Life is a very orderly thing, but in fiction there is a huge liberation and freedom. I can do what I like. Theres nothing that says I cant write a page of full stops. There is no should involved, although you wouldnt know that from literary reviews and critics. – Kate Atkinson
The cult of the individual is killing us. I think Twitter signals the death of western civilisation, but people have been saying that since Demosthenes. – Kate Atkinson
My father was an autodidact. It wasnt a middle-class house. Shopkeepers are aspirant. He paid for me to go to private school. He was denied an education – he had a horrible childhood. He got a place at a grammar school and wasnt allowed to go. – Kate Atkinson
Fairy tales opened up a door into my imagination – they dont conform to the reality thats around you as a child. I started reading when I was three and read everything, but I wanted to be an actress. – Kate Atkinson
For some reason I cant explain, artist and musicians tend to look younger than our age. Being in music, you need this youthful sense of discovery and wonder for what youre doing and keep your imagination open. Thats a youthful way of looking at life and I think that reflects in how you age. – Joshua Bell