The first person to blow up my fashion consciousness was a 14-year-old girl named Sandrine. She was the most beautiful human I had ever seen. Mary Gaitskill beautifulblowconsciousness Change image and share on social
Perhaps it should be obvious: Adultery is a social threat that arouses raw anger and fear, which the bellicose then need to discharge rather than merely feel, traditionally on the philandering wife or the female home-wrecker. Mary Gaitskill adulteryangerarouse share on social
I used to start at about 10 at night and work until early morning. My preferred way to work is to start in the early afternoon and work until about 3, go do errands, have dinner, and then write for a few more hours in the evening. Mary Gaitskill afternoondinnerearly share on social
Stories mimic life like certain insects mimic leaves and twigs. Mary Gaitskill insectleaflife Change image and share on social
Sometimes I write from the point of view of characters whom I would dislike as people, not as a perverse exercise, but because this cracks the story open and makes me see it in a way I would not see it naturally. Mary Gaitskill charactercrackdislike share on social
At 16, I was in Toronto and very shy and not hanging around with anyone who was intellectual in the slightest, so I didn't really have the means to discuss what I was seeing and feeling. Mary Gaitskill discussfelthang Change image and share on social
I had really wanted adventure. At the time that I ran away, lots of kids ran away from home. It was something of a social phenomenon. Mary Gaitskill adventurehomekid Change image and share on social
It's true that your environment influences how you write. Mary Gaitskill environmentinfluencetrue Change image and share on social
Monogamy is desirable for many reasons, especially in creating a stable, emotionally connected home for children. But judging from centuries of human behavior, it is also a very difficult standard to meet. Mary Gaitskill behaviorcenturychild share on social