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Michael Ondaatje Quotes

Novelist

Michael Ondaatje, born on September 12, 1943, is a renowned Canadian novelist. His works are known for their unique narrative style and profound emotional expression, with notable titles including 'In the Skin of a Lion' and 'The English Patient'.

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Famous Michael Ondaatje Quotes

“-I think you are inhuman. If I leave you, who will you go to? Would you find another lover? I said nothing. -Deny it,damn you!”

Love Romance Novel Desert Michael Ondaatje The English Patient

Book:The English Patient

Source: The English Patient

“I went mad before he did, you killed everything in me. Kiss me,will you. Stop defending yourself.”

Love Romance Novel Michael Ondaatje The English Patient Almasy Katharine

Book:The English Patient

Source: The English Patient

“When I write my novels I don't really have a huge plan beforehand; I don't have the whole plot and architecture, so the story is sort of discovered as I write it.”

Writing Whole Stories Novel Plans Huge Architecture Plot

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“As someone who writes novels that are often set in other periods of time or other ages or other landscapes, there's a certain element of research I have to do, and often, the more laconic people are, the more interesting they become.”

People Writing Age Interesting Novel

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“When I began to write novels, I wanted to keep that element of interaction with the reader that exists in poetry, not just for the reader to be shepherded from A to B to C to D but to participate, and the less you say sometimes, the better it is. You know, it's the way when someone speaks very quietly, you move forward so you can listen more carefully.”

Writing Sometimes Moving Speak Novel Moving Forward

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“A novel is a mirror walking down a road”

Novel Walking Mirrors

Book:The English Patient

Source: The English Patient

“The first sentence of every novel should be: Trust me, this will take time but there is order here, very faint, very human.”

Should Firsts Humans Order Novel Trust Sentences Take Time Trust Me

Book:In the Skin of a Lion

Source: In the Skin of a Lion

“One of the things that happens in novels it's almost like a continual debate with yourself. That's why you're writing the book. It's why you create characters: so you can argue with yourself.”

Writing Book Character Happens Novel Arguing Debate

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the cubist novel.”

States Perfect Views Novel Point Of View

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“I see the poem or the novel ending with an open door.”

Writing Novel Doors

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“I don't see novels ending with any real sense of closure.”

Real Novel Closure

Author:Michael Ondaatje

“You want to suggest something new, but at the same time, resolve the drama of the action in the novel.”

Want Action Novel Drama Something New Resolve

Author:Michael Ondaatje

About the Author

Born: September 12, 1943
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 200

Books & Sources

The English PatientRelated source material

DivisaderoRelated source material

In the Skin of a LionRelated source material

The Cat's TableRelated source material

Running in the FamilyRelated source material

Coming Through SlaughterRelated source material

The English Patient: A NovelRelated source material

The English Patient: Special EditionRelated source material

WarlightRelated source material

Anil's GhostRelated source material

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