[photo of Joseph O'Neill by Adam Nadel for The Telegraph]

The last book I read in 2008 was Netherland, by Joseph O'Neill. It joins the first book I read in '08, Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, at the top of my favorite reads of the year. In today's Financial Times, O'Neill answers short questions with short answers. Here's a sampling:

When did you know you were going to be a writer?

I’ve never known it. My sense of myself as a professional writer has been somewhat frail, particularly over these past few years.

Who is your perfect reader?

I’ll take any reader.

What is the hardest thing to write about?

It’s all very hard, sadly.

What are you most proud of writing?

In my novels, certain sentences. . . .

What do you do to celebrate finishing a book?

Disown what I’ve just written.

What book do you wish you’d written?

My next one.