To read a novel requires a certain amount of concentration, focus, devotion to the reading. If you read a novel in more than two weeks, you don't read the novel, really. Philip Roth amountconcentrationdevotion Change image and share on social
As for the kind of writer I am? I am who I don't pretend to be. Philip Roth kindpretendwriter Change image and share on social
I'm an Obama supporter. And if you're an Obama supporter, that means you had a hard time during the Bush years. Philip Roth bushhardmean Change image and share on social
I'm not good at finding 'encouraging' features in American culture. I doubt that aesthetic literacy has much of a future here. Philip Roth aestheticamericanculture Change image and share on social
The novelist's obsession, moment by moment, is with language: finding the right next word. Philip Roth findlanguagemoment Change image and share on social
People are unjust to anger - it can be enlivening and a lot of fun. Philip Roth angerenlivenfun Change image and share on social
I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you - it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists. Philip Roth assurediscretioneasy Change image and share on social
Obviously the facts are never just coming at you but are incorporated by an imagination that is formed by your previous experience. Memories of the past are not memories of facts but memories of your imaginings of the facts. Philip Roth comeexperiencefact share on social
Of course you bank on your experience, but as a sounding board. It isn't that you write down what happens to you every day. You wouldn't be a writer if you did that. Philip Roth bankboardday Change image and share on social
It was my great problem to solve: how to write a book, you know. And after you write one, you have to write another to prove to yourself you can do it again. Philip Roth bookgreatproblem Change image and share on social
