Foreward to Religions of the World

"Religion books take up a good share of most bookstores.  And books on the world's religions, the occult, New Age thinking, spirituality, and worship invite readers to join the quest for release, redemption, renewal, relief, or random access to some higher spiritual plain.  So why should a quartet of Latter-day Saint scholars of world religions attempt to displace other religion books with their version of the subject?  Are not the dozens of world religions texts and the infinite number of books on specific religions (or sects, or denominations, or groups within them, or meditative practices, or methods for forecasting one's future, or whatever) enough to handle the job?  No; there is room for at least one more book on the subject."

Similes from Midnight Is a Place

"When Lucas arrived at the Oak Chamber, he saw that last night's scene of confusion had not greatly altered.  The traveling gear had been tidied away, but the room was still littered with immense quantities of small garments--muslin chemises, petticoats, fichus, heaven knew what; the place looked as if a hurricane or snowstorm had blown through a forest of handkerchief trees.  In the midst of this chaos, the small Anna-Marie sat like a white double hollyhock, in two petticoats and a cambric jacket, with a sulky rebellious expression on her wan face and her mouth set in a mutinous line."