One of the most widely read novels by a black American is Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man.' It is his masterwork - it won the National Book Award in 1953 and catapulted my man to the highest levels of literary esteem. Victor LaValle americanawardblack share on social
Lumpy and lazy; I aspired to lethargy. In the second year of university, I missed half my classes just because I couldn't pull myself out of bed. Victor LaValle aspirebedclass Change image and share on social
I'd read at a much higher-than-average grade level since, well, grade school. Victor LaValle averagegradehigh Change image and share on social
As a 13-year-old fan of horror fiction, I hadn't seen too many cities in the literature I loved. It was always small towns, or backwoods locales, or maybe the suburbs. Victor LaValle backwoodcityfan Change image and share on social
I've spent my life visiting a handful of people who are very close to me when they've been committed to one hospital or another in New York. Victor LaValle closecommithandful Change image and share on social
I like America, where believers eddy around each other like currents of air. Even our atheists are devout! To be an American is to be a believer. I don't have much faith in institutions, but I still believe in people. Victor LaValle airamericaamerican share on social
The people I am most interested in are the ones on the edge of losing everything and falling into the last bit of despair. I'm trying to write about how people exist on that edge and how they can come back. Victor LaValle backbitedespair share on social
Every era needs a genre through which it understands itself. Victor LaValle eragenreunderstand Change image and share on social
The devil that stayed with me most vividly was the one from the cover of Iron Maiden's 'Number of the Beast' album. Victor LaValle albumbeastcover Change image and share on social
'Dark Gods,' T. E. D. Klein's book of four novellas, felt like a godsend - even if it came from a deformed god, one that lurked beneath our sidewalks. Victor LaValle beneathbookdark Change image and share on social
