Intellectuals who live in Hungary, or who wish to work or lecture there, are extremely circumspect in their criticism.

I can see a version of my life where it all becomes meaningless. On a good day, writing seems noble. Other times, it's narcissistic and pointless.

I suffer from vertigo. It's paralyzing in extreme situations. The most scared I've been as an adult was trying to conquer that fear by going climbing in Wales.

I'm fascinated by the emergence of a global class. They're highly mobile; they reject the idea of place.

In my early teens, science fiction and fantasy had an almost-total hold over my imagination. Their outcast status was part of their appeal.

There are still some terrible cliches in the presentation of Indian fiction. The lotus flower. The hennaed hands. In mainland Europe, people still slap these images on my books and I go bananas.

When I try to understand somebody, create a character, I fall into them. When I think writers are telling me what to think, I get harrumphy.

Critchley and Webster’s fierce, witty exploration of Hamlet makes most other writing about Shakespeare seem simpleminded.

There's an explosion of Indian fiction of all kinds, from military thrillers to chicklit. I think that's exciting.

Suburbia is all about private ownership and not having to share, and it leads to a paranoid, defensive mindset. I know this, having grown up in Essex.

Some books I've kept because the binding is beautiful - I'm unlikely ever to read my grandmother's copy of 'The Life of Lord Nelson.' I'm addicted to secondhand bookshops.

To raise a child is to submit to a staggering amount of work, much of which is deeply unpleasant. It would be crazy to have children if they weren't so damned important.

Maybe the princess could save herself.""That sounds like a pretty good story too.

The liberty of the individual is the greatest thing of all, it is on this and this alone that the true will of the people can develop.

My friends and I are crazy. That's the only thing that keeps us sane!

I feel like I've gotten to a point where I don't know if it can get much bigger. I've been climbing and I feel very happy.

The modern child will answer you back before you've said anything.

God wants no one to leave our presence empty handed.

I think that stereoscopic 3D will have to continue to develop. It's still quite archaic because of the glasses you have to wear.

Crazy old people are our entire source of polling information.

If you have love in you, it's a strength. But if you are in love, it's a weakness.