Quotes About Literature

I read a lot of fantasy as a kid. I read 'The Hobbit' and all of the 'Lord of the Rings' books, but I also read a lot of realism like 'The Outsiders.'

Those of us who thought Jorge Luis Borges was a pioneer of magical realism were mistaken; he was a pioneer of science fiction.

In 'Min Kamp,' I wanted to see how far it was possible to take realism before it would be impossible to read.

I am a social realist writer.

In my own writing, I think of myself as a realist who exaggerates a little.

For me that's the magic of the printed page - we don't have to pay attention to the passage of time and focus in on the realities of these characters at a specific age or at a specific time in their lives, and we can play with that to our hearts' content.

Read. Read. Read. Read many genres. Read good writing. Read bad writing and figure out the difference. Learn the craft of writing.

I am baffled by good writing.

For the very young, there's nothing better than Mother Goose and anything by Dr. Seuss for the rhythms and language.

I used to have all the Goosebumps books as a kid too.

I read Noam Chomsky. I like some of Gore Vidal's stuff.

Gore Vidal has been a friend of mine for years, and he's one of the greatest writers in American history.

All literature is gossip.

I read a lot of books to my children, and they all seem really good. I think people have gotten really good at children's books.

Literature is a state of culture, poetry is a state of grace, before and after culture.

When I was really little, my favorite book was 'The BFG'. I read it - my teacher in, like, first grade read it to us. I love that book.

I think I was in 10th or 11th grade before I ever read a book for pleasure.

I always got good grades in creative writing from elementary school on up.

I've been trying to... Having been an English literary graduate, I've been trying to avoid the idea of doing art ever since. I think the idea of art kills creativity.

At the beginning of every semester, I ask my graduate students whether there is something I should read that will help me understand their work.

I always knew when I graduated from high school, I'd go to college. I never thought about what I was walking away from... I just wanted to study literature and writing.

My grandfather and mother were school teachers, so there was always some discussion around books.

Yes, I can speak a bit and I can read and write in Russian. I learned it from my grandmother who raised me with all the Russian fairytales.

My grandparents used to bring me books every time they saw me.