"I like to think of myself as droll but in an edgy sort of way"

"I like to think of myself as droll but in an edgy sort of way" - The Half-Life of Linoleum by -me

"'So,' she says, 'have you given any thought to my proposition?'"

"'So,' she says, 'have you given any thought to my proposition?'" - The Half-Life of Linoleum by -me

"It is a town perceived as an aging beauty, wearing a fabulous fur coat that smells ridiculously of spilt martinis and tater tots"

"It is a town perceived as an aging beauty, wearing a fabulous fur coat that smells ridiculously of spilt martinis and tater tots" - The Half-Life of Linoleum by -me

"Don't spoil the day for me"

"Don't spoil the day for me" - The Train of Their Departure by David Bezmozgis

"Everything naturally flowed toward mediocrity"

"Everything naturally flowed toward mediocrity" - The Train of Their Departure by David Bezmozgis

"Time and again, people rushed by and ignored her"

"Time and again, people rushed by and ignored her" - The Train of Their Departure by David Bezmozgis

"What they did they did with no variation"

"What they did they did with no variation" - The Train of Their Departure by David Bezmozgis

"She had been incapable of acting differently"

"She had been incapable of acting differently" - The Train of Their Departure by David Bezmozgis

"'May I kiss the bride?' he asked shyly"

"'May I kiss the bride?' he asked shyly" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"It's a mug's game to me. Where's it all going to get you?"

"It's a mug's game to me. Where's it all going to get you?" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"He was furious because he could feel his face burning"

"He was furious because he could feel his face burning" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"And he had forgotten what they were laughing at after a while"

"And he had forgotten what they were laughing at after a while" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"In spite of the raincoat he was soaked"

"In spite of the raincoat he was soaked" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"Now then, mind telling me who you are and what you're doing here?"

"Now then, mind telling me who you are and what you're doing here?" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"I'm missing my friends too"

"I'm missing my friends too" - Cuckoo in the Nest by Michelle Magorian

"What do I do if there's a gator?"

"What do I do if there's a gator?" - The Dredgeman's Revelation by Karen Russell

"When the light expired, they slept"

"When the light expired, they slept" - The Dredgeman's Revelation by Karen Russell

"The woods were deep, but they were neither peaceful nor quiet"

"The woods were deep, but they were neither peaceful nor quiet" - The Dredgeman's Revelation by Karen Russell

"She thought she had all the answers now"

"She thought she had all the answers now" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"There had to be a story"

"There had to be a story" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"You scared the hell out of some folks today!"

"You scared the hell out of some folks today!" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"My imagination was just big enough to get me in trouble"

"My imagination was just big enough to get me in trouble" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"Most of them are hidden in gauzy wrappings that look like shrouds"

"Most of them are hidden in gauzy wrappings that look like shrouds" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"Or they will chase each other, racing up and down stairs or pounding along the halls"

"Or they will chase each other, racing up and down stairs or pounding along the halls" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"Somewhere along the way she'd found time to put on a little makeup"

"Somewhere along the way she'd found time to put on a little makeup" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"There was a moment or two of silence"

"There was a moment or two of silence" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"Quite! Enough! Photographs! For one day! Thank you!"

"Quite! Enough! Photographs! For one day! Thank you!" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"Once in a while he talked"

"Once in a while he talked" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"She cupped her palms over her eyes and waited"

"She cupped her palms over her eyes and waited" - Lisey's Story by Stephen King

"He was several inches shorter and better dressed than most of the other men"

"He was several inches shorter and better dressed than most of the other men"- An Honest Exit by Dinaw Mengestu

"Let me help you while you're in this town"

"Let me help you while you're in this town" - An Honest Exit by Dinaw Mengestu