You can't sit down and decide what you want to write about. John Burnside decidesitwrite Change image and share on social
I moved south when I was 11 years old, moved to England. I've lived in all kinds of places, all parts of England. John Burnside englandhavekind Change image and share on social
I don't like the term 'mental illness.' I'd rather just say 'mad.' Just like I always say 'loony bin,' not 'mental hospital.' John Burnside binhospitalillness Change image and share on social
I have never understood why so many gardeners favour straight lines and narrow, regulated borders; perhaps they think wildness could work only in a larger space. John Burnside borderfavourgardener Change image and share on social
This is a truth that should be repeated like a mantra: to have any chance of a ful - filling life, we require not only clean air and a steady climate, but also an abundance of meadows and woodlands, rivers and oceans, teeming with life and the mass existence of other living creatures. John Burnside abundanceairchance share on social
People will occasionally ask me if I understand what it's like to be lonely. And the truth is I don't, because for me, solitariness is a blessing, a gift. Me, I get on fine with myself. John Burnside blessfinegift Change image and share on social
Irrationality interests me more than anything: sometimes it's very dangerous, but it can be incredibly beautiful. John Burnside beautifuldangerousincredibly Change image and share on social
As a child, I read a great many books in which animals and birds played significant roles, not only in the narrative itself, but also in creating the emotional and psychological atmosphere of that narrative - the imaginative furniture, as it were, in which any story unfolds. John Burnside animalatmospherebird share on social
One day I was talking about what I was going to do next, and just found myself announcing it: 'I'm going to write a book about my father.' John Burnside announcebookday Change image and share on social
My poems tend to be more celebratory and lyrical, and the novels so far pretty dark. Poetry doesn't seem to me to be an appropriate tool for exploring that. John Burnside celebratorydarkexplore Change image and share on social
