When I was growing up in Chicago, my family and I used to go to a local chain, Hackney’s, for burgers and their French fried onion loaf. I probably haven’t been to one in 25 years, and yet, I once saw Donald Trump from behind in an office building and the first thing that flashed in my mind was his hair looked like that onion loaf. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
I check my phone first thing when I wake up in the morning. I usually take it up with me to bed so it’s on the floor next to the bed, although not actually in bed with me, because I really do not want to be the person who sleeps with their phone. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
In addition to public housing, South Williamsburg is home to shabby artists’ lofts like mine, apartments of Hasidic Jews, and one extremely tall, high-priced condo. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
Most of my writer friends are women, and they’re all extremely talented, so of course I think the state of contemporary fiction for women is pretty great. Which is to say there is a ton of amazing work out there. These women are writing hard. There’s much to be said. We’re on it, chief. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
Maybe just as many women writers as male writers could be billed as the next great American writer by their publisher. Maybe book criticism sections could review an equal amount of female and male writers. Maybe Oprah could start putting some books by women authors in her book club, since most of her audience is women. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
I always tell people this when they’re looking for an agent – they should love your work. You are entitled to work with someone who believes in you. Why do business with someone who is ambivalent about you and your art? Jami Attenberg Read Quote
I was fat because I lived in the Midwest in the 1970s, and everyone was a little fat then and only getting fatter. Jami Attenberg Read Quote
