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One of the ready advantages of writing a road or quest story is that it mirrors the experience of writing a novel.

The business of writing a novel is a long, meandering road into the self, into the imagination. And it's a road the writer travels alone.

I don't think you can write novels on the road. You need a certain stability.

Traveling to Europe and traveling in the U.S.A. was a much different experience. 'On the Road' exemplified everything glamorous that was happening on this side of the planet. The book puts off some kind of sweet melody - part hope for the world, part nostalgic.

I have no doubt that 'On the Road' is a Great American Novel. But I'm also certain my students will do fine without it.

The mirror to the beautiful is beautiful.

The road, lyric-wise, is a trap, and a bore. Maybe it's interesting to me, but I don't think it's a connecting thing with other humans. What is there to write about? Truck stops, hotels, clubs?

Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

When you seek out - or seek to avoid - your own reflection, the modern city becomes a hall of mirrors: car windows, reflective walls, and plate glass are everywhere, transmitting a cacophony of different versions of you - this one too short, that one too wide, another one with a sickly color you've never seen before.

I think 'The Road' is a good example of a book everyone should read, but I wouldn't recommend it to young kids.