There was never a single murder in my neighbourhood; there was barely a robbery. It was so suburban, it was almost disappointing. Marlon James barelydisappointmurder Change image and share on social
We shouldn't romanticize rejection. There's nothing romantic about rejection. It's horrible. Marlon James horriblerejectionromantic Change image and share on social
A lot of time, I'd spell things in standard English instead of phonetically because I want people to understand what's going on. It's also very lyrical, and the great thing about lyrical prose is even when you're not totally sure of the words, you can be swayed by the musicality of it. Marlon James englishgreatlot share on social
I think, for me, there's The Book I Should Write and The Book I Wanted to Write - and they weren't the same book. The Book I Should Write should be realistic, since I studied English Lit. It should be cultural. It should reflect where I am today. The Book I Wanted to Write would probably include flying women, magic, and all of that. Marlon James bookculturalenglish share on social
Not every gay person recites poetry or has read Keats. You can get readers through anything if the characters are complicated. You can't dismiss Josey Wales' quite liberal worldview. Marlon James charactercomplicatedismiss Change image and share on social
I think the Greeks were the only people ever to nail character. Their heroes are deeply flawed. Marlon James characterdeeplyflawed Change image and share on social
I was the nerd. Because I was reading. I wasn't into sports. I was really into art. Very geekish about comics. Assumed gay. Marlon James artassumecomic Change image and share on social
We're not big on irony in Jamaica, sarcasm and double-talk. We tend to say things plainly, sometimes to the point of boredom. Marlon James bigboredomdouble Change image and share on social
At 28 years old, seven years out of college, I was so convinced that my voice outed me as a fag that I had stopped speaking to people I didn't know. Marlon James collegeconvincefag Change image and share on social
I'm really interested in how non-American countries process race. Marlon James americancountryinterest Change image and share on social