I grew up with reggae. Reggae is like family. I know it, and there's a type of love and familiarity, but sometimes you want to hang out with other people. Marlon James familiarityfamilygrow Change image and share on social
I'm really interested in how non-American countries process race. Marlon James americancountryinterest Change image and share on social
My first novel, 'John Crow's Devil,' freed me up to write about the past, and 'The Book of Night Women' freed me up to have a book totally based on voice and being very spontaneous. Marlon James basebookcrow Change image and 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
What I find, particularly with young writers and readers, is that they don't want complicated feelings. Marlon James complicatefeelingfind Change image and share on social
'The Daily Mail' interviewed my friends in Jamaica to find out if I was ever the victim of a vicious homophobic attack because, to them, I'm a gay refugee. But nothing like that happened. So, no surprise, that story didn't appear. I'm really pretty boring. Marlon James attackboredaily share on social
In 1976, Rastafarians were one of the most violated, persecuted groups in Jamaica. They could be beaten within an inch of their lives, or detained for two years, just for being found in a 'proper' neighbourhood. Marlon James beatdetainfind 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
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
In creative writing, I teach that characters arise out of our need for them. Marlon James arisecharactercreative Change image and share on social