As any student of literature knows, the books that last are often not the books that are most popular when they are written. Both 'Moby Dick' and 'The Great Gatsby' were complete failures, critically and commercially, when they first appeared. Michael Cunningham appearbookcommercially share on social
The only difference was one of them was trying to make a perfect cake and one of them was trying to write a great book. But if we remove that from the equation, it's the same impulse and they are equally entitled to their ecstasies and their despair. Michael Cunningham bookcakedespair share on social
Here's a secret. Many novelists, if they are pressed and if they are being honest, will admit that the finished book is a rather rough translation of the book they'd intended to write. Michael Cunningham admitbookfinish Change image and share on social
Virginia Woolf came along in the early part of the century and essentially said through her writing, yes, big books can be written about the traditional big subjects. There is war. There is the search for God. These are all very important things. Michael Cunningham bigbookcentury share on social
As writers we must, from our very opening sentence, speak with authority to our readers. Michael Cunningham authorityopenreader Change image and share on social
If you've really loved a book, or a movie for that matter, really loved it, what you want is that same book again, but as if you've never read it. And when you get something unfamiliar, you feel betrayed. Michael Cunningham betraybookfeel share on social
I have no useful theories about love and marriage. Michael Cunningham lovemarriagetheory Change image and share on social
I know, speaking for myself, no matter what I'm able to do, no matter what book comes out and ends up on paper, I always had something bigger and grander in my head. Michael Cunningham bigbookend Change image and share on social
I seem to produce a novel approximately once every three years. Michael Cunningham approximatelyproduceyear Change image and share on social
I encourage the translators of my books to take as much license as they feel that they need. This is not quite the heroic gesture it might seem, because I've learned, from working with translators over the years, that the original novel is, in a way, a translation itself. Michael Cunningham bookencouragefeel share on social
