A novel is written not to be judged, but experienced.

Nothing had happened yet in my life except the need to get out of it.

I think young children in the Western middle classes are objects of incredible anxiety.

If your life just falls apart early on, you can put it together again. Its the people who are always on the brink of crisis who dont hit bottom who are in trouble.

When I'm working, I'm not so much disciplined as obsessive. I have this feeling that I need to clear everything away and get this down.

I do wish I could write like some of the American women, who can be clever and heartfelt and hopeful; people like Lorrie Moore and Jennifer Egan. But Ireland messed me up too much, I think, so I can't.

To be able to have the space to sit down and write has always been my central policy.