You cannot predict literary success; the only way you can possibly aim for it is to do your thing and do it well.

I guess the feminism in "Room" springs to mind most.

This is a bad story.” “Sorry. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.” “No, you should,” I say. “But—” “I don’t want there to be bad stories and me not know them.

We used to call it her Cinderella complex, because often when she had agreed to go out in the evening she would be seized by panic and announce that she had nothing to wear.

Identity politics are wearisome; you don't want to go on speaking for any one group as a writer.

Goodbye, Room." I wave up at Skylight. "Say goodbye," I tell Ma. "Goodbye, Room." Ma says it but on mute. I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened. Then we go out the door.

Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.