I love a ‘who done it?’. Stories where the reader is led on a journey through a mystery that culminates with a significant discovery. I have often wondered if this is somehow linked to my enjoyment of mathematics, working through a problem to get ‘an answer’. I very much enjoy authors who can paint a picture for me, who write in a smooth and elegant fashion and who pop twists and turns into their writing. 

I usually choose fiction but also enjoy non-fiction. I was given Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure by Andy Wilman for Christmas and devoured it. When I find an author I like, I usually read everything I can find written by them. To this end, I haven’t included in my bookshelf below all the Carl Hiaasen, Lee Child, Robert Harris, Richard Osmond and Michael Connelly books I have, just a couple of each. Bella Mackie is wonderful; her writing is so clear and simple, and I found I just skipped through the pages. Her books are such a rewarding read.

If I were to make a single recommendation, I might go for Richard Osmond’s Thursday Murder Club books. I thought they were fabulous. Happy reading everyone.

My two favourite authors couldn’t be more different in style: Stephen King and Maya Angelou.

Stephen King is a master of suspense and storytelling; his ability to create tension and develop complex characters keeps me turning pages late into the night. His books remind me how powerful imagination can be.

On the other hand, Maya Angelou’s writing is full of wisdom, beauty, and resilience. Her poetry and autobiographical works speak to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of empathy. 

Both authors, in their own way, explore what it means to be human: one through gripping fiction, the other through lyrical truth.

Growing up in America, my love of reading began the way it does for most children of my generation – curled up with a Judy Blume book. Her writing was funny, honest and deeply understanding of what it felt like to be growing up at that time. 

I’m now especially drawn to the imagery, symbolism and emotional richness found in authors like Jung Chang (Wild Swans) and Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club) who create an entire world in a single paragraph – filled with heritage, memory, and the complex beauty of family dynamics.  

One novel that has stayed with me is The Kitchen God’s Wife, a story that bridges generations and cultures, showing how tales passed down between mothers and daughters can wound, heal and ultimately shape identity.

From Judy Blume’s open-hearted honesty to Amy Tan’s evocative imagery, my reading journey has taught me to listen, imagine, and empathise – giving me new ways to understand myself and opening windows into understanding the lives of others.

My favourite book series for years has been Eragon. I was hooked from the very first read. The blend of fantasy, rich world‑building, and meticulous detail makes it incredibly immersive. I own both physical and digital copies, and I still find myself returning to them from time to time.

From a very young age, my mom introduced me to sci‑fi, and the very first book I ever read in the genre was The Last Starfighter. It became my gateway into the world of science fiction and sparked a lifelong love for the genre, both in books and in movies.

I am always drawn to books that challenge the way I think and keep me guessing right to the end. This is why I enjoy the work of Stuart Turton so much. ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’ is my favourite of his novels. I loved the intricacy of the plot and the feeling of uncovering a mystery one layer at a time. There is something incredibly satisfying about following clues and patterns until everything finally makes sense.

I also have a real soft spot for Bill Bryson. His writing is full of warmth, humour and curiosity, and I often find myself laughing one moment and learning something fascinating the next. Whether he is travelling across countries or exploring science and history, his books feel like conversations with a very observant and very witty friend.

When I want something gripping and full of tension, I turn to Tess Gerritsen. Her stories move quickly and her characters stay with me long after I have finished reading. I often find that I intend to read just one chapter, and suddenly I am halfway through the book.

Once I connect with an author, I like to read widely across their work. There is something reassuring about returning to a familiar writing style while still discovering new stories and ideas.

If I were to make a recommendation, I would encourage anyone to read Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’. It does exactly what it says on the tin, but in a really interesting way for curious learners.

I have many, many, many books.  In fact, I have a whole wall in my house covered by a giant bookcase from floor to ceiling. There are all kinds of books – big books, small books, new books, and old books. For me, books are so much more than just paper. They are the beginning of mini adventures or experiences. I could be looking at the cookery books and thinking about the family dinners, dinners with friends or Village dinners that I’ll cook for. I could be looking at the craft books finding inspiration for Christmas, birthday, or “just because” gifts. I could be looking at the novels where tiny worlds wait to be explored. I could be re-reading the familiar favourites – those books that I have returned to again and again, which comfort in their familiar characters and stories. I could be looking at the French, German, Italian or Spanish books – an adventure into language itself.  Anything is possible. All I have to do is choose one and open its pages.

When thinking about my favourite books on the shelves, I would have to pick a cookery book which is very precious to me. It doesn’t look like much – a plain cardboard cover which has been patched over and over again with Sellotape by many different hands. Faded pencil marks on the front simply says “Recipes”, but this modest cover does not do justice to its contents. As you open the cover you find handwritten recipes from various generations of cooks from my family: some completely handwritten by someone, edited in a different colour by another; some have titles, “Birthday Cake for Tom”, “Dinner 23^rd March”, “Marjorie’s coffee cake”, and some speak of different times with ingredients like “powdered egg” or “a lb of lard”. Each one reflecting a history of cooking, time spent around a table, celebrations, community, and everything in between. 

You’ll find abandoned shopping lists as well, splattered notebook pages, or coupons from cereal packets, pages taken from magazines and other books – occasionally marked with a double tick and “very good” which is the highest praise. 

As you leaf through, the writing becomes more familiar – my granny’s looping handwriting, my grandad’s country school scrawl, my nonna’s Italian script, my opa’s recipe for Sauerkraut, and my mum’s writing. Now, I take pride in adding my own – sometimes ones that I have written or that people have given me, sometimes in different languages. My niece, who has recently learnt how to write, has added her own recipe for her favourite dish - “tomahtow pasta”.  

A book, yes, but also a universe and a history contained in its simple covers.  It is, and always will be, the best book on my bookshelf.

Over the years I have read many books encompassing a wide variety of genres. As I have got older, my tastes have changed and I now veer more towards feel-good or light-hearted books. My only memory of reading as a child is a book about Elizabeth, ‘The Naughtiest Girl in the School’. My Dad despaired of my lacklustre enthusiasm for books.  Fortunately reading is something I now enjoy, and we even have some authors that we like in common such as Carl Hiaasen. This gives me hope that one day my daughter will love reading as much as me.

Nowadays, I can devour a good book in a weekend but can also go weeks before I read another. I am rubbish at remembering the names of books and their authors so this has taken me ages to make as I have had to go through my Kindle and Google storylines so that I can find the book names. I always remember whether I liked the book and how it made me feel though!

I am currently reading ‘How to kill your family’ by Bella Mackie which was recommended to me by a colleague. It feels different to anything I’ve read before, and I like the style of writing. The title suggests it’s gruesome, but it isn’t. It is amusing and a bit sad so far.

Years ago, I loved reading ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ written by Gail Honeyman and recently, whilst looking for a similar book, I decided to read it again! It is the only book I have read twice.

Jodi Picoult’s “Wish you were here”, a story set during covid, was a very interesting recent read with a big twist in the middle (well, I didn’t see it coming) and it put me off the book when it happened, but I continued with the book and after reading the author’s notes (something I don’t normally do), I decided I did like the book as it was based on peoples real (although very bizarre) experiences during covid.

Jane Fallon is a recent favourite author of mine, having read many of her books.  Her books include romance, comedy, betrayal, revenge, friendship, and life-changing decisions.  Always a happy ending and suitable outcome for the baddy!

When I read a book, I like something light‑hearted that lets me escape from the real world for a while. I absolutely loved the Harry Potter series when I read it all those years ago, and the books still have pride of place on my bookshelf. I’ve passed that love on to my son – although I think his enthusiasm surpasses mine! The Harry Potter books are the only ones I’ve read in that particular genre, as I usually gravitate toward a good, uplifting “feel‑good” read.

For example, you can’t beat an old‑fashioned, easy‑to‑read story that follows the trials and tribulations of families in London during wartime, or a book that has you laughing out loud on one page and crying on the next – something like “PS, I Love You” or “Me Before You”. There’s nothing quite like setting your own worries aside and becoming completely absorbed in the lives, loves, and laughter of the characters.

I’ve always felt that a truly good book is one that makes you want to read just one more page because you simply have to know what happens next, while at the same time not wanting it to end at all.

Thrillers or anything too “scary” are definitely out for me – I like to be able to sleep at night. I much prefer stories that lift you up rather than leave you checking the shadows, and there’s something wonderfully comforting about knowing a book will make you smile rather than keep you awake.

My ‘bookshelf’ has evolved into something more virtual than physical as I have got older. This doesn’t mean that I don’t own books, my Kindle library is extensive, spanning a wide range of genre and this doesn’t include all the ebooks/audiobooks I borrow through Borrowbox (a free app through Plymouth Libraries). My ideal is being able to switch between the audio and kindle versions of the same book.

Reading can serve so many different functions, and while ‘reading for pleasure’ is a key phrase in the media now as part of the ‘National Year of reading’, my favourite reads are often ones that have uncomfortable and challenging elements. I especially like dystopian fiction for its exploration of ‘what if’, making me consider contemporary ethical issues anew.

There are times when a physical book is useful though, and I love the ‘Wild swimming walks’ series. I’ve a small collection of these and take the relevant book with me when exploring somewhere new. I’ve also got an ever-growing collection of knitting books; my current obsession is brioche (the knitting style, although the bread is nice too!).