A writer can't subtract or excise any of his/her past because doing so would erase the work produced during that time. Joyce Carol Oates More Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates More Quotes From Joyce Carol Oates I am what would be called a 'mainstream feminist,' not a radical feminist. Joyce Carol Oates mainstream feminist would-be Language is the instrument in all cases and can language be trusted?If it were not for language, could we lie? Joyce Carol Oates cases language lying I could never take the idea of religion very seriously. Joyce Carol Oates ideas I have so many favorite writers, it's very hard to select a few... of classic writers, I have always admired Emily Dickinson and Henry David Thoreau. Joyce Carol Oates david-thoreau select classic Detroit, my 'great' subject, made me the person I am, consequently the writer I am - for better or worse. Joyce Carol Oates detroit persons made Very few writers of distinction in fact were outstanding as undergraduates. Joyce Carol Oates outstanding distinction facts Because the meaning of a story does not lie on its surface, visible and self-defining, does not mean that meaning does not exist. Indeed, the ambiguity of meaning, its inner private quality, may well be part of the writer's vision. Joyce Carol Oates self mean lying Why is humanism not the preeminent belief of humankind? Joyce Carol Oates humanism humankind belief I learned long ago that being Lewis Carroll was infinitely more exciting than being Alice. Joyce Carol Oates long-ago exciting long Among many of my friends and acquaintances, I seem to be one of the very few individuals who felt or feels no ambivalence about my mother. All my feelings for my mother were positive, very strong and abiding. Joyce Carol Oates strong mother feelings The other book that I worry no one reads anymore is James Joyce's Ulysses. It's not easy, but every page is wonderful and repays the effort. I started reading it in high school, but I wasn't really able to grasp it. Then I read it in college. I once spent six weeks in a graduate seminar reading it. It takes that long. That's the problem. No one reads that way anymore. People may spend a week with a book, but not six. Joyce Carol Oates reading book school The folly of war is that it can have no natural end except in the extinction an entire people. Joyce Carol Oates extinction war people celebrate while you can Joyce Carol Oates celebrate For some reason, voters can be brainwashed, and they vote sometimes against their own best interests, let alone voting against the interests of people who need them, like people who are disenfranchised and people who are poor and so forth. Joyce Carol Oates voting people needs On the elusive gift of blending austerity of craft with elasticity of allure. Joyce Carol Oates austerity crafts writing Except that awards are competitive, which is a negative thing, they are wonderful for singling out deserving individuals and bringing their work to the attention of many potential readers who might otherwise have been totally unaware of them. Joyce Carol Oates awards might negative I really love to set things in places that are real to me. Joyce Carol Oates real It seems disingenuous to ask a writer why she, or he, is writing about a violent subject when the world and history are filled with violence. Joyce Carol Oates violence writing world Don't try to anticipate an ideal reader - or any reader. He/she might exist - but is reading someone else. Joyce Carol Oates reading writing trying The punishment – to the body, the brain, the spirit – a man must endure to become even a moderately good boxer is inconceivable to most of us whose idea of personal risk is largely ego-related or emotional. Joyce Carol Oates emotional men ideas
