My mom was a frustrated woman, like so many unhappy women who didn't get the opportunities they wanted.

Spanish is a poetic language, in particular the Spanish of Mexico which has a wonderful animistic attitude you might not see in the Spanish of the peninsula. I think it has to do with the indigenous way of looking at nature.

There's no perfect place, there's no wonderful utopia.

I prefer to go to the little towns now, because in little towns people are kind. I like going to Tepotzlán.

I think that you need to have books that talk about the lives of the poor, and they need to be involved - involved in acquisitions.

I don't like to go into subways, because I always see them [ mice]. They are like my naguales [kindred animal spirits]. They follow me. I have literally stepped off of a plane in Phoenix and gotten my bag and stepped out on the curb and they'll be a big desert rat walking right in front of me.

Everything that is most mine belongs to everyone now.