I think there's a joy to be had in taking readers where they just don't want to go. If you are writing a properly realist novel, then don't blink. Why not see something for what it is and render it truthfully? I find it a good way of going about writing - not to blink. Neel Mukherjee blinkfindgood share on social
Remember that what seems zeitgeisty today is the cause of tomorrow's bafflement or, worse, ridicule. Neel Mukherjee badlybafflementremember Change image and share on social
The freedom fighters in India's long struggle for independence from British rule, or members of the African National Congress, were once classed as terrorists. History, as they say, is written by victors, but history also has many cunning corridors - how much time must elapse before all those tricky side-passages are revealed? Neel Mukherjee africanbritishclass share on social
I have one very bad experience with a U.K. publisher, who gave it out to be understood that she wanted to publish my book and made me do a lot of changes, all outside a contract, only to reject it in the end. Neel Mukherjee badbookcontract share on social
I start with theory rather than people. I don't like novels which have no theoretical or philosophical underpinning. I hate the contemporary novel where people just sit and talk to each other about their relationships. Neel Mukherjee contemporaryhatenovel share on social
Meat-fetishiser that I was, I used to find willed vegetarianism inexplicable. It was one thing to be a vegetarian because of religious and caste reasons - something I was familiar with because of my Indian upbringing - but to choose to be a vegetarian when you could eat meat for every meal every day? That seemed madness to me. Neel Mukherjee castechooseday share on social
Writing a book is as difficult or as easy as any other job. Everyone's job is difficult. So to fetishize difficulties in writing as something extra-difficult or something very privileged - I don't buy that at all. Neel Mukherjee bookbuydifficult share on social
It's always good to get good reviews. I read my reviews. There are a lot of writers who don't read their reviews at all. I read them; then I put them away because it's not good to engage with them too much. Neel Mukherjee engagegoodlot share on social
Innocence is a pretty dangerous thing, you know. Revisit Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot' or, for that matter, Greene's 'The Quiet American' to find out how destructive it can be. Neel Mukherjee americandangerousdestructive Change image and share on social
Work defines our lives and our place in the world. Neel Mukherjee defineliveplace Change image and share on social