For example, you have these grotesque, hilarious, profane ghosts in the book [Lincoln in the Bardo]. Even the concept of talking ghosts is, from an aesthetic point of view, grotesque. But you seem compelled by that risk in order to get to the other end of the equation.

You say you want to talk, But you don't . You stonewall me.

I have an ambition to write a great book, but that's really a competition with myself. I've noticed that a lot of young writers, people in all media, want to be famous but they don't really want to do anything. I can't think of anything less worth striving for than fame.

If you're going to write a good book, you have to make mistakes and you have to not be so cautious all the time.

Jerome said, It's like, a family doesn't work anymore when everyone in it is more miserable than they would be if they were alone, You know?

It's not in good taste to have talking ghosts in a grown-up novel.

I like books that don't give you an easy ride. I like the feeling of discomfort. The sense of being implicated.