Amy Hempel
Amy Hempel
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Amy Hempel is a celebrated American short story writer, novelist, and essayist.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: September 14, 1951 (alive)
No official record of her death exists.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: American
Profession(s): Short Story Writer, Novelist, Essayist
Early Life and Background
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Amy Hempel was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up in a musical family exposed her to the world of art and literature from an early age. Her parents' influence on her writing career is undeniable, with her father being a writer himself. Hempel's interest in creative writing began when she attended college at Bennington College.
During her time at Bennington, Amy Hempel developed a passion for short stories, which would eventually become the defining feature of her literary style. Her affinity for concise storytelling was likely influenced by the experimental nature of the college's writing programs.
Major Accomplishments
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Amy Hempel has received several prestigious awards and nominations throughout her career:
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1983)
Guggenheim Fellowship (1992, 2001)
Lannan Literary Award for Fiction (2000)
PEN/Martha Albrand Award for the Art of the Memoir (2016)
Her contributions to the literary world have been widely recognized, solidifying her position as a respected figure in American literature.
Notable Works or Actions
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Amy Hempel's writing often explores themes of love, loss, and identity. Some notable works include:
A Crack in Everything (1989) - A collection of short stories that showcases Hempel's unique narrative style.
Reasons to Live (2006) - A critically acclaimed novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships.
* The Orchardist (2010) - A haunting and beautiful exploration of loneliness, love, and redemption.
Her innovative approach to storytelling has captivated readers worldwide, cementing her position as a masterful storyteller.
Impact and Legacy
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Amy Hempel's influence on contemporary literature is undeniable. Her distinctive narrative voice and unflinching examination of the human condition have inspired countless writers. The literary world continues to benefit from her contributions, ensuring that her legacy endures for generations to come.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Amy Hempel's remarkable body of work has earned her a devoted following among readers and writers alike. Her ability to distill complex emotions into elegant prose has made her a beloved figure in American literature. The quotes and passages from her writings serve as a testament to her enduring impact on the literary world.
Her unique perspective on life, love, and loss continues to captivate audiences, making her one of the most quoted and remembered writers of our time.
Quotes by Amy Hempel
Amy Hempel's insights on:
Look at me. My concerns-are they spiritual, do you think, or carnal? Come on. We’ve read our Shakespeare.
When she sees him, Holly says, it’s like the sunsets at the beach – once the sun drops, the sand chills quickly. Then it’s like a lot of times that were good ten minutes ago and don’t count now.
Maybe this is not a come-down-from-the-ledge story. But I tell it with the thought that the woman on the ledge will ask herself a question, the question that occurred to that man in Bogota. He wondered how we know that what happens to us isn’t good?
I think you would like Warren. He drinks Courvoisier in a Coke can, and has a laugh like you’d find in a cartoon bubble.
I probably have less revision than those who have that wonderful rush of story to tell – you know, I can’t wait to tell you what happened the other day. It comes tumbling out and maybe then they go back and refine. I kind of envy that way of working, but I just have never done it.
The only time the word baby doesn’t scare me is the time that it should, when it is what a man calls me.
Obviously, in journalism, you’re confined to what happens. And the tendency to embellish, to mythologize, it’s in us. It makes things more interesting, a closer call. But journalism taught me how to write a sentence that would make someone want to read the next one.
I’ve always known when I start a story what the last line is. It’s always been the case, since the first story I ever wrote. I don’t know how it’s going to get there, but I seem to need the destination. I need to know where I end up. It never changes, ever.