The books that CHANGED MY LIFE

THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME LAUGH

It’s rare for a book to make me laugh out loud these days, in the way that

The Towers Of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay or Esprit De Corps by Lawrence Durrell once did, but

I expect that says more about me than it does about modern literature! Having said that, I certainly laughed at This Is Going To Hurt by

Adam Kay.

THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY

I remember sitting on a plane while on a book tour of the north west of America in floods of tears over ‘Pelagia’s Lament’ in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières.

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED THE WAY I THINK

I rely on books to do just that! The latest non-fiction books that have informed me and, as a result, have been mind-changing are Influence: The Psychology

Of Persuasion by Professor Robert Cialdini and Why

Women Read Fiction by Helen Taylor. As far as novels go, Olive, Again, the newest book by Elizabeth Strout, is a wonderful exploration of a contradictory character that provides a lesson in not judging a book by its cover.

THE BOOK THAT GOT ME THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME

Four Frightened People by E Arnot Robertson. It was first published in 1931, but I read the Virago paperback in the early 1980s when I was going through a divorce. It’s about four people stuck in the Malaysian jungle who are forced to confront their true natures. It was so important to me that I think I wore out two paperbacks!

THE BOOK I MOST OFTEN GIVE TO OTHERS

At the moment, it’s Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss. She is such a good writer. If you haven’t read it yet, you have a treat in store.

Joanna Trollope Bestselling author Joanna Trollope has recently written her 22nd novel, Mum & Dad. She shares the books that have made her laugh, cry and think.