A.M. Homes
A.M. Homes: A Life of Unflinching Observation
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Audrey Marella (A.M.) Homes is a celebrated American novelist, short story writer, and nonfiction author.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on October 23, 1959. Unfortunately, we do not have information on her passing date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American; Novelist, Short Story Writer, Nonfiction Author
A.M. Homes is a critically acclaimed writer known for her uncompromising portrayal of the human condition. Her writing often explores themes of identity, family, trauma, and the complexities of the American experience.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Homes' early life was marked by turmoil. Her father's departure when she was three years old left a lasting impact on her work, which frequently grapples with themes of abandonment and family dynamics. Homes' experiences as an outsider in suburban Long Island also influenced her writing.
Homes attended Sarah Lawrence College, where she began to develop her unique voice and style. After college, she moved to New York City and began working on her first novel, _Music for Torching_ (1999).
Major Accomplishments
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Throughout her career, Homes has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. Some of her notable achievements include:
Pulitzer Prize finalist: For her novel _May We Be Forgiven_ (2013)
National Book Award nominee: For her short story collection _Things You Should Know About Angels_ (1990)
Guggenheim Fellowship recipientNotable Works or Actions
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Homes' writing is characterized by its unflinching honesty and willingness to confront the darkest aspects of human nature. Some of her most notable works include:
Music for Torching (1999): A novel that explores themes of family, trauma, and identity through the lens of a dysfunctional suburban household.
The Mistress's Daughter (2003): A memoir in which Homes grapples with her own complicated relationship with her mother and comes to terms with her father's infidelity.
May We Be Forgiven (2013): A novel that delves into the complexities of family dynamics, trauma, and the search for forgiveness.
Impact and Legacy
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A.M. Homes' writing has had a significant impact on contemporary American literature. Her willingness to confront difficult themes and her unflinching portrayal of human nature have made her one of the most respected voices in the literary world. Through her work, Homes continues to challenge readers to confront their own fears, desires, and vulnerabilities.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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A.M. Homes is widely quoted and remembered for her piercing insights into the human condition. Her writing has been praised for its lyricism, precision, and unflinching honesty. As a result, she has become a touchstone for writers, artists, and readers seeking to explore the complexities of identity, family, and trauma.
As a writer, A.M. Homes' legacy will continue to inspire generations of readers and writers. Her unwavering commitment to exploring the darker aspects of human nature has left an indelible mark on American literature.
Quotes by A.M. Homes
A.M. Homes's insights on:
It is the kind of day that farmers, when there were still farmers, would have dreamed of. The sky is brilliant blue, the plants are newly green, the air as fresh and clean as though it has been washed, tumbled dry, and neatly folded the night before. It is the kind of day you never forget.
The strange days of summer. There is no here, no there, the days are incredibly still, the light is brightly muted – it’s hard to know if that’s the passing of the season or poor air quality.
I don’t want to be one of those women who says horrible things about her husband, but your father had no right to take the hammer. I had that hammer when we were still dating, and he damn well knew it.
You can’t collect everything,” Pat says, putting the dress in with the giveaways. “Life is not a hobby.
He looked at Richard and the donut with great intensity, as if this were the donut that would fix Richard, as if there were certain donuts that were better for certain ailments, as if a donut could have curative powers.
I grew up convinced that every family was better than mine. I grew up watching other families in awe, hardly able to bear the sensations, the nearly pornographic pleasure of witnessing such small intimacies. I would hover on the edge, knowing that however much they include you – invite you to dinner, take you on family trips – you are never official, you are always the “friend,” the first one left behind.
I nodded. It was his checklist. Every time we were together we went through this. He ran down his list of people, events, even actual objects that were in my life.
I made myself a Muenster-cheese sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, mustard, and mayo, and went up to my room. Ingredients are important.
The harder it gets to be safe and secure, to trust, to find love and understanding – the more you feel entitled, allowed, even encouraged, to cheat, to lie, to steal, and then later, even to kill. That you are just beginning to feel it now only means you have been lucky for too long.
I once jokingly told someone that every book is like a relationship. They’re four or five years long – that’s not so bad. They’re serious. They demand a lot of attention. But I remember thinking that I wanted to have one with someone who’s not so crazy and peculiar and demanding.