Well, in fact everybody - everybody - in the entire nation has enough stuff in their life to write about that's interesting that they could write their autobiography. And in the end that's why I find people interesting.

I don't know - is everything the U.S. does a shocking embarrassment?

Writing novels is an essentially amateur activity.

Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist.

Art doesn't exist if you just do what you're told. It only exists as an exercise of individual taste and freedom.

Another thing I learned is that novels, even those from apparently distant times and places, remain current and enlightening, and also comforting.

The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others.