The mellowing anaesthetic effect of the Scotch was abruptly catalyzed into rage.

– John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick: p. 131

 

Beds always have to be remade

Why was there nothing to sleep on but beds that had to be remade, nothing to eat from but dishes that had to be washed?

– John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick: p.70

 

The many laborious steps lunch involved overwhelmed her

The many laborious steps lunch involved nearly overwhelmed her – taking the meat from the refrigerator and undoing its taped jacket of butcher paper, locating the mayonnaise on the shelf where it hid amid jars of jelly and salad oil, clawing loose from the head of lettuce its clinging crinkling skin of plastic wrap, arranging these ingredients on the counter with a plate, getting a knife from the drawer to spread the mayonnaise, finding a fork to fish a long spear of pickle from the squat jar where seeds clouded a thin green juice, and then making herself coffee to wash the taste of turkey and pickle away.

– John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick: p.70

 

Tomatoes

Alexandra thought of tomatoes, the juice of violence beneath the plump complacent skin.

– John Updike, The Witches of Eastwick: p. 12