No!

This might be a surprising response from someone who claims to be an avid reader. I think the point is that I have read so many amazing books, over the years, that is almost impossible to mention just one. Over time my taste in books has changed and evolved, as have I.

As a child, I remember reading ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.’ I loved it although I didn’t understand the allegorical aspect of the story. I read this book to my younger brother and sister and eventually to my own children. This book didn’t change my life but it made a considerable impact.

Later on, I read ‘Little Women’. I always imagined myself as Jo!

I studied English Literature until the age of eighteen and our class novels included ‘Animal Farm’, ‘1984’ and ‘Brave New World’. None of these books changed my life but they certainly made me think!

‘Rebecca’ introduced me to the work of Daphne du Maurier and I still have a copy on my bookshelves. Just thinking about this novel makes me shiver.

French literature was part of my degree course and a standout book was ‘La Peste’ by Camus.

I do read non-fiction as well and if I have to name one book that changed my domestic life it would be Delia Smith’s Cookery Course. This was the first cookery book I ever bought and I still refer to it to this day.

Finally, in the words of Frank Zappa: ‘So many books, so little time.’

I’d love to know if there’s a book that has changed your life.