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" I spent ten years riding motorcycles. "

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" Writing does produce a very unique satisfaction. There are times when I'm writing that it's frustrating or appalling or difficult, but when it goes well, it goes really well, and there is a feeling of rightness, like I'm doing the thing I was meant to do, almost in a mystical way, like I'm at an appropriate angle to the world. "

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" When one is the type of writer who cares about the meaning of the historically specific setting, the history itself is not something that I would call backdrop. It's not window dressing for a timeless relationship about love and betrayal. For me, the setting and the specific history are active co-agents with me in trying to form the novel. "

" I have spent a lot of time in the art world, and I guess I do listen to how people speak. I'm interested in what they say and how they say it. "

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" A lot of politics in art is just institutional critique, which, in my opinion, is not all that political. "

" From 'Midnight Cowboy' to 'Taxi Driver' is a brief era whose grit, beauty, and violence has been quite mythologized. "

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" Flamethrowers have been used by many armies in many wars, including by American Marines in Korea and Vietnam. They cause horrific deaths and are thus a serious public-relations liability. The U.S. military apparently phased them out in 1978. "

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" I spent a huge amount of time by myself. I daydreamed and learned how to be alone and not be lonely. "

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" I know a little bit about motorcycles and motorcycle riding. "