The anger and fear are so global. And of course, we live where we live and there's a hierarchy to who is worth what. It's been going on for a long, long time.

The other thing [my psychology professor] said to me was that I was always very mindful of the person who was away from the group, that I was always trying to bring them in.

Don't write about trying to change the world, just write about a changed world or a world that's not changing. Let that do the work.

I've written a little bit in Germany.

I'm hugely honored [with the Man Booker Prize].

I've also never written anything really in LA.

If all the students who slept through lectures were laid end to end, they'd all be a lot more comfortable. If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door.