"I was about 13, in some ways, when I wrote the first book. Approximately 18 when I wrote the second"

In this quote, author Jonathan Franzen is assessing his age when he wrote his very first and 2nd books. He mentions that he was around 13 years of ages when he composed his very first book, showing that he was quite young and inexperienced at the time. However, he likewise discusses that he was around 18 years of ages when he wrote his 2nd book, suggesting that he had gained more maturity and life experience in the 5 years in between the two works. This quote highlights the development and advancement of Franzen as a writer, and how age and life experiences can shape one's writing style and perspective.