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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Our target as believers is to live an effective life, not just a long one

Play is my Way. Fun is my destiny. Love and joy are my religion.

You can work on healing, uplifting, and changing situations from a place of forgiveness, instead of from a place of resentment. Forgive yourself and everyone, and you are free!

Play before you get good, because by the time you get good, you're too old to play

It was really fun to bring that scene to life. I can't wait to see it at the premiere with the fans.

I have been married for 58 years to the same woman. Our secret? Separate bathrooms.

I am serving the Lord and helping women save babies.

I don't think the potential for comics in nonfiction has been exploited nearly as much as it could be.

My wife's nagging is like living near the airport. After a while you don't notice it any more.

The new energy future is decentralised, entrepreneurial and needs people like you to say 'Give me a clean car, give me solar shingles to put on my roof - give me a clean future'