Indeed, I am repeatedly astonished by the number of really good writers who understand human beings so well on paper but don't know how to deal with them in real life. Mark Haddon astonishbeingdeal Change image and share on social
Children simply don't make the distinction; a book is either good or bad. And some of the books they think are good are very, very bad indeed. Mark Haddon badbookchild Change image and share on social
I think Britain has this tradition which suggests that if you make the readers laugh too much, you can't really be serious. Whereas, I think one of the functions laughter can perform in a book, as in life, is that it's a reaction to genuine horror. Mark Haddon bookbritainfunction share on social
When I was 13 or 14, I started devouring novels; literature took quite a while to take me over, but it caught up just in time to save me from becoming a mathematician. Mark Haddon catchdevourliterature Change image and share on social
I've written 16 children's books and five unpublished novels. Some of the latter were breathtakingly bad. Mark Haddon badbookbreathtakingly Change image and share on social
If kids like a picture book, they're going to read it at least 50 times, and their parents are going to have to read it with them. Read anything that often, and even minor imperfections start to feel like gravel in the bed. Mark Haddon bedbookfeel share on social
For me, disability is a way of getting some extremity, some kind of very difficult situation, that throws an interesting light on people. Mark Haddon difficultdisabilityextremity Change image and share on social
The most difficult book I wrote was the fourth in a series of linked children's books. It was like pulling teeth because the publisher wanted exactly the same but completely different. I'd much rather just do something completely different, even if there's a risk of it going wrong. Mark Haddon bookchildcompletely share on social
I think good books have to make a few people angry. Mark Haddon angrybookgood Change image and share on social
I think I've learnt that there is no character so strange that you haven't shared their experience in some small way. Mark Haddon characterexperiencehave Change image and share on social
