“I think my mother's and Granny's storytelling had had the same effect upon me when a child, as the reading of books: my mind was stimulated, my creativity encouraged.”

“I am ashamed to say this, but as a child, neither my parents not my teachers pushed me to read. In fact, I did not read an entire book through until I was a grown man and had learned the awesome power of reading on my own.”

“My protagonists are my mother's voice and the mind I had when I was thirteen.”

“Unbelievable. My mother had the exact same mentality as my friends. When in doubt, be a bitch.”

“it seemed to me that I had never metanother person on earthas discouraging to my happinessas my father.and it appeared that I hadthe same effect uponhim.”

“When my mother would tell me that she wanted me to have something because she as a child had never had it, I wanted, or I partly wanted, to give it back. All my life I continued to feel that bliss for me would have to imply my mother's deprivation or sacrifice. I don't think it would have occurred to her what a double emotion I felt, and indeed I know that it was being unfair to her, for what she said was simply the truth.”