I write about kids growing up, I write a lot about schools and parents, and all of my experiences with those things have been suburban experiences.
Tom PerrottaThere's not some finite amount of pain inside us. Our bodies and minds just keep manufacturing more of it.
Tom PerrottaI'm not sure that it's possible to write a novel about people who don't transgress or stumble, people who don't surprise themselves with the things they do, people who can explain all their actions with perfect logical consistency. At least it's not possible for me to write that sort of novel.
Tom PerrottaI was writing very early, like I was involved in our high school literary magazine, which was called 'Pariah.' The football team was the Bears, and the literary magazine was 'Pariah.' It was great. It was definitely a real sub-culture. But I wrote stories for them.
Tom Perrotta