My life in books Camilla Thurlow
As she releases the paperback of her memoir, Not The Type, the bomb disposal expert turned TV star reveals the reads that have shaped her life
THE ONE BOOK I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD READ IS…
This Is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay. Fortunately, I think nearly everyone has read it! If you are one of the few who haven’t, then I really can’t recommend it enough. It’s always been crucial that we understand the reality for the people who uphold our NHS; but now more than ever, we must engage, and understand what they experience and the pressure they are under. As heartbreaking as it is, there are also plenty of giggles along the way.
MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK IS…
For fiction, it has to be One Day by David Nicholls. It’s just a masterpiece and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. I’ve read it many times and I still find it utterly compelling. Somehow, it’s reassuring and devastating all in one. For non-fiction, it’s Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. He’s able to explain such complicated ideas in a way that’s a joy to read. He’s done all the hard work on his end, but you come away feeling like the clever one! Two totally different books, but I could never pick between the two.
MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER FROM A BOOK IS…
Oh wow, that’s a huge question. At the moment, it’s Kevin from The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright. It’s my favourite book to read to my baby daughter, Nell. It brings me so much joy and excitement for her future.
THE BOOK THAT GOT ME THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME WAS…
Tribe by Sebastian Junger. I read it when I moved back to London after working abroad and I felt socially dislocated, and I was drawn to the theme ‘on homecoming and belonging’. It really resonated with me and became a comfort blanket at a tricky time.
THE CHARACTER I RELATE TO MOST IS…
Nora from The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Matt has been so generous with his own life experiences and that helped create this incredibly real central character. The fictional world Nora navigated was a very forgiving space for me to contemplate some of her thought processes that felt familiar to me. It’s an immensely compassionate book.
MY FAVOURITE BOOK AS A CHILD WAS…
The Exiles At Home by Hilary Mckay. I just loved that book, I read it so many times. There was something in it that felt so close to my life but, at the same time, full of possibility.
THE LAST BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY WAS…
War Doctor by David Nott. It’s an astounding account of courage and a unique insight into the reality of the human cost of conflict. David is a hero, but there is absolutely no bravado in his account, just this gentle strength that shines through. It’s such an important reminder of how much fortitude there is in compassion, and how essential that is for changing the lives of the people who need it the most.
MY FAVOURITE LINE FROM A BOOK IS…
‘For you, a thousand times over’, from The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Not The Type: Finding Your Place In The Real World (Metro Publishing) by Camilla Thurlow is out in paperback now