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Quote by Danzy Senna

“I didn't read about it for school. It was just for myself. I was interested in cults in general but Jonestown was the most interesting of all the cults I studied.”

Quote by Danzy Senna

Author

Danzy Senna, born in 1970, is an American writer known for her exploration of themes such as race, gender, and social class. Her works are particularly noted for their focus on the black community, particularly women and the younger generation. more

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“I think cults never stop being interesting and I'm intrigued by how we all do a tiny bit of submitting to a larger group - and how they can sneak up on you.”

Thinking Interesting Cult Intrigued Sneak

Author:Danzy Senna

“I guess the subject of race is so natural to me I never think of it as hefty. It's something I talk about and joke about and discuss with my loved ones every day of my life.”

Thinking Natural Jokes Loved Ones

Author:Danzy Senna

“I'm not trying to be coy, but I think everyone notices these things like skin color but some people are more aware that they are noticing them than others, maybe. If that makes sense.”

People Thinking Trying Skins Make Sense Noticing

Author:Danzy Senna

“I think about some of the novels I love - The Stranger, Disgrace, Quicksand and Passing, Giovanni's Room, The Talented Mr. Ripley. I think I'm more intrigued by characters who don't do the right thing and where we are allowed to identify with their shame/dishonesty/envy... whatever.”

Thinking Character Novel Shame Stranger Envy Right Thing Disgrace Dishonesty Intrigued Quicksand

Author:Danzy Senna

“I definitely feel like when I write a book it's not my job to police or guide the readers. The book and the characters don't belong to me anymore. If that makes sense.”

Writing Book Character Police Make Sense

Author:Danzy Senna

“I find myself speaking through the other characters, putting ideas in their voices and heads. Writing almost becomes a splitting of myself into multiple personalities. But I don't write to make an argument on behalf of any of the characters, or to prove anything about a character. I think that's important that I be serving the story first and not my own point of view.”

Thinking Writing Important Character Personality Prove Argument Point Of View Multiple Multiple Personalities

Author:Danzy Senna

“I'm felt I was writing about love and desire and community and belonging and grief and a whole host of other issues. But race is never far from the surface.”

Writing Desire Community Grief Belonging Host

Author:Danzy Senna

“I was influenced growing up by everything from Harlequin romances to Fedor Dostoyevsky and Albert Camus, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and later Lydia Davis, Mary Gaitskill, bell hooks.”

Romance Growing Up Hook Dostoyevsky

Author:Danzy Senna

“In terms of music, each novel is different but I usually find my way into an era through the music. In this novel the New People, I listened to a lot of 90s hip-hop, which was just so genius. Also, all the musical references in the book from the Peoples Temple one and only album to Luther Vandross.”

People Book Different Term Novel Genius Musical My Way Luther

Author:Danzy Senna

“Lawrence Gilliard Jr. is a fine actor and I've always felt some residual guilt that we killed him so early in The Wire. It was always planned that way; we didn't kill him because of anything he did, we don't kill off actors just to do it.”

Author:David Simon