The novelist, 66, on not knowing how to behave, the terrors of climate change and appearing in her students’ dreams
I could easily have been a completely ruined person. I could easily have committed suicide when I was in my 20s. I could easily have been someone who could not do anything, just living in a hovel in poverty somewhere. That may sound crazy, but I’m basing it on my family. Both my sisters are living that way. When I was younger it was really difficult for me to exist normally.
I didn’t know how to behave socially. I don’t mean that my behaviour was wild or insane, I just often felt like I did not know what other people were talking about. The things I said were very startling to people and I didn’t know why.