MY SIX BEST BOOKS

Former Olympic swimmer and TV presenter Sharron, 57, is an ambassador for the Bath & District RSPCA Cats & Dogs Home. CHARLOTTE GRAY

Sebastian Faulks

(Vintage, £8.99)

A French Resistance saga. Faulks is at his very best when he’s writing about human suffering; he captures the spirit and the desperation of the world wars better than anyone else. HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

JK Rowling

(Bloomsbury, £8.99)

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and my three children share the passion. I’ve been listening to this book on audio with my 12-year-old son Finley as we drive to school. THE BOOK THIEF

Markus Zusak

(Bloomsbury, £7.99)

Reading can transport us out of the deepest misery and fear.The central character is a young girl in Nazi Germany who deals with the

devastation around her by burying herself in every book she can. THE SHADOW OF THE WIND

Carlos Ruiz Zafón

(W&N, £9.99)

I knew very little about the Spanish CivilWar until I read this beautiful novel. It’s a mesmerising story within a story which encapsulates a forbidden love, war, suffering and tragedy. THE MOUSETRAP

Agatha Christie

(Out of print)

Christie’s plots are compelling yet easy to follow. She was an interesting character too, she married a man 13 years her junior. She didn’t play by the rules. I like that. MARLEY & ME

John Grogan

(Hodder & Stoughton, £9.99)

This heart-warming tale is an autobiographical account of how the author’s mischievous pet dog Marley caused constant havoc but was still adored by his owners. It always puts a smile on my face.