If I could do what Hilary Mantel does, I would probably do that. She is more intelligent and a better researcher and knows more what she's about than I do. Garth Risk Hallberg hilaryintelligentmantel Change image and share on social
When I get online, there's this cycle of anxiety and narcissism that takes over, which is the part of me that I like the least. Garth Risk Hallberg anxietycyclenarcissism Change image and share on social
I happen to be the kind of reader who, if I like something, I don't want it to end. Garth Risk Hallberg endhappenkind Change image and share on social
The central question driving literary aesthetics in the age of the iPad is no longer 'How should novels be?' but 'Why write novels at all?' Garth Risk Hallberg aestheticagecentral Change image and share on social
I always thought I was going to be a great poet, and go and live in New York, where the great poets lived - you know, where Whitman had walked the streets. Garth Risk Hallberg greatlivepoet Change image and share on social
You don't have to subject yourself to the sweep and rigor of Bourdieu's book 'Distinction' to feel how thoroughly a lower-calorie version of its ideas has been absorbed into the cultural bloodstream. Garth Risk Hallberg absorbbloodstreambook Change image and share on social
I have this weird tropism for islands. Take me to an island as far from New York as I can possibly go. Garth Risk Hallberg islandpossiblytropism Change image and share on social
The ego being shattered is not what frightens me - that can be useful for writing - but the ego being inflated is sort of like it dying of gout. Garth Risk Hallberg dieegofrighten Change image and share on social
I remember reading 'The Hobbit' on a car trip from Ohio to Mississippi and getting out at a rest-stop in Mississippi and feeling jet-lagged at my return from Middle-earth. Garth Risk Hallberg carearthfelt Change image and share on social
Reading isn't about managing expectations. In certain ways, writing is. You're trying to send signals early in a book about what might be coming later, but I think worrying about the kind of chatter around a book is something I try and stay as far away from when I'm reading. Garth Risk Hallberg bookchattercome share on social
