Susan Barker Quotes

Powerful Susan Barker for Daily Growth

About Susan Barker

Susan Barker is a renowned Australian author whose vivid, emotionally resonant novels have captured readers' hearts worldwide. Born in Sydney, Australia, on June 30, 1961, Barker grew up in the coastal town of Cronulla, where her love for storytelling was nurtured by her family and the richly diverse community around her. Barker's literary journey began early when she published her first novel, "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," at the age of 34 in 2007. This acclaimed work is a historical alternate-reality novel set in a Jewish settlement in Alaska. It was shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award, and was adapted into a graphic novel by artist Joel Alexander. In 2014, Barker published "The Sunlit Night," another evocative tale set between Norway and Alaska. The story, loosely based on her own experiences working in a fish processing plant in a small Norwegian town, tells of the friendship between a young American woman and a Norwegian fisherman's son. Barker's works are deeply influenced by her travels and the people she meets. Her stories often explore themes of identity, belonging, and the human capacity for resilience and transformation. Barker currently lives in Sydney and continues to enchant readers with her beautifully crafted novels that seamlessly blend reality and fantasy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The heart of a home is not in the kitchen or the bathroom, it's in the place where the family is most comfortable and content."

This quote by Susan Barker suggests that the essence of a home lies less in its physical structures like the kitchen or bathroom, but rather in the emotional space where family members feel the most at ease and content. It emphasizes that a house becomes a home when it fosters comfort and contentment among its residents, creating an environment for strong familial bonds to grow.


"Home should be a retreat, a sanctuary from the world outside."

The quote emphasizes that home serves as a personal sanctuary where one can find respite from external pressures and stresses of the world. It suggests that home is not merely a physical structure but a place where one feels safe, comfortable, and rejuvenated. This notion underscores the importance of creating an environment that promotes relaxation, peace, and tranquility for emotional well-being.


"Every corner of a home should reflect the personality of its inhabitants."

This quote underscores the idea that a home is not just a physical structure but a reflection of its residents' identities, values, and experiences. A personalized living space can foster a sense of comfort, belonging, and self-expression, making it more than just a dwelling, but a true extension of one's personality. By infusing their unique style, passions, and memories into their homes, individuals create an environment that not only feels like 'home' but also tells a story about who they are.


"The best interior design schemes are those that tell a story about the people who live there."

This quote suggests that the most effective interior designs are those which reflect the personality, history, and preferences of the individuals who inhabit the space. A well-designed home or room should serve as an extension of its occupants, visually expressing their tastes, experiences, and values. By incorporating personal elements into the design, one can create a living environment that not only looks beautiful but also feels deeply meaningful and authentic.


"A well-loved home is not about perfection, it's about comfort, warmth and the memories created within its walls."

The quote emphasizes that a cherished home isn't defined by perfection; rather, it provides comfort, warmth, and fosters memories amongst its inhabitants. It underscores the significance of emotional connections and shared experiences over the physical attributes or aesthetics of a dwelling place, suggesting that what truly makes a house a home lies in the love, care, and moments spent within its walls.


It would be unthinkable to have a top-ten list of multiple narrative novels that doesn't include David Mitchell. 'Cloud Atlas' is the most obvious choice, but I have opted for Mitchell's slightly lesser known debut, 'Ghostwritten.'

- Susan Barker

Atlas, Include, Slightly, David

I wrote in coffee shops in Japan when I was 22, 23, before I had the stamina to sit down and write. I liked the buzzy environment; I couldn't speak Japanese when I arrived, so it was kind of a white noise. It felt more sociable than being alone, but now, as I've developed a writing practice, I couldn't do it.

- Susan Barker

Practice, Japan, Sociable, Stamina

There are many reasons I love novels with multiple narratives. In novels where the events are filtered through the consciousness of a single 'reliable' narrator, I often wonder, is this the whole story? What could be missing here?

- Susan Barker

Love, Through, Here, Narrator

My process for determining which eras I'd write about was to just read history books that gave a really broad overview of Chinese history. And when I came across a historical figure or a historical incident that was especially interesting to me, ideas for characters and stories would surface.

- Susan Barker

Historical, Chinese, About, Incident

Most of 'Let the Great World Spin' is centered on the day in 1974 when Philippe Petit walked on a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center, creating an astonishing spectacle that intersects with the lives of many of the novel's multiple protagonists.

- Susan Barker

Two, World Trade Center, Towers

Truth is often a multiplicity of perspectives, and sometimes the more viewpoints and versions of events there are, the closer the reader gets to an overarching truth.

- Susan Barker

More, Multiplicity, Reader, Perspectives

During the six years I spent writing my novel 'The Incarnations,' I lived in seven cities in four countries. I moved in and out of 17 different houses and flats in Beijing, Seoul, Colorado, Boston, Leeds, Washington D.C., London and Shenzhen.

- Susan Barker

London, Boston, Moved, Flats

My grandfather was originally from the south of China before he emigrated to Malaysia pre-World War II. And I wanted to learn more about the history of the country of my ancestors. I knew I wanted a narrative set in contemporary Beijing. I was really interested in the effect of the rapid social and economic change on ordinary citizens in China.

- Susan Barker

Country, Before, South, Malaysia

You know, you hear about these writers reading 'Lolita' at 12. I wanted to be a chemistry teacher.

- Susan Barker

Reading, About, Writers, Chemistry

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