It's Not A Pretty World, Papa.' 'i've

To The Extent That I Come From A Deeply Religious Tradition And Have Been Contending With Those Beginnings All Of My Life - That Constitutes The Subject Of Much Of My Early Fiction.

A Book Is Sent Out Into The World, And There Is No Way Of Fully Anticipating The Responses It Will Elicit. Consider The Responses Called Forth By The Bible, Homer, Shakespeare - Let Alone Contemporary Poetry Or A Modern Novel.

Each Generation Thinks It Fights New Battles. But The Battles Are The Same. Only The People Are Different.

Reuven Listen To Me. The Talmud Says That A Person Should Do Two Things For Himself. One Is To Acquire A Teacher. Do You Remember The Other." "choose A Friend," I Said. "yes. You Know What A Friend Is, Reuven? A Greek Philosopher Said That Two People Who Are True Friends Are Like Two Bodies With One Soul." I Nodded. "reuven, If You Can, Make Danny Saunders Your Friend." "i Like Him A Lot, Abba." "no. Listen To Me. I Am Not Talking About Only Liking Him. I Am Telling You To Make Him Your Friend And To Let Him Make You His Friend.

Truth Has To Be Given In Riddles. People Can't Take Truth If It Comes Charging At Them Like A Bull. The Bull Is Always Killed. You Have To Give People The Truth In A Riddle, Hide It So They Go Looking For It And Find It Piece By Piece; That Way They Learn To Live With It.