My Life in Books
Irish author Caroline Foran on the six books that made her who she is
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
Not to be confused with the Julia Roberts-starring movie, which didn't exactly win over the critics, Elizabeth Gilbert's break-out book is one that I refuse to lend out; it means that much to me. It's been battered and worn and loved and re-read time and time again and it's never out of arm's reach.
A memoir that chronicles her trip around the world, during which she stops off at Italy, India and Bali on her quest to find all of the answers she's looking for postdivorce you can't but love her honesty, vulnerability and sometimes, her bullish*tfree perspective. I dip in and out of it when I need a dose of "you've got this", and it always works.
This Will Only Hurt A Little Busy Philipps
Another memoir. You'll notice a pattern. When this actor put pen to paper, I doubt she realised the magic she was about to make. Her insights into the realities of life in Hollywood are incredibly refreshing. She is hilarious in most parts, but that doesn't mean she doesn't go deep. Covering everything from sexual assault to life as an Oscar contender's best friend (Michelle Williams), Busy's book woke me the F up. She inspires me to be vulnerable and always authentic in my own writing. A total badass.
Deep Work Cal Newport
Deep Work is incredibly practical and it has had a significant impact on my professional outlook. It offers a roadmap to help readers achieve focus in an increasingly distracted world, so that you can create something of value. He separates deep work (focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task such as writing a book) from shallow work (non-cognitively demanding tasks such as emails) which is often performed while distracted. Once you realise how much of your time is spent in the shallow end, you realise just how much you could achieve if you dared to go a little deeper. A real step outside the comfort zone for a social media addict.
One Day
David Nicholls
Spoiler alert: despite consuming a voracious amount of rom-coms during my time on Earth, I've never had a more visceral reaction to a romantic novel's ending before. I was traumatised for days, I felt the character's heartache was my heartache and that's when you know a book has deeply resonated with you. Nothing floats my boat more than the idea of true love and the concept behind Nicholls' bestseller - which catches up with two friends who become more on one day every year for 20 years. It was something that hadn't been done before. Epic.
Goosebumps: Piano Lessons Can Be Murder
R.L Stine
The thirteenth book in the original Goosebumps series, first published in 1993, this is a book that perhaps had the most impact on my life. It was one of the first books I read by myself (without the help of a parent) and it was terrifying. It didn't help that I had already began my own piano lessons and was convinced, as per the story, that my piano might be haunted by a ghost, that my piano teacher would dismember my hands and that if I told my parents, they would think I'd lost my mind. The Goosebumps series were quite smart, very well written for their time and they also kickstarted my love-hate relationship with the horror genre.
The Twilight Saga
Stephenie Meyer
Again, the film adaptations of this series will hardly go down as canonical, but I don't think I've ever been more absorbed by an angst-filled teen story. Harry Potter was incredible, obviously, but for me, romance needs to be right at the fore. Throw in criminally attractive vampires who sparkle in the sunshine, hot werewolves and all of the risk and lust you'd expect from a juicy love triangle, and you have one satisfied 17-year-old. Time slowed down for me when reading these books; probably my first foray into mindfulness.