The brief relief of seeing other people when I leave my room turns into a desperate need to be alone, and then being alone turns into a terrible fear that I will have no friends, I will be alone in this world and in my life. I will eventually be so crazy from this black wave, which seems to be taking over my head with increasing frequency, that one day I will just kill myself, not for any great, thoughtful existential reasons, but because I need immediate relief.

There is a classic moment in ‘The Sun Also Rises’ when someone asks Mike Campbell how he went bankrupt, and all he can say in response is, “Gradually and then suddenly.” When someone asks how I lost my mind, that’s all I can say too.

I don't think it matters how many parents you've got, as long as those who are around make their presence a good one.

You don't even have to hate to have a perfectly miserable time.

The American Dream, coupled with government subsidies of utilities and cheap consumer goods courtesy of slave labour somewhere else, has kept the poor huddled masses from rising up.

I'd really like to write a book about Timothy McVeigh, but it would only work if he cooperated.

In my case, I was not frightened in the least bit at the thought that I might live because I was certain, quite certain, that I was already dead.