“I once asked Ethan Canin to tell me the most valuable thing he knew about writing and without hesitation he said, 'Nothing is as important as a likable narrator. Nothing holds a story together better.' I think he's right. If your narrator is someone whose take on things fascinates you, it isn't really going to matter if nothing much happens for a long time... Having a likable narrator is like having a great friend whose company you love, whose mind you love to pick, whose running commentary totally holds your attention, who makes you laugh out loud, whose lines you always want to steal... By the same token, a boring or annoying person can offer to buy you an expensive dinner, followed by tickets to a great show, an in all honesty you'd rather stay home and watch the aspic set.”