I got to hear Anna Quindlen speak yesterday at the annual Author’s Luncheon for Words Alive, an organization close to my heart.
She’s one of my favorite writers — and I know a lot of you feel the same way.
I’m going to post my Q&A with her next week, along with a feature about the event, but I thought I’d end the week with a few quotes from her that have stayed with me over the years.
If you haven’t read her latest novel, Still Life With Breadcrumbs, or Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, this may be a good weekend to curl up with one of them. Bet you’ll soon be quoting those, too.
On books: “I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.”
On parenting: “Being a parent is not transactional. We do not get what we give. It is the ultimate pay-it-forward: We are good parents, not so they will be loving enough to stay with us, but so they will be strong enough to leave us.”
On marriage: “A safety net of small white lies can be the bedrock of a successful marriage. You wouldn’t believe how cheaply I can do a kitchen renovation.”
On life: “Life is not so much about beginnings and endings as it is about going on and on and on. It is about muddling through the middle.”
On humility: “A man who builds his own pedestal had better use strong cement.”
On being yourself: “The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”
She made a big difference in my life when I first became a mom. She made it okay to walk to the bus stop in a coat over your bathrobe!
As a writer we get lost in our writing. Glad to be in good company!
Glad you got to see her. Love the photo.
I need to read more of her stuff. I discovered her later, but have always liked what I read. And, that quote on books tells me she and I are kindred spirits, just like you and I are.
I thought Still Life With Breadcrumbs was a great book. It was the first one of hers that I read. Now, I’m hooked.
Oh, you lucky dog! I, too, love her. And that quote about parenting? Yes, yes, yes. Parenting truly is THE ultimate pay it forward.
I look forward to your Q&A post.
Love the quotes/ thoughts on parenting, marriage and life. So true in so many ways.
Wow I absolutely love these quotes especially the ones about life and marriage. I’ve been so blessed in my life even through the hard times.
That sounds like a lovely luncheon! How lucky that you got to attend.
Wish we could have all gone to the luncheon with you. Love the quotes. Especially decorating with bookshelves.
Thanks for the quotes. I enjoyed her candles/cake book, so I am happy to know about Still Life with Breadcrumbs.
What a great event. You are so lucky. I have yet to meet any book authors, only comic. Which is great, but I would love to meet a favorite author of mine someday. I don’t think I ask for much and my list is quite long 😉
I love these quotes. The one about life is especially great. Too many times, people think that if their life isn’t AMAZING at all times that they must be doing something wrong. Nope. That’s just life. =D
Those are great quotes that really made me think. i’m going to have to read these more often.
luncheons are very fun to attend and I am glad you got to go to one.
Now I’m curious because I’m not sure I’ve read anything by her. I’ll do some looking!
I’ve not read her last two books… I really should get to them.
I love her, though. She is very smart and highly quotable!
I’m looking forward to your Q&A blog 🙂
What an awesome opportunity! I would love to meet her.
Looking forward to the Q&A. So what did you eat for lunch? Did she get to eat too? Or did she speak while you were eating?
Oh, you’re so lucky to have met her! Can’t wait to read your Q & A.
Wow, do I love this: On humility: “A man who builds his own pedestal had better use strong cement.” Can’t wait to read your piece!
You know already that I adore her, you even gave me her cake book. This post is genius. There is nothing better than a grouping of great quotes. My absolute favorite is the one On Parenting. I look forward to the Q&A.
Wow. I really love that quote at the end! What a pleasure to be able to meet her!
This event sounds just awesome!
I love each and every one of the quotes. I’m looking forward to the Q&A
I’ve been a fan of Anna’s since her days as a columnist. It’s been fun to watch her navigate “The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.” Looking forward to the Q&A!
Hey there, I found you via the NaBloPoMo blogroll.
These are great quotes. 🙂
As part of NaBloPoMo I try to comment on as many participating blogs as I can, and I also add participating blogs to my feed reader.
So I’m just dropping by to let you know I’ve added your blog to my feedreader, I’m reading you loud and clear, I have a link up going at my place so my readers can find participating blogs which you are more than welcome to add your blog link to.
Looking forward to seeing your posts, and you’ll likely see me drop by again during November.
Happy NaBloPoMo to you!
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org
How cool you got to see her in person! I used to work in a bookstore and she was one of the more popular authors! Great quotes from a very smart lady!
Anna is amazing. I would love to meet her! Very cool!
Such a great writer and respectable woman, you are so lucky to have been able to meet her!
Now she sounds like a really fun lady. I love all of her quotes on life.
On parenting…I agree with this however I do think it can come full circle and I hope that my elderly parents are seeing that now. They gave my siblings and I what we needed to spread our wings and move away but now we are giving back to them when they need us the most.
Oh how lucky for you! What a gem she is. I loved hearing more about her and want to read some of those books I hadn’t heard of.
Anna Quindlen is a great writer & one of my favorite too. I would definitely find some time to read her latest novel “Still Life With Breadcrumbs” sometime soon. Those are awesome quotes as well for sure.
I love these quotes. Thank you for sharing with us. To be honest I had never heard of her before now.
I think it would be amazing to hear my favorite writer speak. To get the chance to ask questions would be so great.
They’re all good quotes. The last one though, is my favorite.
I love her quote on decorating, that sounds like my house. Lots of bookshelves, and still too many books.
I am so with you.
Anna Quindlen is such a wonderful writer. All of the quotes you have posted here are fabulous, I love every single one of them!
Sounds like you had a great time meeting her. I love her pedestal quote!