I have been reading the interviews in a random order, based on my current readings and interests. Last night, I read the one conducted with Hemingway in the fifties. Apart from the fact that I think the Paris Review is incredible, that is, it's really crazy that I discovered it only a year ago, while it has existed since 1953 and I've missed so many things and I almost feel guilty for not reading it from morning till night, because I have an amazing amount of backlogs and I want to read everything. But then the damned interviews are in English and so I bought the first book in Italian, but I also want the others and I really should make an effort to learn English properly, but I'm digressing...

I was saying, Hemingway... I really felt as if I had barged into his house, on the outskirts of Havana - and I even tried to imagine the wallpaper in his bedroom, the arrangement of the books on his desk, the terse and slightly annoyed answers in a voice that exists only in my imagination. Maybe it's also wrong to interview writers, as he maintained in the interview, because we should simply let the work speak and not pursue myths, and there's already criticism, too much criticism. But Hemingway is a myth for me, like some other authors that I love, that I can't help but want to investigate or know; the truth is that I think there's no one more worthy of respect than a True writer, one who has always known that his destiny was to write and who has put on stage characters who, at the point of death, did not despair for what they had not done, but for what they had not been able to write and still had to say. Yes, I have just finished reading "The Snows of Kilimanjaro".

The Paris Review is so fascinating precisely because it reveals something more about those writers that we love and who, at least for me, are real heroes, who have fought the hardest wars revealing themselves and the world in all those facets of beauty and cruelty that we profane only glimpse (but who knows, one day). For me, literature is sacred and I would never stop intoning hymns, prayers and songs to it.

Interviews contained in the volume:

Dorothy Parker

Truman Capote (****)

Ernest Hemingway (*****)

T. S. Eliot (***)

Saul Bellow (*****)

Jorge Luis Borges

Kurt Vonnegut

James M. Cain

Rebecca West

Elizabeth Bishop

Robert Stone

Robert Gottlieb

Richard Price

Billy Wilder

Jack Gilbert

Joan Didion

This is my absolute go-to book whenever I find myself stuck with writing or reading a story.

I initially bought it for the Dorothy Parker interview, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint one bit. Man, was that woman quick-witted!

However, I soon discovered that the rest of the interviews in the book are just as excellent. Each writer has managed to bring their own unique writing perspective to the interview, while also discussing the universal themes of hard work and innate talent.

It's truly amazing to read the interviews with Vonnegut and Hemingway and see the two men actually agree on a point. Their different writing styles and approaches are so fascinating to compare and contrast, yet they still find common ground on certain aspects of the writing process.

This book is a must-read for any aspiring writer or literature lover. It provides valuable insights and inspiration that can help you break through your creative blocks and take your writing to the next level.

This book is an absolute must-read for writers.

It offers a wealth of valuable insights and practical tips that can help writers of all levels enhance their skills and take their writing to the next level.

The author has a deep understanding of the writing process and shares his or her knowledge in a clear and engaging manner.

Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics of writing or an experienced writer seeking to refine your craft, this book has something for everyone.

It covers a wide range of topics, including character development, plot construction, dialogue writing, and more.

With its easy-to-follow advice and numerous examples, this book is sure to become a trusted resource for writers everywhere.

So if you are serious about improving your writing, don't hesitate to pick up a copy of this book today.

A rich collection of "interviews" awaits within these pages.

The quotes are sourced from a variety of methods. Some of the pieces are skillfully pieced together from several sittings, while others were conducted through the written medium of letter. It seems that all of them were carefully reviewed and edited by the very subjects themselves.

This collection serves to prove the old adage that writers are, in fact, freakin' nuts. It truly is a great book. It's the kind of book that is nice to have around on those days when you find yourself in need of a little reassurance and the comforting presence of companionship. I highly recommend it.

The awarding of the fifth star is due to the fact that some of the writers included in this collection were poets. I must admit that I can't quite relate to the work that they do or the unique way in which they do it.

Nonetheless, their contributions add an interesting and diverse dimension to this already captivating collection of "interviews".

A wonderful collection of The Paris Review interviews awaits. It features all the greats, from Hemingway and Capote to Parker and Vonnegut. Some of these interviews provide deep insights into the writer's creative process, while others share interesting facts about their lives. All of them are intelligent and highly entertaining.

Reading the irreverent interview with Rebecca West is truly a delight. Here are some selected quotes:

On T.S. Eliot: "Goodness! T. S. Eliot, whom I didn't like a bit? He was a poseur. He was married to this woman who was very pretty. My husband and I were asked to see them, and my husband roamed around the flat and there were endless photographs of T. S. Eliot and bits of his poetry done in embroidery by pious American ladies, and only one picture of his wife, and that was when she was getting married. Henry pointed it out to me and said, 'I don't think I like that man.'"

On Somerset Maugham: "He couldn't write for toffee, bless his heart. He wrote conventional short stories, much inferior to the work of other people. But they were much better than his plays, which were too frightful. He was an extremely interesting man, though, not a bit clever or cold or cynical. I know of many affectionate things he did. He had a great capacity for falling in love with the wrong people."

On Ian McEwan's The Cement Garden: "Somebody told me I ought to read a wonderful thing about how a family of children buried Mum in a cellar under concrete and she began to smell. But that's the sole point of the story. Mum just smells. That's all that happens. It is not enough."

On Yeats: "He boomed at you like a foghorn."

She also says all sorts of nice and generous things about people, but those aren't as much fun to repeat.

All interviews (I think) can be found at http://www.theparisreview.org/.

Really read this in two parts.

I picked it up again starting with Robert Stone’s interview. His words were so profound and thought-provoking that they immediately drew me in.

The back half of the collection also had some real gems. The interviews with Robert Gottlieb and Jack Gilbert were among my favorites. Gottlieb’s insights into the publishing world and his experiences working with various authors were truly fascinating.

And Jack Gilbert’s poetry and his thoughts on the creative process were equally inspiring. Reading these interviews made me feel like I was sitting down with these literary giants and having a one-on-one conversation with them.

It was a truly enriching experience and one that I will not soon forget.

I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who has an interest in literature, writing, or the creative process.

These are all excellent interviews as such.

They offer so many fascinating details about the lives and practice of these different authors.

The only downside is how the editors chose to structure the volumes.

There are 4 volumes, but all 4 have a mix of writers from different 'eras'.

I was more interested in the interviews with Dorothy Parker, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, TS Eliot, Saul Bellow and Kurt Vonnegut.

However, I was less so for the interviews with authors that I don't know at all such as Robert Stone, Robert Gottlieb, and Richard Price.

I suppose the benefit of this choice is that I am now a bit curious to look up these authors at some point.

I would recommend looking up specific interviews on the Paris Review website - they are free now!

Better yet - get a subscription to the Paris Review. This way, you can have access to a wealth of literary content and stay updated with the latest interviews and works of great authors.

Whether you are a literature enthusiast or a casual reader, the Paris Review offers something for everyone.

So, don't miss out on this opportunity to explore the world of literature through the eyes of some of the greatest writers of our time.

Logging in this random ass book instead of last winter's TPR edition.

Each short story within it truly merits its own individual review. The overarching theme that weaves throughout is that of womanhood, encompassing the woes and whimsies of existence and delving deep into what it means to be a person.

I have an absolute passion for this book! I love love love love love it!!!!!!!

In particular, I highly recommend "Tap Water" by Mieko Kanai to all of my friends who dream about finding a house and transforming it into a warm and inviting home.

With a heart full of love and a spirit of enthusiasm, I send kisses to all those who might embark on this literary journey.

It's a book that has the power to touch your soul and make you reflect on the many aspects of life and womanhood.

These interviews are truly like a precious gift, or manna, for anyone who has a keen interest in understanding the inner workings of the literary world, presented in a tasteful and engaging volume.

It is completely worth it, especially for the interview with editor Robert Gottlieb. This interview includes testimonials from numerous authors he has edited over the years, which provides fascinating insights into the editor-author relationship.

Here, Michael Crichton shares his perspective on his working relationship with Gottlieb. He says, "There is absolutely no question that I see Bob paternally... there is a lot of jealousy involved in your relationship with your editor. You don't want to walk into the office and see another writer chatting with Bob - you'd want to kill them. So you learn to schedule appointments so you can see Daddy all by yourself."

Another interesting quote comes from the interview with one of my favorite novelists and screenwriters, Richard Price. He discusses the difference between writing for the screen and writing prose. He remarks, "There's an amazing difference between what works on paper and what works in the flesh. Sometimes what can look like breathless dialogue on the page sounds like 'creative writing' in the mouth of an actor... when you read books in which the dialogue seems dead-on and exquisitely truthful to the character, you'd be amazed at how artificial those lines would sound if actually spoken by actors."

And then there's this gem from Ernest Hemingway. When responding to a question about the influence of particular authors on his work, he says, "I'm sorry, I'm no good at these postmortems. There are coroners, literary and nonliterary, provided to deal with such matters."

With quotable goodness on every page, I'm eagerly looking forward to Volume 2!

Wonderful!

This book is truly worth reading, especially for the Rebecca West interview alone. However, it is not just that interview that makes it special. The entire book is full of gems and fascinating people.

Each page seems to hold a new discovery, a new perspective, or a new story that captivates the reader's attention. The author has done an excellent job of bringing these individuals and their ideas to life, making it a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Whether you are interested in literature, history, or simply learning about interesting people, this book has something for everyone. It is a must-read for anyone who loves to explore new ideas and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.

This is a compilation of interviews with the most famous authors in the world. Hemingway, Capote, Faulkner...

It is really cool to discover about their habits and longings and realize that deep down we all (writers) are very similar. It made me feel accepted, determined, and belonging.

These interviews offer a unique glimpse into the minds of literary giants. We can learn about their writing processes, the inspirations behind their works, and the challenges they faced.

By reading these interviews, we can gain a better understanding of the craft of writing and be inspired to pursue our own literary dreams.

Whether you are a professional writer or an aspiring one, this compilation is a must-read. It will make you feel part of a larger community of writers and give you the motivation to keep writing.

What an amazing and highly entertaining read this has been!

It truly served as an inspiration for me. It led me to discover several authors that I wasn't previously acquainted with. Moreover, it provided a fresh perspective on those authors that I already hold dear.

I am now thoroughly enjoying myself with the new issues, eagerly awaiting the release of volume 2. Long live The Paris Review!

It has become a source of great joy and intellectual stimulation for me. I can't wait to see what else this wonderful publication has in store for its readers.