But I have always - ever since The Accidental Woman - written novels about individuals attempting to make choices in the context of situations over which they have no control.

I like the rain before it falls. of course there is no such thing, she said. That's why it's my favorite. Something can still make you happy, can't it, even if it isn't real.

I'm one of those unlucky people who had a happy childhood.

The writer I feel the most affinity with - you said you felt my books are 19th century novels, I think they're 18th century novels - is Fielding, Henry Fielding, he's the guy who does it for me.

Objectivity is just male subjectivity.

You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.

Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are.

Contemporary Britain seems an endlessly fascinating place to me - but if I knew a little bit more about other places, and other times, maybe it wouldn't.

Some people don't realize that a straight 'No' can be the kindest answer in the world.

Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem.

For many weeks after [my wife] died, I could not get used to the feeling of coldness and lifelessness on her side of the bed - and it was even worse when they took the body away and buried her.

Being friendzoned is like standing near fire. You stand there to seek some warmth, but get burnt instead.

Live life with great humility.

Knowledge is too final. Not knowing lets you dream a little.

I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless.

Someone created the box score, and he should be shot.

If you’re 35 and single and it’s a choice, it feels fine. So I didn’t settle with the wrong person yet. Big deal!

In a weird way, it's much easier, when I don't have to worry about being a writer, to just worry about the director job, which is really fun.

A consensus politician is someone who does something that he doesn't believe is right because it keeps people quiet when he does it.

If you're old enough, you're good enough

They've got plastic Christmas trees now. They're hard to tell from the real aluminum ones.