The effect of prizes on one's career - if that is what to call it - is considerable, since they give one more clout with publishers and more notoriety among journalists. The effect on one's writing, however, is nil - otherwise, one would be in deep trouble. John Banville callcareerclout share on social
My work is frequently described as cold, which is baffling, since it seems to me embarrassingly, shame-makingly, scandalously warm. I find my work filled with sentiment, and I can't imagine why people find it cold. John Banville bafflecoldembarrassingly share on social
With the crime novels, it's delightful to have protagonists I can revisit in book after book. It's like having a fictitious family. John Banville bookcrimedelightful Change image and share on social
Office life is very, very strange. It's like no other way of living. You have an intimacy with people who you work with in the office, yet if you meet them on the streets, you both look the other way because you're embarrassed. John Banville embarrassintimacylife share on social
I know some of my memories are made up and they are far more powerful than the things that actually happened. For example, I always remember my brother posting me a copy of 'Dubliners' from Africa, but he says he never did. John Banville africabrothercopy share on social
Doing what you do well is death. Your duty is to keep trying to do things that you don't do well, in the hope of learning. John Banville deathdutyhope Change image and share on social
Writers are just like other people, except slightly more obsessed. John Banville obsesspeopleslightly Change image and share on social
I'd given up Catholicism in my teens but something of it stays with me. I try to create the perfect sentence - that's as close to godliness as I can get. John Banville catholicismclosecreate Change image and share on social
When I say I don't like my own work, that doesn't mean it isn't better than everyone else's. John Banville work Change image and share on social
We artists love to talk tough, but we're just as sentimental as everyone else when it comes down to it. John Banville artistlovesentimental Change image and share on social