Frank McCourt

The main thing I am interested in is my experience as a teacher. ”

First of all there is always that artistic challenge of creating something. Or the particular experience to take slum life in that period and make something out of it in the form of a book. And then I felt some kind of responsibility to my family. ”

The sky is the limit. You never have the same experience twice. ”

Autobiography should be more stringent. It should adhere more to the standards of journalism - assuming that journalism has the truth. The memoir gives you more scope, is more poetic, and allows you to play around with your own life. ”

People want real-life stories. ”

When I read about Joyce, I realised that there was no eight-till-one in his life: it was 24 hours a day for him. ”

Every life is a mystery. There is nobody whose life is normal and boring. ”

The uncluttered life is the key to a good memory. ”

I learned the significance of my own insignificant life. ”

I can't go too much into my domestic life because there are ex-wives ready to do me in. ”