MY SIX BEST BOOKS
AMANDA REDMAN, 59, has appeared in many TV series including New Tricks and Dangerfield. The DVD of her latest, The Good Karma Hospital, is out now on the Acorn label. BIRDSONG
by Sebastian Faulks
Vintage, £8.99 I remember a review where somebody said they wanted to read this again after they had finished. I couldn’t imagine doing that but that is exactly what I did because it’s rich and densely packed. It taught me so much about the First World War which has always been an interest of mine because I love the war poetry. CATCH THE MOON, MARY
by Wendy Waters
Amazon only The story of a musically brilliant girl trying to escape from her life. It’s told in a fabulous way, almost like a fairytale, and captured my imagination. It’s tender and beautiful. The writer sent it to me and invited me to the launch after I waxed lyrical about it. WILD SWANS
by Jung Chang
William Collins, £9.99 I knew nothing about Chinese history before reading this. It was eyeopening that Mao, a mad despot, set people picking every blade of grass to get rid of it. It covers three generations in Chang’s family, starting with the binding of her grandmother’s feet which is graphically described. UNRAVELLING OLIVER
by Liz Nugent
Penguin, £7.99 I love crime thrillers and this is stunning from the first line: “I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.” It’s set in Ireland and there are lots of twists and turns. Fabulous escapism. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
by Stieg Larsson
MacLehose, £8.99 I thought this trilogy was fantastic. When other people were struggling with it, I was ripping through it. I love Scandi-noir dramas. They’re very atmospheric and this had great characters. THE KITE RUNNER
by Khaled Hosseini
Bloomsbury, £8.99 Very moving and apt for now. It follows one boy’s life in Afghanistan and it touched me hugely. I love books that grab you for the human story but where you also learn about different cultures.