If your depiction of loss doesn't make the reader feel loss, then you didn't depict it right. Marlon James depictdepictionfeel Change image and share on social
I wanted a picture of Jamaica that isn't in books, and certainly not in novels. Marlon James bookjamaicanovel Change image and share on social
As a writer of colour, you have to be victim or perpetrator. Marlon James colourperpetratorvictim Change image and share on social
At 28 years old, seven years out of college, I was so convinced that my voice outed me as a fag that I had stopped speaking to people I didn't know. Marlon James collegeconvincefag Change image and share on social
A lot of time, I'd spell things in standard English instead of phonetically because I want people to understand what's going on. It's also very lyrical, and the great thing about lyrical prose is even when you're not totally sure of the words, you can be swayed by the musicality of it. Marlon James englishgreatlot share on social
I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The Book I Wanted to Write - and they weren't the same book. The Book I Should Write should be realistic, since I studied English Lit. It should be cultural. It should reflect where I am today. The Book I Wanted to Write would probably include flying women, magic, and all of that. Marlon James bookculturalenglish share on social
We're not big on irony in Jamaica, sarcasm and double-talk. We tend to say things plainly, sometimes to the point of boredom. Marlon James bigboredomdouble Change image and share on social
I'd spent seven years in an all-boys school: 2,000 adolescents in the same khaki uniforms striking hunting poses, stalking lunchrooms, classrooms, changing rooms, looking for boys who didn't fit in. Marlon James 000adolescentboy Change image and share on social
I'm not a writer on a mission, and I'm very suspicious of writers on missions, but I'm also not living a false life. Marlon James falselifelive Change image and share on social
I come from a very big family from every economic background. Some of the streets I talk about, I've actually walked on because I have family from there. Jamaica has so many contradictions. Marlon James backgroundbigcontradiction Change image and share on social