I believed my story would be helpful to young women my daughters age, who are still in the process of forming themselves as women, and in need of encouragement to remain true to themselves. – Joyce Maynard
Many women my age have known the experience of giving up crucial parts of themselves to please the man they love. – Joyce Maynard
The vehemence with which certain critics have chosen not simply to criticize what Ive written, but to challenge my writing this story at all, speaks of what the book is about: fear of disapproval. – Joyce Maynard
Not only did I avoid speaking of Salinger I resisted thinking about him. I did not reread his letters to me. The experience had been too painful. – Joyce Maynard