“And this is difficult if you have not entirely persuaded yourself. It is especially tricky to do this if you are also naked, and making two cups of coffee.”

It is a method for investigating how much unreality reality can bear.

Krzhizhanovsky wanted to perform imaginary experiments with the nature of time and space.

The problem with breaking up with someone, if you are a little unsure – and so often, people are unsure – is that breaking up involves persuasion.

Outside, in the streets, the Communist state was busy performing such experiments for real.

This is because there is much more risk.

Once you have kissed secretly, it is very difficult not to have sex.

When a clandestine couple kisses, it is much more likely that sex will immediately follow.

You have to persuade your ex that it is better this way for everyone.

It would be impolite not to have sex.

In response, Krzhizhanovsky’s prose has a recklessly unstable tone in which delighted examination of impossible worlds can slip into ferocious political sarcasm.

I don’t like soccer. I think it makes you soft. And by the way, you telling me it’s the biggest whatever in the World, look, they drink tea everywhere too; they’re pussies, you understand? I want some coffee.

The coffee shop is a great New York institution, but it has terrible coffee. And the more traditional coffee shops are trying to catch up with more sophisticated coffee drinkers.

You know you’re going to get it, but it’s going to be rough.

Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex.

You can’t have a decent food culture without a decent coffee culture: the two things grow up together.

For me, the beauty of the blank page, or empty screen,staring up at nine thirty after two cups of coffee and a deep breath remains unique.

Kids win this’n’that every day. Thousands of them. One out of a hundred fights professionally. One out of a thousand’s worth watchin’, one out of a million’s worth coffee and doughnuts.

I like my coffee with cream and my literature with optimism.