Newcastle University

What would you say, if we’re talking about benefits, what would you say that reading books gives you?

It definitely gives me something that TV doesn’t. I find a book … books … Sometimes a book stays with you that I haven’t enjoyed, strangely enough, because it’s obviously been well written or there’s something about the story. But sometimes the books stays with you and makes you really think about an issue. And you have … just the relationship with the characters, that they’re yours for the time that you’re reading it. And you do sort of become an invisible character in the scene that’s played out in the book, sometimes, if it’s a good book and well written and I’m enjoying the story. The TV’s just … I think you’re always aware that it’s people playing a part.