Friday, 3 October 2014

Writers on Reading: John Boyne

Irish Novelist John Boyne has had a very prestigious career so far, winning two Irish Book Awards, and being shortlisted for many other international literary prizes. Although his tally of novels to date seems low in the face of some other authors, having only written nine novels for adults and four novels for younger readers, these books have been published in over 40 languages. His phenomenal bestseller 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' became a massive feature and will, I assure you, make you cry. whoever you are.


What is the first book you remember reading?
I was an obsessive reader of Enid Blyton’s Noddy books when I was a child; they’re my earliest recollections of reading.


What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?
I’m quicker to spot bad writing and get annoyed by poor editing and punctuation. And I hate long pages of acknowledgements at the end of novels; I find them totally unnecessary.


Are there any books you can read again and again?
Only a few. Life’s too short to re-read too many books, but I can re-read Dickens’ DavidCopperfield, John Irving’s The Cider House Rules and EM Forster’s Howards End over and over.


Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?
Science fiction, fantasy and horror.


What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?
Sebastian Barry – The Temporary Gentleman.

John's 'A History of Loneliness' was published in September, and his new junior novel 'The Brocket's get a Dog' is out this month.


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