I've had a tough time with Pynchon. I liked him very much when I first read him. I liked him less with each book. He got denser and more complex in a way that didn't really pay off.

When all of us are forgotten, people will still be remembering Stephen King.

Jane Austen is at the end of the line that begins with Samuel Richardson, which takes wonder and magic out of the novel, treats not the past but the present.

Raymond Carver is good. I think he'll be appreciated more and more. He's an easy writer to imitate.

Saul Bellow never took my advice when he was my friend.

I used to be fond of Indian arm wrestling.

I gave up writing blurbs because you make one friend and 200 enemies.