Because I've a track record of talking about books I never write, in Australia they think I'm about to write a book about Jane Austen. Something I said at some festival. Kate Atkinson More Quotes by Kate Atkinson More Quotes From Kate Atkinson Everyone said, 'Well, you're very old for a first novel,' and I said, 'How do you write when you haven't lived? How do you write when you have no experience? How do you write straight out of university? Kate Atkinson saidwritingfirsts I did feel when my mother died if anyone was going to haunt me it would be her. And she hasn't, so I think it is possibly the end. Kate Atkinson would-bemotherthinking You can step in the same river but the water will always be new. Kate Atkinson stepsriverswater Life wasn't about becoming, was it? It was about being. Kate Atkinson becoming Sometimes it was harder to change the past than it was the future. Kate Atkinson hardersometimespast What if we had a chance to do it again and again, until we finally did get it right? Wouldn't that be wonderful? Kate Atkinson what-ifchancewonderful Perhaps we are on an insula ex machina, an artificial place not in the real world at all -- a backdrop for the stories we must tell. Kate Atkinson realstoriesworld Some people spend their whole lives looking for themselves, yet our self is the one thing we surely cannot lose (how like a cheap philosopher I am become, staying in this benighted place). From the moment we are conceived it is the pattern in our blood and our bones are printed through with it like sticks of seaside rock. Nora, on the other hand, says that she’s surprised anyone knows who they are, considering that every cell and molecule in our bodies has been replaced many times over since we were born. Kate Atkinson rockscellsself Sylvia loved secrets and even if she didn't have any secrets she made sure that you thought she did. Amelia had no secrets, Amelia knew nothing. When she grew up she planned to know everything and to keep it all a secret. Kate Atkinson ameliagrew-upsecret I have been to the world's end and back and now I know what I would put in my bottom drawer .I would put my sisters. Kate Atkinson my-sisterendsworld She was a terrible mother, there was no doubt about it, but she didn't even have the strength to feel guilty. Kate Atkinson guiltydoubtmother Sometimes I would like to cry. I close my eyes. Why weren't we designed so that we can close our ears as well? (Perhaps because we would never open them.) Is there some way that I could accelerate my evolution and develop earlids? Kate Atkinson eyeearsway She doesn't believe in dogs," Bridget said. "Dogs are hardly an article of faith," Sylvie said. Kate Atkinson dogsaidbelieve Sylvie's knowledge, like Izzie's, was random yet far-ranging, 'The sign that one has acquired one's learning from reading novels rather than an education. Kate Atkinson reading-novelsnovelreading Most people muddled through events and only in retrospect realized their significance. Kate Atkinson retrospecteventspeople You must never believe everything they say about a person. Generally speaking, most of it will be lies, half-truths at best. Kate Atkinson halfbelievelying Become such as you are, having learned what that is. Kate Atkinson No point in thinking, you just have to get on with life. We only have one after all, we should try and do our best. We can never get it right, but we must try. Kate Atkinson shouldtryingthinking Why is everything an 'adventure' with you?" Sylvie said irritably to Izzie." "Because life is an adventure, of course." "I would say it was more of an endurance race," Sylvie said. "Or an obstacle course. Kate Atkinson enduranceraceadventure It was a long time ago now. And it was yesterday. Kate Atkinson long-timeyesterdaylong