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Colm Toibin Quotes


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Quotes by Colm Toibin

Showing 21-30 of 60 Quotes by Colm Toibin

The Roman Catholic Church and its rituals were so much part of life that, although my parents would often question a small matter of dogma and none of us seemed more religious than anyone else, no one ever questioned the rituals or the basic tenets of belief.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Although Anyone Anyone Else Basic Belief Catholic Catholic Church Church Dogma Else Ever Life Matter More Much None Often Parents Part Question Questioned Religious Rituals Roman Roman Catholic Seemed Small Than Us Were Would

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In Ireland, novels and plays still have a strange force. The writing of fiction and the creation of theatrical images can affect life there more powerfully and stealthily than speeches, or even legislation. Imagined worlds can lodge deeply in the private sphere, dislodging much else, especially when the public sphere is fragile.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Affect Creation Deeply Else Even Fiction Force Fragile Images Imagined Ireland Legislation Life Lodge More Much Novels Plays Private Public Speeches Sphere Still Strange Than Theatrical Worlds Writing

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I wrote every day between the ages of 12 and 20 when I stopped because I went to Barcelona, where life was too exciting to write.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Ages Barcelona Because Between Day Every Every Day Exciting Life Stopped Too Where Write Wrote

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John McGovern taught me that it's OK to write repeatedly about the same things.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: About John Me Ok Repeatedly Same Same Things Taught Things Write

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Look at Austen. In her novels, you get a dance, followed by an encounter, followed by a letter, then a period of solitude. No flashbacks and no backstory. Let's have no more back story!

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Austen Back Dance Encounter Followed Get Her Letter Look More Novels Period Solitude Story Then You

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Between the time I was 16 until I was about 20, the books I read were by people like Thomas Mann, James Baldwin, Thom Gunn, Elizabeth Bishop. All gay, of course, although I swear I didn't know that at the time. Yet all of them, it turned out, had had a parent who died during their childhood. Sexuality is nothing compared to that.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: About Although Between Bishop Books Childhood Compared Course Died Elizabeth Gay Had James Know Like Nothing Out Parent People Read Sexuality Swear Them Thom Thomas Time Turned Until Were Who

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When a book comes from the publisher and you see it for the first time... Of course it's not remotely like seeing a baby for the first time, but I can remember with each book what room I was in when I opened it. That would be excitement, though, I think. Not pride.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Baby Book Course Each Excitement First First Time Like Opened Pride Publisher Remember Remotely Room See Seeing Think Though Time Would You I Think I Can

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I suppose one should have an integrated personality, but I've never really seen the point.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Integrated Never Personality Point Really Seen Should Suppose

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Solitude is good in the evening. Dublin is a quiet city when you get to a certain age, when your friends settle down and have kids. Nothing much happens here.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Age Certain Certain Age City Down Dublin Evening Friends Get Good Happens Here Kids Much Nothing Quiet Settle Solitude You Your

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Suffering is too strong a word, but writing is serious work. I pull the stuff up from me - it's not as if it's a pleasure.

~Colm Toibin

Topics: Me Pleasure Pull Serious Strong Stuff Suffering Too Up Word Work Writing

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Biography

Nationality: Irish

Type: Novelist

Born: May 30th, 1955

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Find Colm Toibin on Amazon

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