Americanah

hungry for choice and certainty.

There was something immodest about her modesty: it announced itself.

When he started conversations with people in elevators, or lavishly complimented strangers, she held her breath, certain that they could see what an attention-loving person he was.

He looked people in the eye not because he was interested in them but because he knew it made them feel that he was interested in them.

to have money, it seemed, was to be consumed by money.