Between the ages of 8 and 12 it was difficult to know what my father was saying, and he moved very slowly, and then he died. Colm Toibin diefathermove Change image and share on social
It really matters to writers to find and treasure readers, all the more when they're on the other side of the world. Colm Toibin mattertreasureworld Change image and share on social
I never listen to music when I am writing. It would be impossible. I listen to Bach in the mornings, mostly choral music; also some Handel, mostly songs and arias; I like Schubert's and Beethoven's chamber music and Sibelius' symphonies; for opera, I listen to Mozart and in recent years Wagner. Colm Toibin yearwagneropus share on social
Three of my novels and a good number of my short stories are told from the point of view of men. I was brought up in a house of women. Colm Toibin pointnumbtell Change image and share on social
The old Victorian laws against homosexuality were still on the statute books until the early 1990s. As a gay man living in Ireland, I and people like me found it easy to feel less than citizens. Colm Toibin findlawireland Change image and share on social
The only routine I have is that I finish everything I start. I wake up early every day - about 6.30 A.M. - but I do not work every day. I could laze for a day or two, but I wouldn't do it for three. Colm Toibin lazefinishroutine Change image and share on social
I've never put Northern Ireland into a novel because it's not my territory. I come from the South, so my imaginative territory is very much the Republic of Ireland rather than the North. Even though, if I wrote a novel about the North, it might sell more. Colm Toibin irelandputimaginative share on social
All writing is a form of manipulation, of course, but you realize that a plain sentence can actually do so much. Colm Toibin realizeplainsentence Change image and share on social
I suppose one should have an integrated personality, but I've never really seen the point. Colm Toibin havepointintegrate Change image and share on social
Solitude is good in the evening. Dublin is a quiet city when you get to a certain age, when your friends settle down and have kids. Nothing much happens here. Colm Toibin evenfriendcity Change image and share on social