Mary Karr

Poet

49 Quotes

I tell people not to write too soon about their lives. Writing about yourself too young is loaded with psychological complexities.

I don't have a copy of my books, and the degree to which I never read them is profound. I never look.

I do have a really good memory. I mean, like, I can remember all the phone numbers of everybody on the street I grew up on.

If dysfunction means that a family doesn't work, then every family ambles into some arena in which that happens, where relationships get strained or even break down entirely. We fail each other or disappoint each other. That goes for parents, siblings, kids, marriage partners - the whole enchilada.

I have a completely addictive personality. Diet Coke is my last - God, I know people counting days off Diet Coke; I'm such a Diet Cokehead. Now I won't let myself buy it.

I think we fall in love and become adults and become citizens in a way by writing stories about ourselves.

Having a great dad probably permitted me to pal around with guys in a way that some women don't.

Nobody sounds good writing about your divorce, let's face it.

Most of the people I write about I'm still in touch with, so I would be loath to make up stuff about them.

3 of 3
1 2 3