Since my adaptation of Ian McEwan's 'Atonement,' I get sent a lot of novels that people think will work as movies. So every now and then I make a point of sitting down and reading a couple of them.

Masturbation is the thinking man's television.

Since my adaptation of Ian McEwan's 'Atonement,' I get sent a lot of novels that people think will work as movies. So every now and then I make a point of sitting down and reading a couple of them.

There is a sort of theory that you should adapt bad books because they always make more successful films.

It's possible to disagree with someone about the ethics of non-violence without wanting to kick his face in.

I find I have to give myself a day when I just shut myself off and do nothing but read.

There was a moment in the early '80s when I wanted to work on films and wanted to live in L.A.