I seem to have to make my characters family before I can access their hearts in any way that matters.

So the kind of boy I was, or that I was told to be, you were kind of this like half-gladiator, half-dude who, you know, was supposed to have as many girls as possible and work until your heart exploded, have no fear, you know.

I act most like myself... when I'm in my hometown, Santo Domingo. I try to get there about five times a year.

The one thing about being a dude and writing from a female perspective is that the baseline is, you suck. The baseline is it takes so long for you to work those atrophied muscles - for you to get on parity with what women's representations of men are.

You see, in my view a writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway.

I discovered early that as an artist there was absolutely nothing wrong with being surrounded by people who were not dedicated to your field.

Even I thought I would be a writer who put something out every year. But that's not how it worked out.

I'm of African descent and my sister looks completely black, but I didn't look black. I was the super-nerdy kid who was also willing to fight.

I wring my hands because I know that as a dude, my privilege, my long-term deficiencies work against me in writing women, no matter how hard I try and how talented I am.

If you, like, consciously think about being cool, you're not cool. If you consciously think about being, like, different or original, you ain't different or original.

I love 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X.' That was like the only black book we read in high school.

I sleep way too much and I read tremendously.

I write incredibly slowly. And, on top of that, I spent my entire youth and twenties working like a dog, so one of the things that happened when I finished 'Drown' was that I got busy living. I'd never travelled, I'd never seen anything. So I did as much travelling as my job teaching would allow.

I always individuate myself from other writers who say they would die if they couldn't write. For me, I'd die if I couldn't read.

I didn't start writing until late high school and then I was just diddling. Mainly I loved to read and my writing was an outgrowth of that.

I am a person who dreads any kind of public exposure and any kind of public event. I spend all day, if I have to do a reading, preparing.

I can always tell if someone's from Harvard because they trot out their vitae. I would die at Harvard.

You never forget the discovery years. First kisses. The first time you try certain foods.

My father was a trigamist; he supported three families. We were never not poor.

Even Gerd Muller, the top scorer in our nation's history, was not perfect.

You cannot underestimate any team that has qualified for a semi-final.

I wish Pep Guardiola the best. I rate him.

The perfect striker does not exist.

Bayern know how to celebrate on a big scale.

It's very interesting to observe how highly the Bundesliga is spoken of abroad, from the overall quality to the stadiums, the family-friendly atmosphere, and the football itself.

You cannot play the position Kroos plays in defensive midfield besides Luka Modric better than he does.

Football is business. It's all about being quick, quick, quick - nobody has any patience nowadays. But then again, that is how things are in normal life, away from football.

I alone will decide when I'm retiring.

What is the definition of the 'between player'? I have never heard of it, and I have been around for quite a few years.

Any opponent can be a stumbling block.

Tuchel became runner-up, cup winner, and played attractive football. I enjoyed watching his BVB. That's why I appreciate him and consider him a very good coach.

It's not very wise to keep a player who has just one year left on his contract and really wants to leave.

I know myself that we goalscorers are selfish and always thinking about our goalscoring ratio.

I think that Thomas Tuchel has the quality to train a Bayern.

Paul Pogba cost Manchester United €105 million. Does he play like this?

Arsene Wenger has not just brought success to Arsenal. He is a very creative manager, producing almost fantasy football.

The Champions League is special. You play at a higher level, so you have to be very focused and have greater motivation.

I appreciate Thomas Tuchel. He made his way through the ranks at Mainz from the youth teams.

A coach must be at one with his players.

I think that the Bayern coach is the second hardest job in Germany after the Chancellor.

Bayern are so dominant that other teams aim for us.

You should never surrender, never give up.

Our standards at Bayern are extremely high, with every training session at very high intensity.

I'm keeping myself busy with hobbies and sport. I have my animals and a huge garden.

The way Cristiano Ronaldo plays is incredible.

Please respect me and my work.

I know Spain football very well, because I've always been interested in it, even after I left Spain.

Robert Lewandowski is a player who plays in front of the opposing goal, especially with his back to the opponent. He is always attacked, and this is one of the big strength of a striker who plays in this position.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who often plays on the left side and moves between the lines.

I regard Buffon as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football. He is a legend for me, a fantastic man, and an excellent goalkeeper.