The gender gap looks at this point like it's going to favor the president, particularly among white suburban women. I certainly think it's going to be an issue. But I think the single most important thing in this election will be turnout.

part of the problem with a war on poverty today is that many Americans have decided that being poor is a character defect, not an economic condition.

Your children make it impossible to regret your past. They're its finest fruits. Sometimes the only ones.

I think there was a long period of time when we got real invested in a youth culture, and not coincidentally it was when the baby boomers, who let's face it, take up a lot of space on the planet, were young.

I do think there's some aspect of being a novelist that is a little crazy making.

Writing seems to be the only profession people imagine you can do by thinking about doing it.

I think a lot of people, but particularly a lot of women, get to this stage when I'd say they're over 50. We face a lot of hard judgment from the world, we women. If you're a full-time mother, you should be out working. If you're out working, your kids must be being overlooked.