Ian McEwan – inspiring but humbling
‘As you write you can’t escape all the literature you have loved.’ This was one of many wise reflections from Ian McEwan this evening. Another couple of points that struck me particularly: the importance of people’s jobs, so often neglected in novels and yet key to fleshing out character; and the pleasures of the short novel (I wish agents and publishers felt the same.).
Ian McEwan reads aloud brlliantly and has once again produced a first chapter that makes you care and long to know more.
As soon as I’ve published this little blog I am going to get The Children Act on to my Kindle and I’ll be reading late into the night. I hope it wins the Man Booker Prize.