The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

My brother introduced me to this book and it was the first novel that I read and couldn't put down.  Before this I had only read because I had to for school. 

When I read this book I understood what people meant by reading for pleasure before this I always found reading a chore. 

Behind the Mask by Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury is a flawed character. He suffers from mental health issues, he has obsessive compulsive disorder, but he also happens to be the No. 1 Heavyweight boxer in the world. This book is an honest account of an elite sportsman's battle with depression and the demons associated with mental health as he becomes one of the world's most recognisable sports stars.

The Best Thing That Never Happened To Me by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice

This book is funny, honest and life-changing! It follows the lives of two key characters and how if they had made different decisions, life could be so different. It makes you realise just how different our lives could be based on the decisions we make and our actions. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

This book is very apt for the circumstances we are all in. It is full of heart warming and positive quotes that will lift the spirits and raise a smile. The illustrations are very effective and relate well to the words. A book not too full of words, but full encouragement.

The Mountain by Laura Ding-Edwards

I love this book because it is has helped, not only in life generally but it has hugely helped me during the Pandemic, especially during the times of lockdown. The book reassures you that 'you are only human, after all'.

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

I love this book because it challenges our negative misconceptions of the world around us, this book shows us how much progress we have made and how incredible humans are.

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

I love this book! It was bought for me by my aunty when I was 8 years old and it has been a firm favourite ever since.  The sense of adventure throughout is so vivid, it really takes you to a magic far away tree!

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

This was the first 'hard boiled' detective book that I ever read and from the opening chapter I was hooked. It's protagonist (Private Detective Philip Marlowe) is deeply flawed but essentially a good and just man; a complex character he seeks the truth at all costs. The descriptions by Chandler are knock out- he has a unique voice and wrote like no one I had ever read before. It lit the fire of my obsession with crime fiction.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I first read this book when I was at school in Year 9 and I felt so emotionally about the story and was so horrified by the injustice and prejudice that the story centres around. It was at a time when I was just starting to discover and learn about the Civil Rights Movement and the injustices faced by African Americans and it really awakened in me a spark for social justice and truth and I wanted to learn more. The way Atticus Finch is represented as the moral compass in the story and the innocence of Jem and Scout is often challenged by the racism and discrimination and hatred that lives and breeds around them made me so angry that this was really what life was like for many people in America.   I highly recommend you read this book as it represents an important part of 20th century history and one that we should all know about and learn from.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

After visiting Auschwitz in October 2019 I have continued to read a range of literature based on WW2, this book gives a truthful, shocking and harrowing insight to the conditions and experiences of those imprisoned during the Holocaust. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel 'Cilka's Journey'. 

Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand

My dad had a copy of this book as a child which he passed on to me when I was young. I have fond memories of reading that book (and later watching the film adaptation Nanny McPhee) with my dad.

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson

I have very happy memories of receiving this book one Christmas, along with a bean bag, and simply enjoying sitting and reading without any other cares in the world. I have since enjoyed sharing it with my own children when they were young.

The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

It's a captivating and heartbreaking story about the friendship between a wealthy boy and servant, all set in Afghanistan (I love reading novels set in a different places and time).

Baghdad Burning by Riverbend

I love this book as it looks at a real life story of someone who is facing turmoil within their country due to war and it gives a real incite to the affects of war, the oppression that was faced by Iraqi women and life after liberation. 

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Such an honest and inspiring account from a lady thrown into the spotlight whilst also raising her family and all of the challenges that life throws at you.  Powerful and thought provoking.  I listened to it read by Michelle herself and really enjoyed it.

Master Micro Stakes Poker by Alton Hardin

It has helped me to master the game of poker (all linked to Maths and probability) and win at the lowest stakes.

The Secret Barrister by The Secret Barrister

This is one of my favourite books as it gives a great insight into the real world of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. It provides a witty yet honest account of the different roles played by some members of the judiciary. I love the fact that the author remains anonymous to allow for the freedom of expression and honesty presented in the book. The book certainly shows a side to the justice system that's not only archaic and out of touch with the general public but also a system that is perhaps not fit for purpose! For those who love critical thinking......it is definitely worth a read. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

"When have you been at your strongest?" Asked the boy.
"When I have dared to show my weaknesses." Said the horse. "Asking for help isn't giving up. It's refusing to give up."
This is a book about strength, kindness, love and loyalty, values I hold very dear. 

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

I love post-apocalyptic sci-fi stories, especially 'Zombie Movies', and although this book is about plants going around killing people, it is essentially the first ever Zombie Apocalypse novel, written in 1951 but still very scary and readable today.

The Amateur Naturalist by Gerald Durrell

I have always been a keen amateur naturalist myself, and when I got this book for my 13th birthday it was a revelation, full of practical instructions for everything I wanted to do, from raising caterpillars to cleaning up the skulls of dead animals, and I still refer to it today.

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

I read them when they first came out, I got completely immersed in the imaginative wonder and am now reading them to my children. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

It has everything you need for a brilliant novel: vivid settings, fascinating characters, and an abundance of mystery!

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

The first book, that's seen as a "classic", I read, and started my love for studying English literature!

The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson

The Paper Dolls is a beautifully written children's picture book which addresses the power of family traditions, the joy of the most simple activities, and, most powerfully, how we can manage loss and grief. 

1984 by George Orwell 

1984 is a powerful investigation of what happens when a whole society refuses to tell the truth and how this can pathologise the individual and the society at large 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 

It is a beautifully descriptive story about a girl named Kya. Kya is a 'swamp girl' who lives in the marshes in North Carolina. The book follows the ups and downs of her life. She lives a lonely life, but her story is a hopeful one as well. With a little help, she's able to survive and even learn to read. This is a fantastic coming of age story and also includes a good old whodunit mystery! 

Star Trek: The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre 

It is about how the Universe is based on chaos which is governed by maths. 

Papillon by Henri Charriere 

The real book that means the most to me is actually Mr Bump which reminds me of my granddad, I have a very battered old copy that he has written in and I treasure it but I think Papillion might be a more appropriate recommendation. There are many books that mean a lot to me, this one Papillion is special as I have visited many of the locations mentioned in the book from French Guiana and Devils Island to Venezuela, I read it while on my own travel adventures although thankfully I did not need to survive disease and brutality or escape across shark infested waters on a raft made of coconuts. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 

by Rebecca Skloot 

It combines biology and storytelling - the true story about the woman whose cells became the first human cells to grow outside of the human body. Her cells have been used by thousands of scientists and were important in the development of hundreds of treatments (e.g. AIDS, chemotherapy and the polio vaccine). 

Once by Morris Gleitzman 

This book brings a spirit of adventure, courage, determination and hope in friendships between contrasting people. It reminds me of how precious time is and is a brilliant book to read.