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Monica Ali

Monica Ali Books

Writer

Monica Ali is a British writer renowned for her novel 'Brick Lane', which explores the lives of Bangladeshi immigrants in the UK. Her works often delve into themes of identity, cultural conflict, and women's experiences.

Brick Lane

A source page for quotes linked to Monica Ali.

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In the Kitchen

A source page for quotes linked to Monica Ali.

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Brick Lane: A Novel

A source page for quotes linked to Monica Ali.

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Related Quotes

“All the while, when Nazneen turned to her prayers and tried to empty her mind and accept each new thing with grace or indifference, Chanu worked his own method. He was looking for the same essential thing. But he thought he could grab it from the outside and hold it against his chest like a shield... Where Nazneen turned in, he turned out; where she strove to accept, he was determined to struggle; where she attempted to dull her mind and numb her thoughts, he argued loud; while she wanted to look neither to the past nor to the future, he lived exclusively in both. They took different paths but they had journeyed, so she realized, together.”

Truth Reality Of Life

Book:Brick Lane

Source: Brick Lane

“They were both lost in cities that would not pause even to shrug”

Lost Society London Immigration Bangladesh Foreign

Book:Brick Lane

Source: Brick Lane

“He calls for food. Who will feed me? I, who have fed so many, am hungry. Bring me food. Let there be food. Oysters on a silver salver. He drinks them from their shells. Sweet skewers of pork with a peanut glaze. He tears them with his teeth. Filo parcels of feta and spinach. He breaks them with his hands. His prayer is answered. The feast surrounds him.”

Food For Thought Hunger Feast

Book:In the Kitchen

Source: In the Kitchen

“Spreading rumours is our national past time”

Gossip Waste Of Time Past Time

Book:Brick Lane

Source: Brick Lane

“First, a Livarot, strong and herby, sassy as its green-striped paper casing. For subtle contrast, he went for two dozen Crottin de Chavignol. The cheese man tried to push the Bleu du Vercors. Gabe tasted and rejected it. "Your classic French mountain cheese," said the cheese man. He named three celebrity chefs. "Swear by it, they do, all three. Your classic creamy sauce cheese." Gabe moved about the van, paring and tasting, getting high on the fumes. He had decided he would take a ten-kilo Cantalet that had just enough hazelnut edge without it overwhelming the fresh milk flavor.”

Cheeses Tastings

Book:In the Kitchen

Source: In the Kitchen

“Gabe, did you pray?' 'Sort of.' 'Me too. Do you believe?' 'No. Do you?' 'No.' 'I don't believe,' said Gabriel, 'But I have faith, if you know what I mean.' 'What in?' 'I don't know, life, carrying on, I suppose.' 'Yes.”

Life God Faith Brother And Sister In The Kitchen Monica Ali

Book:In the Kitchen

Source: In the Kitchen

“Sometimes I look back and I am shocked. Everyday of my life I have prepared for success, worked for it, waited for it, and you don't notice how the days pass until nearly a lifetime is finished. Then it hits you--the thing you have been waiting for has already gone by. And it was going in the other direction. It's like I've been waiting on the wrong side of the road for a bus that was already full." p. 265”

Looks Has Beens Sometimes Waiting Sides Gone Prepared Lifetime Everyday Finished Bus Shocked Already Gone

Author:Monica Ali

“She touched his hand for the last time. "Oh, Karim, that we have already done. But always there was a problem between us. How can I explain? I wasn't me, and you weren't you. From the very beginning to the very end, we didn't see things. What we did--we made each other up." p. 382”

Made Ends Done Problem Hands Lasts Touched Last Time

Book:Brick Lane: A Novel

Source: Brick Lane: A Novel

“The thing about getting older is that you don't need everything to be possible any more, you just need things to be certain.”

Needs Certain Getting Older

Author:Monica Ali

“I was always an outsider, always standing outside, observing and trying to figure things out. Which is exactly what you need to do as a writer, I suppose.”

Needs Trying Figures Standing Outsiders Standing Out Observing

Author:Monica Ali

“Writing is a deeply immersive experience. When the words are flying, the house could be burgled and I wouldn’t notice. I have a low boredom threshold and I like intensity – writing is a way of escaping the quotidian.”

Way Writing House Lows Flying Boredom Intensity Threshold Escaping

Author:Monica Ali

“If the culture is so all pervasive that you can’t think outside of it, how are you making genuine choices?”

Ifs Thinking Choices Culture Genuine

Author:Monica Ali

“A new car is not going to change your life.”

Car Changing Your Life New Car

Author:Monica Ali

“I always try to create conflict and drama in my books; it's the engine of the novel.”

Trying Book Novel Drama Conflict Engines

Author:Monica Ali

“I don't want to get hung up on what 'people,' that nebulous mass, think about me. That's the way to unhappiness, I think.”

People Thinking Way Want Mass Unhappiness Hung

Author:Monica Ali

“I rarely get a moment to myself, but I love the way that my agenda is dictated by the children, not my work.”

Way Children Moments Agendas

Author:Monica Ali

“I wish I got a lie-in on Saturday mornings but I never do.”

Lying Wish Morning Saturday Saturday Morning

Author:Monica Ali

“I'm very eclectic in my music tastes - anything from Nina Simone to Beethoven to Talvin Singh.”

Taste Eclectic Nina Eclectic Style Singh

Author:Monica Ali

“People always want to identify a writer with their protagonist.”

People Want Protagonists

Author:Monica Ali

“I get really excited if I think I'm going to introduce somebody to a writer they haven't found before and I think they'll love. My favorite books to get as gifts are any that the giver is messianic about.”

Ifs Thinking Book Found Havens My Favorite Excited Introducing Giver Get Real Favorite Book

Author:Monica Ali

“I guess there's a sort of cycle with writing books. There's all the researching and then the imagining and writing - which is the real job - and then there's always a period when the book comes out and you have to lift your head and venture out.”

Writing Book Real Jobs Periods Lifts Cycles Venture Writing A Book Real Jobs

Author:Monica Ali

“I like Beryl Bainbridge a great deal, and she is a writer who absolutely demands to be read a second, third, and fourth time. I admire her great courage in leaving so much unsaid and asking the reader to really engage her brain.”

Deals Brain Reader Demand Thirds Asking Leaving Admire Fourth Unsaid

Author:Monica Ali

“I started writing 'Brick Lane' when my children were two years and five months old. We were on holiday in the north of England when I was overtaken by a compulsion to start writing.”

Writing Years Children Two Five Months England My Children Holiday Two Years Bricks Compulsion Lanes

Author:Monica Ali

“Kids are naturally inventive and curious and creative, but most adults have had that beaten out of them. Writing is a form of play; you have to get rid of all those internal censors that we adults have, the things that say, 'Don't go there, that's not allowed.”

Writing Play Kids Form Creative Adults Curious Internals Beaten

Author:Monica Ali

“Some writers are more natural public performers than others; personally I find it quite strange giving interviews. But everyone has parts of their job that they like more than others. You can't complain if you get to do what you love doing most of the time, can you?”

Ifs Giving Jobs Natural Strange Complaining Interviews Performers What You Love Giving In

Author:Monica Ali

“You know how if you're born in a certain situation you always expect your life to run on a steady trajectory? I've never really had a sense of that. I assume that life is going to go up and down.”

Ifs Knows Running Life Is Certain Born Situation Know How Assuming Steady Up And Down Trajectory

Author:Monica Ali

About the Author

Born: October 20, 1967
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 26

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Ifs Writing Book Thinking Way Certain Children Jobs Needs People

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Brick LaneRelated source material

In the KitchenRelated source material

Brick Lane: A NovelRelated source material

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