“The English expression 'to fall asleep' is apt because the transition between waking and sleeping is a gradual drop from one state of being into another: a giving up of full self-consciousness for unconsciousness or for the altered consciousness of dreams.”

American novelist and essayist, Siri Hustvedt is known for her introspective fiction blending art, psychology, and memory. Her work often explores the intersections of gender, perception, and the human mind, with novels like *The Blindfold* and *The Summer Without Men* earning critical acclaim.