Why did people ask "What is it about?" as if a novel had to be about only one thing.

The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be, rather than recognising how we are.

Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.

Because I am female, I’m expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important.

If you start thinking about being likable you are not going to tell your story honestly.

Your life belongs to you and you alone.

We teach girls shame; close your legs, cover yourself, we make them feel as though by being born female they're already guilty of something.