and not like you are walking through the sunshine singing in chains.

the glory of the protagonist is always paid for by a lot of secondary characters

The dark ending does not cancel out the brightness of the middle. Your day of greatest joy cannot be dimmed by any shame.