Somehow, knowing that Alzheimer's is coming mocks all one's aspirations - to tell stories, to think through certain issues as only a novel can do, to be recognised for one's accomplishments and hard work - in a way that old familiar death does not.

With preference came point of view; with point of view, personality; with personality, uniqueness; with uniqueness, grief.

When 'The Awakening' was published it was considered so scandalous it was banned in the author's home-town library, and she herself was barred from the Fine Arts Club in the same city. What the novel has to offer, among other things, is honesty.

My characters never die screaming in rage. They attempt to pull themselves back together and go on. And that's basically a conservative view of life.

There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so as to corner the market.

When a novel has 200,000 words, then it is possible for the reader to experience 200,000 delights, and to turn back to the first page of the book and experience them all over again, perhaps more intensely.

A novelist has two lives-- a reading and writing life, and a lived life. he or she cannot be understood at all apart from this.