“Books say: She did this because. Life says: She did this. Books are where things are explained to you; life is where things aren't. I'm not surprised some people prefer books.”
More from Julian Barnes
“Because now I could only be indifferent; I had no emotions left to lend.”
“She knew me better than anyone else in the world. And still wanted to have lunch with me.”
“This was another of our fears: that Life wouldn’t turn out to be like Literature.”
“There's nothing wrong with being a genius who can fascinate the young.”