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

There are men who would do anything, asleep, and I'm not sure what stops them when they wake. I do not know how they draw the line.

I do not think we remember our family in any real sense. We live in them instead

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.

There are about as many ways to be dead as there are to be alive. People linger in different ways, both publicly and privately.

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

Having kids is very difficult to do on your own, and it's really crazy difficult to think you're doing it as a team and to find out that you're not actually part of a team.