It was possible, she thought, that she had won the race to reach the end of civilization. There was no prize. Obviously. - Kate Atkinson

Whatever happens to you, embrace it, the good and the bad equally. Death is just one more thing to be embraced.

Men had no purpose on earth whereas women were gods walking unrecognized among them.

She'd had a glimpse of a possible future-the pretty cottage, the garden full of flowers and vegetables, bread in the oven, a bowl of strawberries on the table, the happy baby hitched on her hip while she threw corn to the chickens. It would be like a Hardy novel before it all goes wrong.