It's a young country and a German only feels comfortable being with the masses. They have very little talent at creating an inner life, privacy. And I think there must be something wrong.

All writers of fiction will at some point find themselves abandoning a piece of work - or find themselves putting it aside, as we gently say.

I've always said that the big difference between South America and North America with regard to the native population is that in North America they raped them and killed them, and in South America they raped them and married them. The mix was much greater, and that was very good.

Every 10 years you're a different person, and the really great books evolve with you as you get older. They're full of new rewards.

Screw-top wine has improved the quality of life by about ten percent, wouldn't you say?

People are always talking on their phones, or looking at their phones, because they don't want to be alone with their thoughts.

Everyone is right up there at the very brink of their pain limit.