Donna Tartt: "I've tried to write faster and I don't really enjoy it"

[@zo626]

If it takes her a decade to write books as good as hers, then that's how it is. I'd rather wait ten years for an excellent book than five years for a decent one.

[@handsomesttruebeautybodygu7263]

Don't overgeneralize. People have written masterpieces in a short period of time

[@angel79nunn]

@@handsomesttruebeautybodygu7263 your right but that wasn't the point

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Her books are overrated midwit material lmao

[@sabiha.sayeed]

@@handsomesttruebeautybodygu7263 Zoey isn't generalising at all. She is saying that if Donna Tartt rushed to write a book in 5 years, it would only be a decent one rather than the great work Tartt produces in 10 years.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

@@handsomesttruebeautybodygu7263 are you being stupid on purpose? we're talking about HER, not any other author.

[@spd13062]

This woman is a literary wonder. The Secret History was so good I did not think it could be topped, The Goldfinch is right up there with it. Some writers you will read whatever they release to the world....Donna is one of them.

[@Exayevie]

I need to talk to her. I want to write like that.

[@harrietmikhailanavolkovoy9417]

I am dying to read The Little Friend. Heard great news about it.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

i find the goldfinch way too surreal in a corny postmodernist way. i dont like unrealistic stories.

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@elizabethbennet4791 Same here. The juxtaposition of modern, sliding-downhill Las Vegas and old Europe wasn't pleasing to me. I've never re-read "The Goldfinch." But "The Secret History" and "The Little Friend" have been read and re-read. The latter is very different from the former. There is no pinning down Ms. Tartt.

[@Books-and-coffee0]

I love the fact that she writes books for her own satisfaction in her own time span. There are plenty of authors who should follow her example.

[@LeonieLawliet]

"What is the writer's life that is so satisfying to you?" Tartt: "Well, to be able to daydream all day." Amazing answer. Raw honesty.

[@mackfarlainethebarenakedau5113]

And I would have included freedom in that answer. Because to me, writing is tantamount to growing wings and soaring through the air, open, carefree, and impossible to stop.

[@FleurPillager]

It's evident that she crafts each paragraph with love. I love that you can open any of her books, randomly choose a paragraph and it's perfect.

[@basitissah9790]

When she said “Writing a book is one level deeper than reading a book...” I’m quite sure he smiled because she’d said the exact same thing to him about two decades prior.

[@JuanPabloSelvaje]

She's an absolute master. I've never read an English-speaking author with such a control of their language and their pacing.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

shes likely autistic. i see those traits in many autitics as myself. she's very controlled and metered and the way she thinks is extremely deliberate.

[@nmaurok]

Then you haven't read much

[@JuanPabloSelvaje]

@@nmaurok Pointlessly rude response to a 6 year old comment. Grow up.

[@JuanPabloSelvaje]

@Silk Sonic It’s not uncommon but it’s such a weird practice to me, especially since the dude was responding so aggressively to such an innocuous comment. I don’t get why people walk around with so much hostility.

[@hcaprice4150]

@@JuanPabloSelvaje heyy don't take those comments seriously, they're boring people who like to feed hate online. i completely agree with you, her books are astonishing

[@fishwizard72]

Don't ever change, Donna Tartt. You are fantastic.

[@backroomgentleman]

If she writes another novel as good as The Goldfinch, I'll wait 10 years for it. That book was one of the best things I have ever read. As I was getting close to the end, I was wishing there were another 800+ pages left.

[@aleshabullen4806]

I can’t wait to read it!!

[@ruthsymons41]

Still love reading her books many times over The film of the Goldfinch was so disappointing. Totally missed the lovely relationships and complications Theo has with Hobie and Pippa!

[@lazyitus]

yep. I just finished the audiobook. almost 33 hours long. when I had about 3 hours left to go I began wishing it wouldn't end so soon.

[@FreakieFan]

She takes so long, but it's evident in her work. You can open any of her books at random, pick a sentence, and it's a beautiful masterpiece.

[@fantasticmagical]

I love how I can just barely hear the Mississippi in her voice. Just when you wonder where it is, it pops up. Donna Tartt is such a fascinating human being.

[@AM-br4ix]

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul for her as a writer!!

[@michaelcastro6731]

I just started reading ' The Secret History' which is so well written that it is a book that is hard to put down. It just keeps drawing me in and I keep reading chapter after chapter. I can't believe I hadn't read any of her books before.

[@angel79nunn]

Same I'd call it one of my favourite books

[@Space.Panda1805]

Her last book was in 2013, now it's 2024, probably we have something more. Crossing fingers, guys!!

[@johnrichards6080]

Sincere, smart, honest, unique and beautiful.

[@morganblackwood9263]

So in love with this brain, and her sweet-fierce mentality. A goddess.

[@cathalmacsiurdain7762]

She's a wonderful storyteller and I adore that in a novelist. Lying in bed at night when my wife and children are sound asleep and the house is quiet with a great novel in my hands. I look forward to her next work.

[@InHerLittleWay]

In a world where published authors are pumping mediocre, forgettable novels every year, be a Donna Tartt. I’m reading her debut novel, almost at the halfway mark, and I can feel the passion put into this book. Donna writes with intention which you don’t see a lot in authors today. The publishing world has changed so much in the last 30 years and very few authors have stayed true to being an authentic storyteller. Eagerly awaiting for the next Donna Tartt novel!

[@piripi40]

The Goldfinch is a brilliant book, no doubt about that. Amazing that somebody described as a recluse can write convincingly about so many different scenes and people.

[@lautaroaguirre5474]

"Why This Painting?" TALK OVER THE EXPLANATION

[@nunh]

So many people do this (myself included - actually especially myself) - drove me made hearing this - seeing this!

[@marchmont5918]

Charlie Rose does do this quite often!

[@mj2625]

The intelligence behind her eyes is almost staggering. I wish interviewers would let her speak long enough.

[@reginaldamedee7433]

Just finished reading the Secret History. A great book.

[@analeticiadeleon2137]

This is a very condescending interview and yet she was extremely gracious with her responses.

[@joejones9520]

he had "other things" on his mind....

[@sciencevsromancenet]

A little sad that her only interview is a few minutes with someone who didn't read the book.

[@smmrgrl9611]

her eyes are so pretty

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Was only last summer I was at B&N browsing books as usual and I picked up the Goldfinch book, being a lover of epic novels, great stories worth their time sometimes are hard to find. I started researching her books online and as a start, decided to read A SECRET HISTORY first. Little did I know I had found possibly the greatest read ever. Tartt truly writes from the heart with feeling, she is a master at character creation, pulling you into the story so hard I could think of the characters at times when not reading. Look forward to reading Goldfinch this year.

[@RoseJacksonHRJ]

She’s so charismatic and mysterious.

[@Brandon-eh4tz]

Sounds like Leonard Cohen who would take years to complete songs, one of the greatest musicians of all time in my opinion. In the world of film greats you have James Cameron and Stanley Kubrick, both taking ages to release a new film, especially later into their career. Time is our most valuable asset so devoting so much of it to one novel, song, or film is significant. I have never read a book by Ms. Tartt but I am so looking forward to doing so now. She seems like one of the masters of her craft.

[@EvelinHutton]

It's been 10 years now, so I'm dying to see if there's a new one coming out ugh!

[@justme-bb6lk]

Its almost time for a new book!!!! cant wait :))

[@missflowerchild3472]

I love her. She's one of a kind and original.

[@herbivor43]

Donna Tartt's prowess as an author and sotry teller is superior to anyone else I've ever read. Chilling mastery to say the very least.

[@paulelliott3220]

I'm about 3/4's through this and it's a fabulous read Compelling, witty, rich with pathos, great use of language and features a great many wonderful characters Her pace of writing bothers me not at all I'd rather quality than quantity and you can feel this on every page of Donna's work Great great great

[@difjaoisdjfoaisjdfoaiogeis]

Her style is amazing. And her books, of course.

[@emorsi]

For me she is just the best. My absolute favorite author. There is nothing to add here.

[@anaf9001]

a decade doens't feel like a lot when you've been waiting 11+ years to the thrid part of the kingkiller chronicles. But Donna is just brilliant

[@TomorrowWeLive]

She's extremely privileged to be able to take ten years to write a book. Most writers must turn out a book every year or two just as a matter of economic necessity.

[@xefnu]

I believe is because each book is such a big success and even 30 yrs later The secret History is as popular

[@l.w.paradis2108]

When she said how much fun it is to write and how being a writer has surpassed her wildest dreams, I knew: an honest person. Love her.

[@freyasimmons]

The wait is so worth the incredible stories

[@nunh]

Her book The Secret History is my favorite books of all-time. I think she is one of the best of not the best writer of our times. I also find her extremely beautiful - while that is not important I think it is kind of neat how I love my fellow human being's intelligence with looks that match (such as my wonderfully intelligent and quite beautiful wife).

[@PrentedImNotHere]

Saying The Secret History has a “cult like following” is very ironic to those who have read it lol

[@Dr.VonBraun]

Love Donna. Have since 1999 when I read her first book. ❤️

[@paulaatchison6492]

Loved the interview. Love Charlie and how he is enamoured of her work. Looking forward to reading her books. Amazing interview. She has a very interesting and clear mind I was very drawn to in this interview. WOW!

[@elizabethbennet4791]

i love it....not a huge fan as Im more a Thomas Hardy fan but her stories ARE gripping to read....knowing now that Im autistic, she strikes me as such as well. A few thraits stood out to me. Her long transition to mood process and way she copies people near her.

[@mt.shasta6097]

Believe it or not, Donna Tartt was a high school cheerleader. She's very good at everything she does.

[@serena259]

i love her and her process

[@lazyitus]

I love her voice and accent. I just saw that she reads the True Grit audiobook. I'll be listening to that soon. I wish she'd read The Goldfinch too. Her performance of The Secret History audiobook is awesome.

[@larrycarr4562]

I never heard of Tart until I read she was a big fan of the writings of Charles Portis… she has excellent tastes. I consider Portis as one of the top American writers of the 20 century… read all his stuff, except True Grit. Which led me to Donna, read her Secret History last year -excellent. I’ve been staring at her big thick copy of Goldfinch on my nightstand for several months… need to put down my kindle (too much Maigret, and Parker) and get going. Read Portis!…

[@lazyitus]

@@larrycarr4562 I thoroughly enjoyed True Grit. I'll try to check out more Portis.

[@naiaemmyras]

i think there is something so intricrate about her process that she wasn't able to articulate it enough in these open-ended questions, and even if she had been able to, she wouldn't have the enough time to do it because these people from the tv just wants to see a glimpse of her because she has made herself to be mysterious and peculiar and yet when you see her here, she gives you these almost superficial answers that barely means anything because deep down i think she thinks these people wouldn't want to take an insight about her writing to that extent either, and i personally think there is something so funny about it and yet so elegant of donna tartt

[@Walklikeaduck111]

I loved little friend the most of all her books ..

[@nowheregirl921]

I am hating this interviewer. Let Donna speak!

[@leavesofchange]

You Americans! He’s hilarious, like he’s wandered off doing a movie with John Wayne in 1972. Where did he come from? Do you actually have men like this for real?

[@uPSIDEdOWN577]

She’s a genius to say the least.

[@lindaklase3821]

DONNA TARTT IS A GENIUS. BRILLIANT.

[@shethewriter]

"All truly great art has that double-ness"--Donna Tartt Gotta remember that one....

[@pridden76]

She doesn´t have to write faster. Think of all these celebrities who decide to be a writer and write a crappy novel in 6 months, and then on to something else. Ugh.

[@aaronying4989]

pridden76 oh I know I can’t stand that!! lol it’s terrible and gross. 😂

[@mt.shasta6097]

All those woman mystery writers, cranking out mediocre trash for the masses. And worse, the romance writers!

[@cinimod351]

I think the interviewer should explain the books she writes every decade are epic sized and are really three books in one. Anyway, love Donna tartt, and savor everything she writes!

[@CHIPIONES]

I'm enjoying every single page of her new book. I just love this woman.

[@elainewadsworth5548]

I really hope I am still around to read her next novel or two. Ĺost in her books, such a good feeling.

[@thelaurels13]

I’m reading The Secret History right now and around 250 pages in so far. It’s a book when I close it I cannot wait to open it again, it has me gripped.

[@nixbronowski5822]

Takes her time..as an Artist..INSPIRED!

[@Dorypowa]

Her books...just perfect...I fall in love with all of her person, she's so fascinating. And I love her little voice, so charming =)

[@Dorypowa]

LOL maybe the french translation is more literary (I'm french) but I don't think so... And more generally, the power of literature (as an art) does not depend only on the writing level but on the way you master/undestand your style to go over it. The meaning of words and the story are also very important for a good writer, according to me but maybe you can tell me why you think that?

[@7_ty_]

S Huggins I personally disagree. Her writing style is easy to read and understand but it’s also beautiful and descriptive as well. Never have I read an author whose descriptions of loneliness, grief and depression connect with me so well: “But sometimes, unexpectedly, grief pounded over me in waves that left me gasping; and when the waves washed back, I found myself looking out over a brackish wreck which was illumined in a light so lucid, so heartsick and empty, that I could hardly remember that the world had ever been anything but dead.” - Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch

[@harrisonmccartney4878]

I really enjoy writers who pour their time and effort into crafting great works rather than writers who just scribble out their next "bestseller" to meet a deadline. Sometimes great works come like a flash of lightning (Grapes of Wrath is a classic example), but many others take time and committment, and I'm glad that Donna takes her time to really make sure she publishes something to be proud of instead of just chruning books out for the sake of sales.

[@casxsunshine]

i'm in love with donna, she's such a great writer and person

[@al-muthannaathamneh120]

You Rock Donna Tartt!!!

[@jamesabrams6908]

I've read all three and want to re-read them with enough time to make them seem fresh again.

[@kathleen3429]

Sooo I'm begging/praying/hoping this means we get another novel in 3yrs??? I started with The Secret History, which I absolutely loved, and NEEDED to read more from her. Found The Goldfinch at the same time the movie came out (haven't seen it yet) and my god....Ive never read anything so magnificent. Time to go get The Little Friend. But I don't know that anything can stand up to The Goldfinch. Donna Tartt is a genius, a master.

[@gee2541]

how has the secret history not been turned into a film/miniseries yet? it has so many fans

[@mt.shasta6097]

Because movies ALWAYS ruin good books, never mind the great ones. We all have our own complete movies of "The Secret History" in our heads. That's all anyone needs.

[@strawberryorange3755]

​@@mt.shasta6097 I agree

[@diegovalenzuela5240]

I’m not exactly sure who this is, but she literally looks exactly like my mom. Both look exceedingly young for their age. Both pale skin, hazel eyes, same thick brown hair, seem very petite. Same nose. I went on a deep dive to see if they were separated at birth. My mom is an anesthesiologist, both are very intelligent. Mom is from south bend, Indiana. Crazy. Maybe one day, something will link the two. Really cool

[@mabimabi2952]

People always tell me that I need to publish more books faster or else I'll never make it. Honestly, I already have a plan B if I don't make it big as a writer, and I like it, it wouldn't be that bad. Second, I have tried writing faster. The quality of my works go down when I do. I would rather spend two years drafting a book then another revising it and have it be the way I invisoned, than to force myself to write a book in two months and see that it's terrible. If you can write a good book in a short time, great! I'm genually happy for you. But I just can't. It's not my thing. The process for me is too important. And writing slowly allows me to think more carefully, to do more research, to do some experimenting. I prefer it this way. Also, writing fast is not a guarantee that someone will make it big. Some famous names in the industry write slowly.

[@imbreakingdown2683]

Can't wait for her new novel

[@sampower1426]

Got to say being 60 pages in its fantastic! One of the best pieces of literature and storytelling I have ever read

[@Pureblood29]

Mother is mothering

[@inthepresentmoment]

He's still interrupting her just like in that 1992 interview... Let her speak

[@sas1s176]

next year she might publish a new one if she follows the pattern

[@amaxamon]

I just saw The Goldfinch, I'm very interested in reading her now. Somehow, I just never got around to her. But I like to hit 5,000 words in a day, I'd go mad if it took me ten years to write one novel.

[@shashwatpandey1371]

It's not about the quantity, it's about quality 💯♥️

[@shocker147]

I hear the Mississippi accent at 5:48 "It's hard at times.. it's hard going.." :)

[@SomethingSomethingg]

Tom Wolfe was the same way and I loved every one of his books.

[@robohit]

Donna Tartt is such a wonderful human being. It’s unfortunate that one of the few interviews we have of her are with the vile Charlie Rose.

[@adeolaadeniyi8656]

Rohit Sharma I know

[@pevassil]

She is an amazing author--you can't put her books down!But having read both her first and third novels I am partial to The Secret History--it was in my opinion the better of the two

[@mt.shasta6097]

You should try "The Little Friend." Parts of it are hilarious, probably because some of the characters are genuinely primitive Southerners. However, those characters are true to their inclinations and aren't cliches by any means. The main character is a brilliant, complicated child with problematic parents, neither of whom seem to have her best interests at heart. The ending comes as a real surprise.

[@markcarey8426]

Haha! Terrific. Loved the bit about daydreaming, that's what I think too. Neurotics live in castles in the sky but writers collect the rent. EDIT I don't understand why comments are disabled for her talking to Kirsty Wark. I like Donna Tartt, only read The Secret History but that was great. I was delighted to hear her say (in the Kirsty Wark vid) reading should be fun. God, that was a relief considering how much turgid muck there is out there you have to wade through just to be able to say you finished the damn thing.

[@dannyg1392]

I want to know who she is, to create the books she does. The way she dresses is almost cross dressing. But she was a cheerleader in college. I want to know why.

[@leatherandlace7]

Because she cares what she puts out to the world. You don't wear a suit like that for yourself because you follow your own aesthetic. Cheerleading was more due to peer pressure to fit in, which clearly didn't work. Just because she's not in the limelight doesn't make her something different.

[@mt.shasta6097]

High school cheerleader. She went to a woman's Ivy League college. (Which had opened up to men.)

almost 10 years already. is the next book coming?

[@kirkdamico8066]

Do you think anyone told Mozart to write faster or slower? And if they did so what. I’d always rather read a few good books than a lot of mediocre books. Let her be the artist she is & we are the better for it.

[@marchmont5918]

Does anyone know how she supports herself in between releasing blockbuster novels? Ten years is a long time!

[@brightcolorsarecool279]

That's my question lol.

[@juanagallo7497]

There's gotta be enough royalty off her first novel alone

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@juanagallo7497 she doesn't live an extravagant lifestyle. She's careful with her money.

[@jaredm1162]

HER EYES. WHUW

[@carolinemarshall1669]

He better thank his lucky stars he gets to be in her presence let alone interview.

[@dollz4ever]

she chooses quality over quantity most don't do that

[@charlesedwardandrewlincoln8181]

Procopius?

[@4000Wiggins]

So maybe a new book in 2023? 🤞🏻

[@repulore13]

“At barely five feet tall” Why do we need to know her height??

[@thatdudedorian]

@Rupert Red i do not see any other person being alarmed other than you, and it is, indeed, unnecessary. do you need to know what is Dan Brown body mass, for example? no. It has nothing to do with their academic prowess.

[@mt.shasta6097]

@@thatdudedorian No offense, but Dan Brown is technically a very poor writer. I tried one of his books, and kept mentally reaching for my red pen. Good thing he wasn't one of my students.

[@thatdudedorian]

@@mt.shasta6097 Yes, I've heard that before. Just a random example though.

[@FedericaSpera]

5:33 What does she say? I can't understand the word D:

[@austindixon23]

“To be able to daydream all day”

[@danielbrents]

She reminds me of Brody Dalle... Brody Dalle some kind of her devil side.

[@beetboy12]

This is a pretty disappointing interview. Especially so because Tartt gives so few. Rose seems largely unfamiliar with her, and asks really dull, general questions.

[@dkleinm]

lol, he interviewed her as nauseum on his show in 1992. He knows her very well and she already answered all of his good questions in that interview. This is just dumbed down for the morning show. The book speaks for itself. der.

[@keyryhernandez9775]

@ interviewer let her talk lmao we ain’t here to listen to u

[@oceania2385]

I don't understand why Donna Tartt appears in my youtube suggestions... Any thoughts ?

[@mt.shasta6097]

KZbin thought you might learn something, I guess.

[@oceania2385]

@@mt.shasta6097 "Something" is pretty vague. Anything more specific ?

[@---yi6tq]

margaritas ante porcos

[@joejones9520]

many suggestions are based on what other people at your work look up or anywhere you use or are in a computer, once a lady at work was showing me some yt vids on the work computer, neither of us were logged in to yt but when i got home one of the vids she showed me was in my suggestions, something there is no chance id ever looked up anything related to. Even people you chat with face to face in real life, even strangers, somehow their phones often know who you are and suggestions from their suggestions or even from the conversation will pop up in your yt. I dont even own a smart phone but have still had this happen so it must be voice recognition or something, it's bizarre.

[@indydude3367]

"Can you write faster?" Stay classy Charlie.

[@lindaharrison3240]

OK so that means I have another 2 years before the next book.

[@CesarClouds]

I got to quit the internet and start reading more!

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

Charlie is so much bigger than Tartt when they're standing up. He's like bigfoot.

[@hankbob2000]

Narrator reminds me of Bill Moyers.

[@HomeAtLast501]

For some of us "the good life" is that look of shock in the intern's eyes when you enter the room with your bathrobe untied.

[@dr_jamie_ranger]

Charlie Rose is distractingly annoying. Shame he was given so many interviews with our most important thinkers.

[@joejones9520]

look up his accusers, there are so many there is no chance theyre lying, the stuff he did is bizarre and basically unthinkable for a normal person even if not technically criminal, he is not normal.

[@BookClubDisaster]

Very cringe to hear Charlie say, "EXPLODE!".