Quotes by Melina Marchetta

I miss the Stella girls telling me what I am. That Im sweet and placid and accommodating and loyal and nonthreatening and good to have around. And Mia. I want her to say, Frankie, youre silly, youre lazy, youre talented, youre passionate, youre restrained, youre blossoming, youre contrary.I want to be an adjective again. But Im a noun. A nothing. A nobody. A no one.

Are you calling us pigs?’ Froi asked, watching as Rafuel winced for the tenth time at the formality of Froi’s Charyn.Rafuel thought for a moment and then nodded.‘Actually yes, I am. Pig-like.’Froi turned back to Trevanion and Perri, who were discussing the need for longbow training in the rock village.‘What is it?’ Perri asked Froi.‘He said we eat like pigs.’Trevanion and Perri thought about it for a moment and then went back to their conversation.

If you close your eyes, you get to control your own darkness.

The gods do make playthings of us. But it is we mortals who provide them with tools.

God knows what possessed me, but having that science book in my hand propelled me to immediate action. So I hit her with it.

Because without our language, we have lost ourselves. Who are we without our words?

In the end, the sum of my vices is all me.

Tom always did anger well. Hid it well, but showed it even better

Just ask how Im feeling, I want to say. Just ask and I may tell you.But no one does.

You cant go around feeling too much.

Maybe memories should be left the way they are.

For reasons he couldn’t understand a sadness came over him and it was then he saw the girl standing on the other side of the dirt road, her eyes pools of absolute sorrow, her light brown hair glowing in the splinters of sunlight that forced their way through the trees.

Hes my father! she bellowed, pointing to Trevanion.Vestie! Beatriss said firmly, stopping to stare up at her. Ill snip at the tongue if I ever see it in such a way again! Trevanion, speak to her.Vestie hung her head, shamefaced.Vestie, he said, his voice still gentle.Yes, Father.Shout it out louder, my love. Shout it out louder.

Sometimes you dont let us talk about how were feeling. If we feel scared, you say, Nothing to worry about, guys, but that doesnt make it go away. It makes it grow.

We have a dilemma, then,” Finnikin said fiercely. “Because I prayed that you would grow old and hold my children in your arms as you held me. My prayers have not been answered yet, Trevanion. So whose prayer is more worthy? Yours or mine?

When one is silent, those around speak even more, my lord.

He took my hand, made me stand on the branch and asked, What can you see from here? Nothing I said,Know what I can see? From this distance everything is so bloody perfect.

Do you miss being friends with Santangelo? I ask her after the lights are out and were almost asleep.What makes you think were friends?Everything.I hear her yawn.Being enemies with him is better. she tells me. Theres a long pause and I think shes going to say something more but she doesnt and its just silence for a long while.

Mama says that satisfaction isnt what I should search for. Respect is. Respect?I detest that word. Probably because in this world you have to respect the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

If there was one weapon he had against these savages, it was not acknowledging their existence.