Chang-rae Lee

"Ive always been compelled by the notions of context and individuality. This interest has been expressed in different ways across my books, but I think Ive been consistently fascinated the question of persons who find themselves in a context that either fits too well or doesnt fit at all, by persons who feel they exist simultaneously inside and outside of a cultural or political space. It’s no surprise that as an immigrant Ive always been extra conscious of this interplay."

"Even though I went to Exeter and Yale, and I enjoyed all the trappings of those places, I think at the same time – and maybe its because Im an immigrant kid and not white – there was always this other consciousness; that is, I was conscious of everything that was going on. And I was observing. Some people just ARE, because the temperature of the water is exactly the temperature of their body…But my temperature is always off, a little bit. And I have to note it. And I always did, from a very young age. I dont know if thats my character or upbringing or both."

"One of the things thats so frustrating about it is that people who are Asian-American and who are non Asian-American assume that sometimes. And I think sometimes the implication is that “Oh, you really didnt have to create that, that was just something that you recounted.” You know, that recounted stories are much more easy and simple to write than stuff thats completely made up. And I think thats one of the things that sometimes, particularly ethnic American writers face because they write about people who look like them and then people automatically assume that its people who are them or someone in their family…"

"Almost all of western literature is about talk…Theres this great line in Beckett: keep talking, youre winning. And somehow I wanted to subvert that; the need to constantly express and put your verbal and psychological stamp on everything…You dont always have to talk."

"Well the voices, for me especially in first person story-telling, the voice is of primary importance. And the voice reflects and articulates that particular character and what that particular character is interested in and troubled by, and so the voices are different because the people are different. It seems to be an obvious thing to say but it has to be said…"