With English literature, if you do a bit of shonky spelling, no one dies, but if you're half-way through a maths calculation and you stick in an extra zero, everything just crashes into the ravine. Mark Haddon bitecalculationcrash Change image and share on social
If you're trying to be a successful writer, and you go into a second-hand bookshop, it's the graveyard of people whose books haven't been wanted. Mark Haddon bookbookshopgraveyard Change image and share on social
Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect. Mark Haddon accordadultbloody Change image and share on social
I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me, writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are, you come out and hope that no one runs away. Mark Haddon admitdecidedentist share on social
If you enjoy math and you write novels, it's very rare that you'll get a chance to put your math into a novel. I leapt at the chance. Mark Haddon chanceenjoyleap Change image and share on social
At 20, 25, 30, we begin to realise that the possibilities of escape are getting fewer. We have jobs, children, partners, debts. This is the part of us to which literary fiction speaks. Mark Haddon beginchilddebt Change image and share on social
I have very fond memories of swimming in Walden Pond when we lived in Boston. You'd swim past a log and see all these turtles sunning themselves. Slightly disturbing if you thought about how many more were swimming around your toes, but also rather wonderful. Mark Haddon bostondisturbfond share on social
I read very, very little fiction as a kid. All the books I can remember are junior science books. Mark Haddon bookfictionjunior Change image and share on social
Show me the artist anywhere who's had an utterly stable mental life, and I'll buy you hot dinners for the rest of your life. Mark Haddon artistbuydinner 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
