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.

Every novel deals with social problems. It can't help it because the protagonist must come in conflict with his group. So the author has to offer an analysis of how the group and the protagonist fit. Otherwise, the reader will just say, "This makes no sense," and will put it away.

In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it.

I have reared, or helped to rear, five children and the scariest bit, bar none, is the learning to drive part. It has filled me with anxiety not only about the children, but also about my former self and my friends.

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

The fact is that the same sequence of days can arrange themselves into a number of different stories.

When people leave, they always seem to scoop themselves out of you.