On Not Reading Henry James

"I sometimes feel like I’m not allowed to read. It’s such an indulgence—and here I am, a writer! Certain books are easier to fit into New York life. I find it very hard to read Henry James here. There’s something about the multiple clauses, the almost archaeological quality of his observations, that requires really full attention. And when I can’t give it that attention, I find it hard to understand."

- Jennifer Egan, whose second novel, The Keep, has just been published.