Everyone's talking about Boy A
Creative Writing graduate Jonathan Trigell's first novel, Boy A, has been voted the best Book to Talk About in a 2008 World Book Day poll.
Boy A, which has recently been made into a feature film for Channel 4, was the top choice for more than 2,000 readers polled on a World Book Day website where readers and reading group members spread the word about their favourite books.
The novel tells the story of the introduction of a young man back into the community after spending his childhood in juvenile institutions. Although guilty of a monstrous childhood crime, he is utterly innocent of the world outside.
The poll was carried out to bring to light hidden gems amongst the thousands of books published, and to provide an alternative reading agenda to that dictated by critics and prize juries. The choice of Boy A highlights readers' thirst for books which present the complex moral dilemmas at the heart of contemporary life.
Jonathan said: "I'm totally delighted that Boy A has been named 'The Book To Talk About 2008', it's a real honour and I'd like to thank everyone who voted for it.
"I started writing Boy A several years before I took the Manchester MA in 2002. But the structure of the course really helped fine tune my skills and give me the confidence to finish the job. The degree also allowed me to prioritise my writing, instead of trying to squeeze it in around work."
One reader joining in the discussion on the World Book Day website said, "I finished reading this last night; 24 hours later I'm still mulling it over, seeing patterns and thinking and rethinking. It seems trite to say I've been on a journey but I do feel that genuinely."
Read the BBC news story here, and The Guardian news story here. Visit the Spread the Word website to find out more about the award.