My Favourite Reads

My Top Ten Books of All Time

It was very difficult to choose the following books - I have so many favourites and they change depending on my mood - so this is by no means the definitive list, it's more of a rainy-January-lying-on-the-sofa kind of list! Some are novels, others poetry or non-fiction, but all have had an impact on my life in one way or another. I started off with a very 'worthy' list, then amended it to make it the books I couldn't live without - the ones I read over and over again. I'm always highly suspicious of those lists that appear in the newspapers every summer and Christmas - 'celebrities' choosing their favourite books of the year. They always name-drop the most esoteric or obscure books, and the Booker short listed titles, of course. (Not that some of the Booker titles aren't good - some are. I recently read 'Brick Lane' by Monica Ali and it's a cracker, and 'Middlesex' is an utter joy - not sure if it was a Booker one, but if not, it should have been!)

Babies Need Books was the most influential of all the books listed: I can't recommend it highly enough. It changed my life and inspired me to find out more about the whole world of children's books. So thank you, Dorothy Butler!

So here's my list -

1) The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler If you haven't read Anne Tyler - do! She's brilliant. This book is sheer bliss to read - full of warm, funny and very quirky characters, it's one of those books that you can't possibly put down once you start reading them.
2) Cat's Eyes by Margaret Atwood Another brilliant book from a stunner of a writer. I also love 'The Handmaid's Tale'. She writes so beautifully and her plots are meticulously planned and executed.
3) All of Me: The Collected Poems by Raymond Carver Raymond Carver is my favourite poet. His poems are simply written but they all capture a particular moment in time so perfectly. Have you every read a line of a book or a poem and been amazed at how perfectly it describes something - rain falling on the pavement, the overwhelming feeling of love for someone, a moment of extreme happiness? Well, reading Carver often brings tears to my eyes, sad but true. My favourite Carver poem is 'Hummingbird' and I also love 'Gravy'. Even if poetry isn't really your thing, Carver is certainly worth a read. His work is so honest it hurts.
4) Babies Need Books by Dorothy Butler This is a must read for any new parents out there. It's written by a New Zealand bookseller and is an extraordinary book - a real labour of love. Butler lists books that babies and toddlers will love, and also explains why they need books from an early age, and how to share books with tiny tots. It changed my life, fuelling my interest in children's books, which in turn led me to writing one of my own - 'Kids Can Cook' - my very first published book!
5) The Princess Bride by William Goldman Oh, it makes me smile just thinking of it! This is the book the well known film was based on and it's truly original and delightful read. Full of wit, heroic deeds, giants, challenges and duels - read it and smile! Here's the blurb on my copy - 'What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince in the world and he turns out to be a son of a bitch?' Wonderful stuff!
6) Emma by Jane Austen This is another wonderful book and Emma Woodhouse is one of my very favourite characters - self-appointed matchmaker and a real trouble maker. Add the giddy Harriet and a host of handsome men and it's a love story made in heaven. Romantic comedy at its best!
7) Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier A favourite with book clubs all over the world (my own included), this is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction set in 17th Delft (Netherlands), 'steeped in atmosphere' (according to 'The Guardian'). It's all there - love, lust, betrayal, art - what more could a reader ask for. Even if you don't normally read historical fiction - do try this. It's a delightful book and surprisingly easy to read, as you get caught up in the story from the very beginning.
8) The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald One of the greatest and saddest love stories of all. I was a teenager when I first read this, and on finishing it, I turned straight back to the first page, longing to read more about Gatsby, Tom and Daisy. In fact, I must read it again, and soon!
9) Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin You don't hear much about this great series of books anymore, which is a shame as they are great fun and a brilliant read. I'd forgotten all about them until I trawled through my bookshelves (no mean feat as I have literally hundreds of books) and happened upon 'Sure of You', the 6th book in the series. They are all set in New York and are literally tales from New York City. They are warm, funny, slightly left-of-centre. If you like your books witty and wise and very, very colourful, these are the books for you. They were my favourites in college, and I must re-visit them again when I get a chance.
10) The Lifelines Poetry Books Niall MacMonagle, an English teacher in Wesley College in Dublin, encouraged his class to write to famous people, asking them to name their favourite poem and say why they liked it. And these wonderful poetry collections were the end product. It's so interesting to see who chose what, and why. Most people have a favourite poem - mine is 'Hummingbird' by Raymond Carver for example - and there is a wide ranging mix of poems in all three of the Lifelines books. They are still available as far as I know (Townhouse are the publishers) and they are well worth a look if you like poetry.

My Top Ten Holiday Reads

These books are fun, have cracking plots and pack a punch. Holiday books should, I think, leave a smile on your lips (or, in the case of 'Love Story', a tear in your eye!) - so prepare to be entertained! Again, these are just some of my favourites and I'll add to the list as I think of others, or as the mood takes me.

1) Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy Maeve is one of my favourite writers of all time. Her books are so compelling - they suck you in and don't let go. She's a brilliant storyteller. This is my very favourite Maeve book and a real cracker. The story of three girls with very different backgrounds. A classic! Not a bad film either.
2) Love Story by Erich Segal It's one of my favourites - sad but true, it's a compelling read and a classic weepie. 'What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful. And brilliant. That she loved Mozart and Bach. And the Beatles. And me.' Great opening lines! Rich boy meets poor girl and they fall in love - simple story really, one as old as the hills, but it's funny, touching and very sad. Be warned - tissues at the ready.
3) Venus Reborn by Martina Devlin I should say from the outset that Martina is a good friend mine, but I really love this book. It's her third book and as I'm always telling her, she has an amazing vocabulary and a brilliant way with words, both of which really shine through in her writing. (She's also a lovely person but I won't make her blush any more) This is one of those rare books - well written but very easy to read, with a suspenseful plot that pulls you along and a cracking main character, the wonderfully named Venus. It's set in a fictional small town in Ireland and centres around Venus's search for her real parents (she's adopted). One of my favourite characters in the book is Venus' adoptive father, a real sweetie. Ah sure, I could go on for ages about this book so I'll stop now. But suffice to say, it's great. Read it! And more importantly buy it so that Martina can buy a lovely wooden swing for her niece! Nuff said.
4) Watermelon by Marian Keyes All hail Princess Marian. How could you not love her? Funny, funny, funny! If you like your fiction witty, edgy and clever, Marian's your woman. I read 'Watermelon' when it first came out and it blew me away. I worked in Waterstone's at the time and I remember the marketing manager at Poolbeg Press, Paula Campbell, (now publisher there) delivering large green watermelons to the staff room to celebrate the book's publication. And very tasty they were too!
5) Woman to Woman by Cathy Kelly And speaking of princesses, here's another one - Cathy. What a writer! If you like your fiction warm and wise, Cathy's your woman. Reading Cathy has been described as being wrapped up in a warm fleecy blanket with your best friend and I think that's very accurate. I love all her books and can't wait till the next one. 'Woman to Woman' was her first and it's a great read.
6) Ordinary People by Judith Guest Some people may think that this is rather a strange choice, but it was one of my favourites as a teenager, along with 'Love Story'. I haven't read it since but it left a huge impression on me. I'm not even sure if it's still in print. Another one I must re-read at some stage. In fact, I think I might just lock myself away in my study for a few days and catch up on all my old favourites - ever hopeful. I'd have to get rid of the kids first, not really possible. Ah well, a girl can dream. Anyway, this book is about a 17 year old boy called Conrad and I guess it was a kind of fictional 'Tuesdays with Morrie' kind of book in the 70's when it was written. And if you haven't heard of 'Morrie', it's another good read if you don't mind a dollop of sentiment (I certainly don't). It's quite inspiring actually - an elderly college professor who's dying meets up with one of his pupils and they forge a new friendship. And he tells him the secrets of a happy, good life. I've read it several times and it always makes me think. So maybe I should change no 6 to 'Tuesdays With Morrie' instead of 'Ordinary People'. Hell, read them both!
7) Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg A real feel-good yarn about Alabama in the thirties and the delightful Whistle Stop Cafe. Coffee, gossip, romance and even the occasional murder. Again, a good film but the book's even better.
8) The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy An utterly compelling tale, full of romance and regret. I couldn't put it down. Hard to believe it was written by a man. Highly recommended for long haul flights as it will suck you in and the time will fly!
9) Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Binchy I had to slip another Maeve book in - and this one is another lovely read and perfect for rainy Irish summers, while curled up in a squashy armchair with a rug over your legs - bliss!
10) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Another classic. There are three books that every woman is said to have read - 'Jane Eyre', 'Gone With the Wind' and 'Rebecca' - and for very good reason. It's a triumphant book, full of atmosphere, with a cracking mystery at the centre of the tale. No 'blurb' could do it justice, it's simply superb!

And that's it. I had great fun writing up this list (when I should have been working!). I hope you enjoyed reading it. And now I'll move on to writing the children's list - a writer's work is never done.