Jacques Derrida is a very important thinker and philosopher who has made serious contributions to both philosophy and literary criticism. Roland Barthes is the one I feel most affinity for, and Michel Foucault, well, his writing influenced my novel, 'Middlesex.' Jeffrey Eugenides affinitybarthescontribution share on social
I have a lot of novels that I haven't finished. I usually get 150 pages in and I realize it's not going anywhere. I don't publish everything I write. I must have six unfinished novels at least. Jeffrey Eugenides finishlotnovel Change image and share on social
He knew a lot about his grandparents - and perhaps he feels he's been endowed with abilities to go into people's heads who are long dead - but, to a certain extent, he's making it up. Jeffrey Eugenides abilitydeadendow Change image and share on social
One of the reasons that art is important to me is sometimes it actually feels more coherent than life. It orders the chaos. Jeffrey Eugenides artchaoscoherent Change image and share on social
But I care about the reader, and I'm trying to keep the reader's attention for as long as I can. Jeffrey Eugenides attentioncarelong Change image and share on social
I always work in a room where there's no Internet to keep from being distracted so easily. Jeffrey Eugenides distracteasilyinternet Change image and share on social
Well, marriage doesn't function in the way it used to in terms of deciding our fate, but it's in our heads, and it determines a lot of our actions. Like, right now, if you think about gay marriage - and they just started having the first gay marriages in New York - it shows what a potent idea marriage remains for people. Jeffrey Eugenides actiondecidedetermine share on social
The Pulitzer isn't a physical object. You can't hold it in your hand. You get some money ($7,500 in my day), and you get a little Tiffany's paperweight with your name on it and the image of Joseph Pulitzer suspended in the crystal. When people see my 'Pulitzer' (I keep it in my sock drawer), they are pretty amazed at its meagerness. Jeffrey Eugenides amazecrystalday share on social
I have a very beautiful room that in my house that we bought in Princeton. It's glass on three sides, and you'd think that's the perfect place to write. Somehow in that nice room I feel too exposed, and I can notice I'm too distracted by things going on, so I end up writing in a not-very-nice office bedroom. Jeffrey Eugenides beautifulbedroombuy share on social
I spend most of every day writing. I like to write every day if I can. I don't start extremely early. Jeffrey Eugenides dayearlyextremely Change image and share on social