I began reading in French. I didn't read in English until high school.

Immigration, a lexicon. You're a 'migrant' when you're very poor; 'immigrant' when you're not so poor; and 'expat' when you're rich.

Historical novels, in particular, allow us to relive the past without the neatness of history, and with all the complexity of the present.

In some ways, I think it's the closest that we come to the truth — is in the form of fiction.

The universe had an odd sense of fairness; it took away things one did not want to give up, and then gave things one did not ask for.

A name is precious; it carries inside it a language, a history, a set of traditions, a particular way of looking at the world. Losing it meant losing my ties to all those things too.

Thing that was very different for me is that an American child's reading is filled with Americans.

No one wrote better about the sin of pride, the corruption of power and the redemption of love. I will miss you, Gabriel García Márquez.

There are writers I return to no matter what I'm working on, writers like the South African J.M. Coetzee. He has an ability to make you feel that he is writing for you alone.

There is a insularity within American fiction even for adults. It's very tough for books in translation in the US.

I love James Baldwin essays, but also his novels. I recently read "Another Country." I couldn't believe how ahead of his time he was.

Opportunities rarely give second chances.

Get out of your own way... stop the paralysis by analysis... dream your dream... then, WAKE UP and bring it to life!

Unlike any other form of thought, daydreaming is its own reward.

We all grew up idolizing another musician. That's how this works. That's how music is created.

When you don't win games, yeah, you lose confidence. That's normal.

One must learn how to be black in America.

When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting, of course.

Certify border is secure; only then allow guest workers.

I think I've found my passion in life. I'm going to direct a couple of short film on hiatus. That's what I really want to do.

It's OK to figure out murder mysteries, but you shouldn't need to figure out code. You should be able to read it.