Being a mother is complicated because it's not just a paternal culture making demands on you; it's those internal demands and expectations that women have and are self-generated. Siri Hustvedt complicateculturedemand Change image and share on social
Years ago, when I was in Siena for the first time, I saw the works of Duccio, whose deeply emotional painting from the thirteenth century has never left me. Siri Hustvedt agocenturydeeply Change image and share on social
I continue to write essays about art. The visual is always part of my work, and it gives me immense pleasure to make up the words of art and create them verbally rather than build them. Siri Hustvedt artbuildcontinue Change image and share on social
Having children is one of the most passionate and involving bits of business in human life. Siri Hustvedt bitbusinesschild Change image and share on social
The English expression 'to fall asleep' is apt because the transition between waking and sleeping is a gradual drop from one state of being into another: a giving up of full self-consciousness for unconsciousness or for the altered consciousness of dreams. Siri Hustvedt alteraptasleep share on social
I like 'nerves'! I like the word 'migraineur'. I like the word 'madness'. These are OK words. The 19th century had a very handy term: 'neurasthenic'. I think that's a very useful word. We all know what that means: it means extra-sensitive. Siri Hustvedt 19thcenturyextra share on social
The mind-brain is lived only from a first-person perspective, and it is a dynamic, plastic organ that changes in relation to the environment. Siri Hustvedt braindynamicenvironment Change image and share on social
Bedtime rituals for children ease the way to the elsewhere of slumber - teeth brushing and pajamas, the voice of a parent reading, the feel and smell of the old blanket or toy, the nightlight glowing in a corner. Siri Hustvedt bedtimeblanketbrush share on social
If something's not working, it's wonderful to have a reader you can trust to say, 'Actually, you've gone off the deep end here'. Siri Hustvedt deependhave Change image and share on social
With almost no exceptions, art by men is much more expensive than art by women. Even great women artists, like Louise Bourgeois and Lee Krasner, are only fully embraced very late in their career. Siri Hustvedt artartistbourgeois Change image and share on social
