How different from the cosy world of Rüya's detective novels, where authors never vexed a hero with more signs than he needed.

When two people love each other as we do, no one can come between them, no one," I said, amazed at the words I was uttering without preparation. "Lovers like us, because they know that nothing can destroy their love, even on the worst days, even when they are heedlessly hurting each other in the cruelest , most deceitful ways, still carry in their hearts a consolation that never abandons them." (p.191)

The writers secret is not inspiration - for it is never clear where it comes from - it is his stubbornness, his patience.

Painting taught literature to describe.

I don’t like to make strong statements. I want to write strong novels … I keep my deep radical things for my novels.

My religion is complicated. Literature is my true religion. After all, I come from a completely non-religious family.

Mankind's greatest error, the biggest deception of the past thousand years is this: to confuse poverty with stupidity.