By immersing myself in The Reader on the 6.27I found a little corner of the world where words, either spoken or written, bridge the gap between loneliness and hope. For the briefest moment it can be the most rewarding experience there is. Oh I saw that one, with the reindeer, but decided against it – just in case I’m still reading it in January!! Brilliant review and by the way, Amelie is probably my favourite movie of all time – you need to watch it toute suite 😉 The Reader on the 6.27is a tale bursting with larger-than-life characters, each of whom touches Guylain’s life for the better. For fans of Amelie and Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore, this captivating novel is a warm, funny fable about literature’s power to uplift even the most downtrodden of lives. Can you go tell us about your writing process? What have you found most effective as an author, and what changed when writing The Reader on the 6.27 ?

Guylain Vignolles lives on the edge of existence. Working at a book pulping factory in a job he hates, he has but one pleasure in life … Do you have a favourite moment or a particular line from the book that you could share? And why it was so significant to you?In this novel, I wanted to highlight the invisible, the battered lives, the ordinary people who often go unnoticed; and I wanted to show that each of them could have their own unexpected story. In a society where looks have become a religion and where we judge more on appearance, I wanted to highlight our prejudices and show that the clothes do not always make the man. But this book is also a declaration of love for words and for reading. All the characters have a close relationship with words - the words they read, the words they speak and finally the words of love. These words are the real cement of the novel.

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This smallest of reprieves is more sustaining than a hearty breakfast. It sets Guylain up for his endless days at the book pulping factory where he works, like a prisoner in his orange overalls sentenced to hard labour. The only crime he commits from Monday to Friday is destroying tonnes of unsold works which he feeds to the machine they call The Thing. Guylain Vignolles lives on the edge of existence. Working at a book pulping factory in a job he hates, he has but one pleasure in life.