One Minute With: George Saunders, short-story writer

 

Friday 11 January 2013 20:00 EST
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Saunders says: 'I think anyone who resembled me would be fated to be the character in a book too dull to publish'
Saunders says: 'I think anyone who resembled me would be fated to be the character in a book too dull to publish'

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Where are you now and what can you see?

I am sitting at my kitchen table, dogs at my feet, and can see – my God, it's indescribable! Angels? Maybe – but these things are more nubile and sexy. And each is astride some sort of mythic beast. And each beast is spewing rare gems and gold coins out its "mouth". Wow. Luckily they just flew off into the rec room.

What are you currently reading?

Before the "angels" arrived, I had just finished 'The Flame Alphabet' by Ben Marcus, which I found astonishingly good and troubling.

Choose a favourite author and say why you admire her/him

I'm going to go with Tolstoy – I just read 'Resurrection' and my God, what a crazy, dark, truthful book.

Describe the room where you usually write

I have a little house that was formerly a tool shed. We rehabbed it and now, as my wife will sometimes lovingly remark, I am "the only tool in the tool-shed."

Which fictional character most resembles you?

I think anyone who resembled me would be fated to be the character in a book too dull to publish.

Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?

My mother.

George Saunders's 'Tenth of December: Stories' is published by Bloomsbury

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