Emma Thompson’s best books

Emma Thompson, the actress and screenwriter, picks six comic books by women. Her latest film, The Children Act, based on the novel by Ian Mcewan and directed by Richard Eyre, is out now

The Guilty Feminist by Deborah Frances-white, 2018 (Virago £14.99). Everything you ever wanted to know about feminism but were afraid to ask. Kind, necessary wisdom with good gags. I am stunned by the community her podcast has created among young women who are feminists but still shave their legs. And old ones whose legs have finally forgotten how to grow hair.

Northanger Abbey

by Jane Austen, 1817 (Wordsworth £2.50). Gentle, probing, sharp, bitter and sweet all at once. Isabella is one of the finest comic characters ever created. Henry Tilney was my first literary love; I stole him from

Catherine numerous times by sweeping into the Pump Room in a boob tube and slingbacks.

How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, 2014 (Ebury £8.99). The only book I know that starts with a woman masturbating. Given the taboo around this interesting subject, that fact alone makes it required reading. Plus, it’s brilliant and hilarious, and has made a lot of people feel a lot less alone.

The American Way of Death

by Jessica Mitford, 1963 (out of print). The peerless Mitford explores the idea that for some Americans, death appears to be optional. Published in 1963, it’s sobering to note that we

still resist discussing the only known fact about our futures.

The Trouble with Women by Jacky Fleming, 2016 (Square Peg £9.99) The ultimate comment on the patriarchy, this felled me in the bookshop. I laughed so hard, I sank to the floor. The men I know who have read it get it, but it’s not quite as funny for them.

Texts from Jane Eyre

by Mallory Ortberg, 2014 (Corsair £8.99). The iworld version of John Crace’s digested reads. This is the world’s best loo book. It appears simple, but like all simple and excellent things, is based on extreme skill and profound understanding.