I don't know if I have a memory of not thinking I was a writer - it goes that far back. I went to law school because I didn't know how to earn a living otherwise. I tried to ignore the pull, but it wouldn't let me. Elizabeth Strout backearnignore share on social
I don't ever really know where I get my characters from. Elizabeth Strout character Change image and share on social
I don't think there was a particular book that made me want to write. They all did. I always wanted to write. Elizabeth Strout bookmakewant Change image and share on social
The purpose of fiction is not to make people seem nice. What makes anyone think people are nice? Look around you! Elizabeth Strout fictionmakenice Change image and share on social
I don't think of myself as a fast reader. I just read a lot. When someone else might think, 'I might do the dishes,' I don't. But then the dishes multiply. Elizabeth Strout dishfastlot Change image and share on social
'Pnin' by Vladimir Nabokov, which is a literally small book, fit right in my common law book. I would sit in class and read it. Elizabeth Strout bookclasscommon Change image and share on social
I like people a lot, but I am not comfortable in literary New York situations. There is deep anxiety and tension around success here. I don't share problems I'm having about my work, and I think conversations around publishing are boring. Elizabeth Strout anxietyborecomfortable share on social
I grew up on a dirt road in Maine, and pretty much everybody on that dirt road was related to me, and they were old. And so grumpy. Elizabeth Strout dirtgrowgrumpy Change image and share on social
I got a gerontology certificate a million years ago along with my law degree, so I've been interested in older people for many years. Some people grow up with a lot of kids around, but I just grew up with a lot of old people. Elizabeth Strout agocertificatedegree share on social
In the kind of New England I'm from, you are expected to stay and marry somebody from New England - well, Maine, actually - so I think it was seen as a betrayal when I left for New York, which has been my refuge. Elizabeth Strout betrayalenglandexpect share on social