When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain Quotes

“When you love a thing too much, it is a special kind of pain to show it to others and to see that it is lacking.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“I am yours, and so I will be your light and your laughter. I am yours, so open your eyes to look at me, and open your mouth so that I may kiss it. I am yours, I am yours, and nevermore will I leave.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“And so you came to my house on the soft pads of a midwinter kitten, the whisper of your black tresses sweeping your heels, and so you came to my heart just as quietly. Why, then, did you make such a terrible noise when you let go of my hand and departed, a great trumpeting of horns, a great beating of drums?”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“She killed, for she was angry, and she did not eat what she killed, for she was heartsick.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Always will my soul reach for yours.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“I will share every meal that I ever have with you. I will let you eat first from every dish and drink first from every cup.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Oh yes. Some people are just more . . . edible than others if you are a tiger.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“My eyes are open for always, my mouth is empty for always, and always will my soul reach for yours. In the land of the dead, there are only blackbirds, and I send this one to you, in the hopes that you remember me still. Light me a stick of incense, and so long as it burns, let me sit in the chamber outside your bedroom again. Until it goes out...Let me stay and be for you.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Your departure crashes like a thunder, and the timbers of the house shake with the force of the space you left behind.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“As the sun grew ripe and started to stop towards the horizon, Scholar Dieu read the poem, and as she did, it came to Ho Thi Thao how very beautiful she was. She has been beautiful in bed for three days, which was important, and she was beautiful now, when she was angry at having her way blocked. It came to Ho Thi Thao that perhaps she wanted to learn how else the scholar was beautiful, and even in what ways the scholar might be ugly, which could also be fascinating and beloved.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“They lived well-fed until they were only bones, and then their bones were happy, turning white and sharp as teeth in the moonlight.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“I sit in the moon-viewing pavilion, the hem of my sleeves wet from tears, and I cannot see for the grief has stolen my eyes, and I cannot speak for the grief has stolen my tongue.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“They were Dieu’s favorite lines, and she was almost afraid to look up to see how the tiger took them. When you love a thing too much, it is a special kind of pain to show it to others and to see that it is lacking.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“You can only praise a mammoth when you are alone with her and no one else can hear.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Because it is not such a good story for humans if they get randomly eaten and do not deserve it,” said Sinh Loan, somewhat to Chih’s surprise. “I suppose they mostly tell this story to humans after all.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Oh!” Sinh Cam exclaimed, sitting up in surprise. “That’s right! A bundle of bones tied up with their own guts, that’s what we say.” “It’s a tiger’s term?” Chih asked. “I thought it was just what the ghosts of the examination hall did to those scholars who who didn’t follow the proper sacrifices . . .” “No, it’s ours,” said Sinh Loan pleasantly. “It’s what we call someone who is a disappointment. Because that’s what we turn them into. Please continue.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“What was the point of being a Singing Hills cleric if they didn’t get to ride a mammoth when the opportunity arose?”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Oh, are these the weapons of your ancestors?” asked Dieu politely. “No, they’re the ones that my ancestors took away from those who would reproach them,” said Ho Thi Thao.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“and yours will be the only name I speak at night”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“They came to a fenced paddock, a rudimentary wood structure that looked as if it did not have the strength to hold back much more than a small flock of disinterested rocks.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“I will share every meal that I ever have with you.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Then there was her skirt, which she kicked off, and then the embroidered band that fit over her breasts. “I am keeping the shoes on,” Dieu said. “I don’t care about that at all,” said Ho Thi Thao, looking her up and down.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“then with a young woman with wide eyes painted on her eyelids who felt the lumps on Dieu’s head and predicted for her a future of strange beds but good sex.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“There are more answers to that than you may think,” Chih temporized, because there were, but they could see that there was only one answer that really mattered to tigers. They made the appropriate notations.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“She’ll make you watch her cubs while she goes to carouse at the floating ghost palaces,” said the younger. “She’ll leave you alone all the time, and a fox would never do that to you.” The turnip-head patriarch was shaken in vigorous agreement, but the son only looked on nervously because he had few illusions about what kind of husband he would be, and even fewer about how well he would fare against a tiger in a matrimonial duel.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Everyone settled back into an expectant listening air except for Bao-so, who was unconscious,”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“They lived well-fed until they were only bones, and even their bones were happy, turning white and sharp as teeth in the moonlight.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Goodness,” said Sinh Loan, looking faintly scandalized. “You mean she didn’t know?” Chih raised their eyebrows at the tiger’s tone. “She knew that she was sitting down with someone that might have eaten her, madam,” they said politely. Sinh Cam shook her ears impatiently. “She didn’t know that Ho Thi Thao was flirting with her! She was being so sweet and romantic, and Scholar Dieu didn’t even appreciate it!”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“The woman still smelled full, but there was something in her voice that suggested that was a temporary state, and her eyes, which were round and very lovely, took on a kind of sharp hunger.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

“Priestesses smelled like forbearance and cheap incense, not raw earth and full bellies, and Dieu did her best not to pull her hand from the woman’s grasp.”
― Nghi Vo, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain