I think most writers feel like they're on the outside looking in much of the time... All of us feel, to a certain extent, alienated from the stuff going on around us.

I think people believe in heaven because they don't like the idea of dying, because they want to carry on living and they don't like the idea that other people will move into their house and put their things into the rubbish.

I like having my back pressed against a wall and being made to work harder so I don't embarrass myself.

Bore children, and they stop reading. There's no room for self-indulgence or showing off or setting the scene.

From a good book, I want to be taken to the very edge. I want a glimpse into that outer darkness.

Sometimes we get sad about things and we don't like to tell other people that we are sad about them. We like to keep it a secret. Or sometimes, we are sad but we really don't know why we are sad, so we say we aren't sad but we really are.

...and there was nothing to do except to wait and to hurt.