Soledad's Journal

Yes, it was great to see a book win because people loved that book. I watched a lot of BBC documentaries around the time the Big Read was on, with many critics being stuffy about things - and then an interviewer would get them to talk about what they read when they were fourteen and fifteen, and their whole demeanours would change: eyes sparkling, talking excitedly. Back when they were not self-conscious about reading. Very interesting.