I didn't want to keep forcing myself to grind out book after book. Mary Gaitskill bookforcegrind Change image and share on social
On the rare occasions when my mother perfumed herself, she was going out, and so I rarely smelled those special scents up close on her body, except during kisses goodbye. Mary Gaitskill bodyclosegoodbye Change image and share on social
Writing requires an intense inner focus, and sometimes you need to express outward, physically or socially. Mary Gaitskill expressfocusintense Change image and share on social
I wasn't ever anybody who had a political thing against marriage, but I just thought, 'Why would I want to do that?' Mary Gaitskill marriagepoliticalthing Change image and share on social
Anne Frank's diary made a very big impression on me at age 12 or so. Mary Gaitskill ageannebig Change image and share on social
I don't think that the Internet creates feelings that aren't there, nor does it provide an outlet. On the contrary, what I have thought about things like computer games - what has disturbed me about them - is that they appear to stimulate feelings of aggression without providing any physical release. Mary Gaitskill aggressioncomputercontrary share on social
My parents had met in high school and married right after my father came back from World War II. They honeymooned in Paris and returned to that city when my father, in college on the G.I. Bill, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Mary Gaitskill awardbackbill share on social
I didn't start thinking about what I wanted to do professionally until I was 17. I was a hippie, but I did write. Mary Gaitskill hippieprofessionallystart Change image and share on social
Between my hatred of mall shopping and my mother's firm ideas about how a girl should dress, my style choices were pretty unenthusiastic: plaid skirts or whatever empire-waisted thingamabob was on sale at Sears. Mary Gaitskill choicedressempire share on social
The appeal of perfume is that it is at once ephemeral and empowering. It creates a shimmering invisible armor that lingers in a room long after its wearer has gone and infuses our imagination with a subtle power, hinting at a hidden identity. Mary Gaitskill appealarmorcreate share on social