We arrived the way most emigrant families did. My father came first, and the rest of us - my mother, my sister and me - followed a year later. Chang-Rae Lee arriveemigrantfamily Change image and share on social
For me, that's always been one of the great charms of the first person: we gain access to a very personal, private kind of music. Chang-Rae Lee accesscharmgain Change image and share on social
I can put together a pretty decent meal from whatever happens to be in the refrigerator and the pantry. I like the challenge of this sort of improvisation, the rigor of limitation and sometimes having to take a risk. Chang-Rae Lee challengedecentimprovisation share on social
I often think that the prime directive for me as a teacher of writing is akin to that for a physician, which is this: do no harm. Chang-Rae Lee akindirectiveharm Change image and share on social
I'm interested in people who find themselves in places, either of their choosing or not, and who are forced to decide how best to live there. That feeling of both citizenship and exile, of always being an expatriate - with all the attendant problems and complications and delight. Chang-Rae Lee attendantchoosecitizenship share on social
I don't like to use writing assignments, exercises. I think too often people get comfortable writing in that vein, but you can't go on to write a novel comprised of short writing exercises. Chang-Rae Lee assignmentcomfortablecomprise Change image and share on social
I didn't leave Wall Street because the work was against my nature - I do have a pretty good head for numbers. I left because I had this love for writing. Chang-Rae Lee goodheadleave Change image and share on social
My parents - my mother, particularly - were very focused on our succeeding. I loved my parents, and was very grateful to them for everything, and I didn't want to disappoint them. Chang-Rae Lee disappointfocusgrateful Change image and share on social
No place is perfect, but I admire Oahu for its offering of the tropical and the urban, and then its Asian-inflected culture and cuisines. Chang-Rae Lee admireasiancuisine Change image and share on social
We know the point of the 2010 Census is to count us, one by one, to tally every last resident, but the massive project of course has more prying, if limited, interests. Chang-Rae Lee censuscountinterest Change image and share on social
