This one was a little difficult. I imagine this is what it would feel like if someone asked you to pick a favorite child of yours. As a new author, all the words in my first novel are special to me (hell, they were hard enough to write). However, the following quotes represent those that I always seem to come back to when I think about the story overall.
***Spoilers ahead***
10.
“Oh…excuse us. We’re not the ones going out with a normal, fun girl. We’re still on the battlefield playing Russian roulette with those nuts out there.” – Max
If you’ve read this story, it should come as no surprise to you that one of the more comedic themes is dating: the fun side of it, the awkward side of it, and, unfortunately, the less-than-savory side of it. With regard to the latter, while we guys get a bum rap (and sometimes rightfully so), one of my goals was to shed some light on the other, and in my opinion oft underrepresented, side of the dating equation. It’s no picnic over here either, ladies.
9.
“Oftentimes, the greatest obstacles that we must overcome are ourselves; the most difficult problems that we must solve are of our own making. But when we take action to meet them, it can be a wonderful thing.” – Dr. Travers
I read somewhere once that it’s not necessarily what happens to us that’s important, but how we react to it that counts. Many times we cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our minds and our actions. While it’s not something I can claim to be an expert in or, regretfully, even practice regularly, I do think it’s a strong ideal to aspire to.
8.
“Listen kid…I wish I could say that I’ve seen you become a good man, but the fact is…you always were. From the day I met you. And I know you always will be.” – Al
I am no stranger to my own negative qualities. I’m quite familiar with them, actually. And while focusing on them can be a helpful endeavor to improve ourselves, it is equally important to acknowledge and celebrate our better angels as well. Throughout the story, Chase is almost so singularly focused on his demons that he forgets that deep down he’s a good person, and that sometimes, that is good enough.
7.
“Most men think that women have the purest of intentions, drunk on their well-crafted narrative that they’re all looking for nice guys. So we play our part, putting forward our best until the hangover of three $150 dinner dates sets in and we realize that we’ll never hear back from them ever again. And you know why? Because right around the corner there is always someone better.” – Max
I like to call this one “Life of a Human Male Gift Card.”
6.
“No, you can! You just won’t! You’re not allowed to use the word ‘can’t’ as an excuse. You know why? Because you’re still here…alive and all.” – Al
One of my favorite quotes is from actor Walter Matthau: “There’s no such thing as too late. That’s why they invented death.” While Al’s rendition above doesn’t have the same dark comedic edge, I think it accomplishes the same goal.
5.
“What are you looking for Chase?” – Gloria
Nothing fancy about this one. It’s not a lengthy literary masterpiece, nor is it a particularly complicated question. But it’s a question that we rarely ask ourselves, let alone others; one whose answer, if truthful, can have a profound impact on our lives.
4.
“Well, would you look at that…a semblance of female mutual interest! I’ve only heard rumors that such a mythical thing existed! I never thought that I’d actually see it happen. Must be nice!” – David
Chances are, if you and I have spoken for even five minutes in the last ten years, you know where I’m coming from with this one. Enough said. Case closed. Period.
3.
“But what if there’s no such thing as coincidences. What if, against the odds, I was meant to find you…I mean…they were meant to find each other?” – Gloria
Coincidences are one of my favorite concepts. In fact, I think it could be said that the entire story of Chasing the Unicorn is just one, big, run-on coincidence. While the mere unlikeliness of a certain series of events is often intriguing enough, I think it is perhaps the often quixotic search for a meaning behind those events that truly fascinates.
2.
“Or maybe she was flirting with you, you stupid genius f*ck.” – Max
To me, these 11 words are the perfect encapsulation of the unlikely (and often bordering on miraculous) friendship between Max and Chase. After Chase walks away from his first encounter with Gloria completely oblivious to her obvious interest, Max is only too happy to try to correct his thinking with a few choice words in a way only he could.
1.
“You loved me for who I was even when I didn’t, and you believed in me to become what I wanted to become, even when I couldn’t. I was too stupid to see it then, but I see it now.” – Chase
Sappy, I know. But it was always going to be this one…
Try as we might to see it in ourselves, it often times requires viewing our reflection in another for us to discover our true nature. This is one of the final lessons that Chase learns; one that almost cost him everything, but instead one that ultimately redeemed him.
Anthony Altamura 