“I had that feeling you have when you're watching a sad movie, sobbing at the heartbreak you are feeling at the same time that you know the heartbreak isn't exactly real, that it will be gone by the time you get home and make a cup of tea. I found a lot of life like that when I was younger, as though I was practicing for what came later.”

American author, journalist, and opinion columnist

Anna Marie Quindlen is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist. She became known for her writing in newspapers and books, and for a voice that moves between public commentary and personal reflection. Her work spans journalism, fiction, and essays, which has made her a familiar name to readers of opinion writing. She is known for clear, direct prose and for observations that often touch on family, work, women’s lives, and the everyday pressures of modern life.