What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint.

I think the judging process is full of integrity, compared to some other prizes around the world. The fact that they change the panel of judges every year keeps it from becoming corrupt. I think it's very difficult if you've got judges for life; obviously relationships are cultivated between judges and authors, and publishing houses.

I think of my pile of old paperbacks, their pages gone wobbly, like they'd once belonged to the sea.

What is pertinent is the calmness of that beauty, its sense of restraint.

After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished?

Now naturally, like many of us, I have a reluctance to change too much of the old ways.

It didn't hurt, did it? When I hit you?" "Sure. Fractured skull. Concussion, the lot..." "But seriously, Kath. No hard feelings, right? I'm awfully sorry. I honestly am.