Books Quote by David Shields
“To be honest, there are parts of 'How Literature Saved My Life' that began as interviews. Someone was telling me that they think the book sounds very phonic: that it sounds like me speaking. And I don't think it's a coincidence that there are six to ten passages that I cadged from various interviews that I did post-'Reality Hunger'.”
About This Quote
Source Book: How Literature Saved My Life (2015)
He reveals that parts of his book originated from interviews, noting a phonetic similarity to his own voice, suggesting authenticity.
In simple terms: Interviews shaped his book’s voice.
Key Takeaway
Embrace authentic sources in writing.
Themes
writing
authenticity
interviews
Mood
introspective
analytical
Type
literary
memoir
When to use this quote
- author interviews
- creative process
- literary nonfiction
Key Concepts
literary criticism
voice
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do interviews influence narrative voice?
- What is the role of authenticity in memoir?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on interviews may limit originality.
![“It would have been impossible for me to have told anyone what I derived from these novels, for it was nothing less than a sense of life itself. [...] It had been only through books - at best, no more than vicarious cultural transfusions - that I had managed to keep myself alive in a negatively…” quote by Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/richard-wright-4088_abiding_it-would-have-been-impossible-for-me-to_1216827.jpg)
