We live in a moment and a culture when reading is really endangered. There's simply no way to write well, though, if you're not reading well.

One area I have a huge amount of trouble in is writing about myself. I get a heavy, almost depressed feeling.

I wonder what Proust would have made of our present-day locus of collective fantasy, the Internet. I’m guessing he would have seized on its wistful aspect, pointing out gently and with wry humor that much of what beguiles us is the act of reaching for what isn’t there.

The music industry is an interesting lens through which to look at change, because it has had such a difficult time adjusting to the digital age.

But it was another girl, young and new to the city, fiddling with her keys.

Structural dissatisfaction: Returning to circumstances that once pleased you, after having experienced a more thrilling or opulent way of life, and finding that you can no longer tolerate them.

I listened to classic rock and roll, and punk rock. 'Goon Squad' provides a pretty accurate playlist of my teenage years, though it leaves out 'The Who,' which was my absolute favorite band.