“The buildings appear to be glued together, mostly small houses and apartment blocks that look nervous."

"There is murky snow spread out like carpet."

"There is concrete, empty hat-stand trees, and gray air."

"Both he and the paint cans turned around."

“That would be like the lamb handing a knife to the butcher.”

"Beige colored skin. A swamp in each eye."

"The crowd oohed, like human ghouls."

"A small wardrobe of a woman with a lipstick sneer and chlorine eyes...her hair was a towel of elastic gray strands..."

"The sound of crying children kicked and punched."

"According to Papa, Rosa melted next to the stove the moment the party man was gone."

"The two words stood among acres and acres of vacant, wood-floored land. The books were miles away."

"Mein Kampf. Of all things to save him."

"Himmel = heaven. Not that it was a living hell. It wasn't. But it sure as hell wasn't heaven, either."

"The noise was astounding. Surely, the Fuhrer himself could hear the sound of the orange crush in his mouth."

"He was a delicate frame. He was white hair. He was a black raincoat."

"The moon was undone now, free to move and rise and fall and drip..."

"Shaped like a long, broken arm, the road contained several houses with lacerated windows and bruised walls."

"Wirelike shins. Coat hanger arms...she had a starving smile."

"...the word struck her face like a slap."