“I [read] "The Book of Unknown Americans," which is by a friend of mine, Cristina Henriquez, and is about two Latino, immigrant families who live in Delaware. I'm interested in reading things from different perspectives.” TwoBookDifferentReadingMinesPerspectiveImmigrantsLatinoDifferent PerspectiveDelaware Author:Laila Lalami
“When I was a child, I was reading books filled with people different from me, all French, all foreigners. There was a sense of disconnect between my sense of imagination and the world around me, which I don't think is common for Americans. It forces you to learn to look at the world through other people's eyes.” PeopleThinkingWorldLooksChildrenBookDifferentEyeReadingForceImaginationCommonFilledReading BooksForeigners Author:Laila Lalami
“There is a insularity within American fiction even for adults. It's very tough for books in translation in the US.” BookFictionAdultsToughTranslationsInsularity Author:Laila Lalami
“Few [books] get translated and the ones that do have trouble making it into the mainstream. It's more likely that Americans will discover another culture through an American writer rather read a writer from that culture.” BookCultureTroubleMainstreamAmerican WriterTrouble Making Author:Laila Lalami
“The ones that were relevant while I wrote my book were books like "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, which is based on a historical fact, "Ragtime" by E.L. Doctorow, and "True History of the Kelly Gang" by Peter Carey.” BookFactsHistoricalBelovedRelevantPeterGangHistorical FactsRagtime Author:Laila Lalami
“Every book leaves its mark on you. It might leave you hungry for that kind of book or you may be satiated, and you're eager to read something else. It might send you in a completely different direction. I love that about reading.” KindMayBookDifferentMightReadingMarkHungryDifferent Directions Author:Laila Lalami
