Dutch novelist Arnon Grunberg is the youngest writer at the International Festival of Authors. The first of his three novels, Blue Mondays, about the seamy underbelly of Amsterdam, has recently been published in English by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. It came out in 1994 when Grunberg was just 22.

What's the difference between the Arnon Grunberg character in your book and the Arnon Grunberg here now?

"A lot of differences. We were both kicked out of high school at 17, did different jobs, and my father died, too. I took those from reality. But when I felt I should lie for the sake of the story, I lied. That's one definition of fiction: lies.
And the reason I called the character "Arnon Grunberg" is because I knew people would assume it was me whatever I called him. I wanted some more confusion, which I like."

The Arnon in the book has no aspirations whatever to be a writer. When did you discover you wanted to write?

"Actually I had wanted to be an actor, but I didn't succeed as an actor and I started my own small publishing house. I published five books and then I got into financial trouble. I went to the Frankfurt book fair to try to sell my publishing house.
Over dinner, a Dutch publisher asked me about my life. At the end of the evening, he said just write it all down and I will publish it. I thought he was joking but two months later he called me and said, "Where's the first chapter?" That's how Blue Mondays started."

The Arnon in Blue Mondays frequents prostitutes, some very old and ugly. What's the attraction?

"You can't generalize that all prostitutes are the same. As soon as they enter your apartment they become human beings, all different. But they are a way of solving your solitude without getting hurt emotionally."

Why did you move to New York?

"My girlfriend was born there. Besides, I thought it was time to leave because as I writer I think you should be anonymous. You should be able to go to a bar and observe."

The character in your book has a lot of negative feelings about being Jewish. Do you?

"I grew up Jewish, in a religious family. We kept kosher. My sister became very religious and now lives in Israel. I didn't want to be religious or Zionist; I rejected it with great force. I am Jewish but I do not do anything about it."