I'd rather dig a ditch than go to a dinner party with people I don't know. Marian Keyes digdinnerditch Change image and share on social
When I was growing up, I despised Irishness. I felt our music, our television and our books were just poor imitations of what came out of Britain and America. I was all set to abandon it entirely. Marian Keyes abandonamericabook Change image and share on social
Writing about feeling disconnected has enabled me to connect, and that has been the most lovely thing of all. Marian Keyes connectdisconnectenable Change image and share on social
Medically speaking, there is no such thing as a nervous breakdown. Which is very annoying to discover when you're right in the middle of one. Marian Keyes annoybreakdowndiscover Change image and share on social
I've always been melancholic. At a party, everyone would be looking at the glittering chandeliers and I'd be looking at the waitress's cracked shoes. Marian Keyes chandeliercrackglitter Change image and share on social
Men can be men and still get excited about other men kicking a ball around and they're never mocked, whereas it's easy for women to take mocking on board, to be belittled. Because we're used to it. Marian Keyes ballbelittleboard Change image and share on social
I've never made a secret of the fact that I'd have loved to have children. Marian Keyes childfacthave Change image and share on social
For feel-good fiction to work, there has to be an element of darkness. Marian Keyes darknesselementfeel Change image and share on social
When you're a mass-market writer, people think that you can just decide 'this happens, this happens, this happens', whereas with literary writers it's coming from their soul and their core. But with me it does come from my soul and my core, and my soul and my core often go AWOL, and then I've nothing to write. Marian Keyes awolcomecore share on social
I used to feel defensive when people would say, 'Yes, but your books have happy endings', as if that made them worthless, or unrealistic. Some people do get happy endings, even if it's only for a while. I would rather never be published again than write a downbeat ending. Marian Keyes bookdefensivedownbeat share on social