There’s an interesting article about Zadie Smith, author of White Teeth, in the New York Times. I particularly enjoyed this quote. I see so much truth in it. She is discussing the culture of fame.
“Everything in the culture is so hysterical. Everything is fantastic, or it’s the worst thing; you should either be given a Nobel Prize or shot at dawn.”
The article ends with her saying something which gave me a chill up my spine. Love this:
“I’m influenced by everything I read, shamelessly. In a review someone said, `Oh, she sounds very much like Amis.’ I was flattered by that. I love Amis. Thank you very much. I think if I carry on plagiarizing for 15 years, it will settle like silt, and I’ll write something really great.”
