“In the woods it was not so much that it was quiet as that the few sounds were loud and distinct, not the orchestra tuning-up of the city but individual grace notes. Birdcalls broken into pieces like a piano exercise, a tree branch snapping sharp and then swishing down and thump on the ground, the hiss of water coming off the mountain.”

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.