Although Salinger had long since cut me out of his life completely and made it plain that he had nothing but contempt for me, the thought of becoming the object of his wrath was more than I felt ready to take on. Joyce Maynard completelycontemptcut share on social
It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. Joyce Maynard childgrowlive share on social
Those who rhapsodize about the ease and joy of childhood have perhaps forgotten what it's like to be 12 years old. Joyce Maynard childhoodeaseforget Change image and share on social
My job is writing. I get paid to do it. When was the last time you heard someone challenge a doctor for making money off of cancer? Joyce Maynard cancerchallengedoctor Change image and share on social
I believe every one of us possesses a fundamental right to tell our own story. Joyce Maynard fundamentalpossessstory Change image and share on social
The portrait of my parents is a complicated one, but lovingly drawn. Joyce Maynard complicatedrawlovingly Change image and share on social
It is not the task of a reader to please her subjects. Joyce Maynard readersubjecttask Change image and share on social
I wonder what it is that the people who criticize me for telling this story truly object to: is it that I have dared to tell the story? Or that the story turns out not to be the one they wanted to hear? Joyce Maynard criticizedarehear share on social
The vehemence with which certain critics have chosen not simply to criticize what I've written, but to challenge my writing this story at all, speaks of what the book is about: fear of disapproval. Joyce Maynard bookchallengechoose Change image and share on social
The big dramas that fascinate me are the quiet ones that happen behind closed doors in so-called ordinary families. Joyce Maynard bigcallclose Change image and share on social