Quotes About Ethan Canin

When I went for my medical school interview, I had an old paperback of 'Henderson the Rain King' in the pocket of my coat. I was wearing the best clothes I had - a pair of cords and a sport coat - but when I got to the office, all the other interviewees were lined up in their black suits.

There once was this powerful, both capital and political, class who cared about supporting and affirming a solid middle class in this country.

It's nice when critics say 'Emperor of the Air' is an important book of stories.

Writing a book is like an unknown abyss, every time. Every book is different. Contrary to what unpublished writers think, it's horrible to have a book out.

The historical background is one of the easier aspects of writing a novel. Far more difficult is dreaming up the smaller, character-based scenes, scenes that rise entirely from one's own imagination.

I no longer practice medicine, but I can say that, for me, medicine was easier - and certainly less emotionally turbulent - than writing.

Medicine is a supremely useful profession. Fiction writing is not.

Feeling useful in medicine allows me to not feel so stupid when making up stories.