I resist when someone calls me a novelist: it implies some kind of inherent superiority of the novel. I'm not a novelist, I'm a writer. Aleksandar Hemon callimplyinherent Change image and share on social
I do have a sense of displacement as constant instability - the uninterrupted existence of everything that I love and care about is not guaranteed at all. I wait for catastrophes. Aleksandar Hemon carecatastropheconstant Change image and share on social
A particular piece of music attaches itself to the piece I'm writing, and there is nothing else I can listen to. Every day I return to the same space to write, the music providing both the walls and the pictures on the walls. Aleksandar Hemon attachedaylisten share on social
Our daughter was born in Chicago, and she's already showing it. The temperature has to be approaching zero for her to wear a hat. Aleksandar Hemon approachbearchicago Change image and share on social
I actually didn't listen to the Beatles song 'Nowhere Man' when I was writing my book of the same name. What I listened to a lot was 'Abbey Road.' Its disjointedness and its readiness to confuse only to delight were inspiring to me. Aleksandar Hemon abbeybeatlesbook share on social
I cannot live or write without music. It stimulates the normally dormant parts of my brain that come in handy when constructing fiction. Aleksandar Hemon brainconstructdormant Change image and share on social
I really don't feel that any of the pieces I wrote were confessions; there are no revelations about secrets in my life, and actually I have nothing to confess and I certainly do not ask for redemption and there is no reward for confessing that I expect. Aleksandar Hemon confessconfessionexpect share on social
In Bosnian, there's no distinction in literature between fiction and nonfiction; there's no word describing that. Aleksandar Hemon bosniandescribedistinction Change image and share on social
I suppose I'm interested in sorrow, which is very different from depression or despair. Sorrow is continuous with the world; it allows for creativity. Aleksandar Hemon continuouscreativitydepression Change image and share on social
When we're upset, our vocal cords tighten and we can't speak. And when I lie - well, I can't lie, because the same thing happens - everyone who knows me knows that when I start squeaking, I've started lying. Aleksandar Hemon cordhavelie share on social
