I think a misconception among many non-religious people is that anyone with a strong faith is, in all ways and at all times, blindly consistent, unwavering, unquestioning. Alice McDermott blindlyconsistentfaith Change image and share on social
Some readers sort of suspect that you have another book that you didn't publish that has even more information in it. I think that readers sort of want to be taught something. They have this idea that there's a takeaway from a novel rather than just the being there, which I think is the great, great pleasure of reading. Alice McDermott bookgreatidea share on social
I'm a coastal person. I grew up in Long Island and lived in San Diego. I felt landlocked in Pittsburgh. Psychically, it just wasn't the place for me. Alice McDermott coastaldiegofelt Change image and share on social
I think 'Charming Billy' ultimately is a novel about faith and what we believe in and, above all, what we choose to believe in. Alice McDermott billycharmchoose Change image and share on social
As a writer, you have to put yourself in service to the character, get behind their eyes by delineating the world where the character develops. You have to listen to the character and see him inside his certain world to know what conclusions he would draw. Alice McDermott characterconclusiondelineat share on social
It worries me that undergrads and high school students are forced into books they aren't ready for, like Faulkner's, and then they are afraid of putting their toes in the water again. Alice McDermott afraidbookfaulkner Change image and share on social
Character is primary. What happens as far as plot and events is not as intriguing to me as what's happening inside this particular person. Alice McDermott charactereventhappen Change image and share on social
My children have gone to Catholic school... Part of their whole education is talking about the inner life and looking at your life, even though you're only 15 or 16 - thinking about your mortality, thinking about the value of your life, thinking about your obligations. Alice McDermott catholicchildeducation share on social
Memory is not pure. Memories told are not pure memories; memories told are stories. The storyteller will change them. I've always been interested in that. Alice McDermott changehaveinterest Change image and share on social