Novels: winning readers and prizes

What does it take for a novel to win over a reader? What does it take for a novel to win a prize?

In this episode, journalist and Think Aloud presenter Harriet Fitch Little is joined in conversation by Debo Amon, Southbank Centre’s Literature Programmer, to discuss how the way in which we read novels has changed, why 'shameful' literature is so popular, and whether the novel will stand the test of time.

Journalist and author Caitlin Moran talks about a woman’s approach to literature and finding her ‘place’ as a writer, in a clip from her recent appearance at Southbank Centre.

"This is why I love writing about being a woman; most of what we do hasn't been written yet."

CAITLIN MORAN

And, we answer the burning question: 'how do books win prizes?’, with Ted Hodgkinson - Southbank Centre’s Head of Literature and Spoken Word - who talks us through the secrets and the realities of judging a book prize. All this, whilst being serenaded by a fork-lift truck.