Mark Haddon Quotes

Writing for children, you do bear a responsibility to not include overt or graphic adult content that they are not ready for and don't need, or to address adult concepts or themes from an oblique angle or a child's limited viewpoint, with appropriate context, without being graphic or distressing.

If the moral good of fiction stems mainly from a habit of mind it inculcates in the reader, styles are neither good nor bad, and to describe some fictional enterprises as false is pointless.

I don't think kids have a problem reading books meant for adults; the problem is on the other side of the fence, a misconception of what one kind of literature is 'supposed' to be, perceived to be, as opposed to another: if it's for kids, it can't be any good; it's got to have been dumbed down and/or sweetened up.

The whole purpose of books is that we read them, and if you find you can't, it might not be your inadequacy that's to blame. 'Good' books can be pretty awful sometimes.

At times, parents foist their own choices on kids and try to get them to read the classics. But kids have very high filters and don't take to it. At other times, parents simply don't know what books to select for their children and end up giving books that aren't appropriate.

if a book is not good enough for a grownup, it is not good enough for a child.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.

I had the most incredible English and literature teachers in school, and it really influenced my love of storytelling. It's what made me excited to study journalism in college. I love editorials and documentaries. All of that came from being given the opportunity to lose myself in good writing when I was a kid.

When I make a book, I make it for the child and not for the parent - no jokes in it for the parents!

The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it will enlarge your vocabulary.

I think I learned a lot from reading in general - even from reading badly written books.

The attitude that poetry should not be analyzed is prevalent among many who consider themselves experts on children's literature. But I suspected that kids like to look closely at things and figure out what makes them go.

I think picture books should stretch children. I think they should be full of wonderful, amazing words.

Putting lessons in young adult books is very dangerous.

I'm not really a good reader. What I mean is, I think I'm not one of those people who can read a story and analyze it just like that.

I was a very avid reader when I was a child, and I also was a good listener.

A good book, in the language of the book-sellers, is a salable one; in that of the curious, a scarce one; in that of men of sense, a useful and instructive one.

I'm not a good writer, and I don't care. Unfortunately, after I left college, I didn't have time much for literature. I wish I did. Most of the time I read documents, and that's not going to help your writing. But I'm a very logical writer, and you can't get out of me. Once I've nailed you, you're finished.

Reading is an activity subsequent to writing: more resigned, more civil, more intellectual.

I believe that writing is derivative. I think good writing comes from good reading.

Read books. They are good for us.

As for critics, one mediocre writer is more valuable than ten good critics. They are like haughty, barren spinsters lodged in a maternity ward.

One can't write without having read - you have to read before beginning to write - and universities offer a very good opportunity to read.

A book may be compared to your neighbour: if it be good it cannot last too long; if bad, you cannot get rid of it too early.

You cannot write for children They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.