Opinions: What was the last novel you read?

Saturday 17 October 1992 23:02 BST
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BRIAN GLOVER, actor: The last novel I read was Nicholson Baker's Vox, about people talking about sex over the phone. I was told it was good but it was about as dirty as Vinny Jones. Terrible. I became interested in the Booker Prize when my neighbour Anita Brookner won. I congratulated her when I saw her in the street, but she's a very shy woman. She cast her eyes down and looked away.

DAVID RUDDOCK, estate agent: The last book I read, cover to cover? Now let's see. I can't remember. I bought a book on cricket coaching recently. I find reading tiring, there are better ways to relax after a day's work. I don't give a monkey's who won the Booker Prize.

SIR ROBIN DAY, broadcaster: I read all the time, very quickly. At the moment I'm on The Journeyman's Tailor by Gerald Seymour, Hatred and Contempt by Sir Peter Rawlinson, and the Maastricht Treaty, which I'm enjoying.

COLIN HAYCRAFT, chairman, Duckworth publishers: I only read fiction by dead authors or by living authors if I'm publishing them. The Booker was a complete waste of time this year. But I'm glad (Ian) McEwan didn't win, he looks squirty and his books sound squirtish - though I've never read any of them.

MARCELO STARICOFF, Ph D student: I'm not reading anything at the moment and I can't remember the last book I bought. I buy them, and then I don't read them. There's always something else to do.

JOANNE BOYER, florist: I'm reading Good Housekeeping at the moment. I don't buy books, but I do like reading. It's relaxing. I like Virginia Adams and Danielle Steele, and I've read a fair few Mills & Boon over the years. This year I read Flowers in the Attic on holiday.

RACHEL BARRACLOUGH, fund-raiser: I would read more if I could find more authors that I liked, but I tend to buy books and then find they're a waste of time. I do have a very low boredom threshold. I think Victoria Glendinning's biographies are brilliant, but I don't like the mainstream authors, people like Amis, Lodge. I just can't be doing with them.

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