My favourite reads

Having seen the last tread in top ten reads of various people in the public eye I thought I would share my favourites, some familiar some less so, and maybe people can share their choice reads in return. These are in no particular order and I am not restricting myself to ten as I am mixing up fiction, biography, poetry etc.


1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

One of many classics on my list. I don't know what drew me to this originally but it has become one of the few true love stories, that needs a social reality to add to its magic.

2. Alice in wonderland/ through the looking glass - Lewis Carroll I grew up on the poetry in these books, and as an adult became more aware of its complex themes. To the point I rarely go anywhere without a copy of this book.

3. Metaphysical poetry - various  my introduction to complex poetry, being given this to read at 16 years old was one the biggest eye openers in my life.

4. Postcards from the edge - Carrie Fisher. The quickest wit I have ever read, its self depreciation at its best under the guise of fiction.

5. Nobody gets out of here alive - Jerry Hopkins, Danny Sugerman. I stumbled over this book in my late teens, when my own mortality was at risk, and something in this book clicked. As good a biography of Jim Morris on as I can find.

6. Different Seasons - Stephen King. This was the first king novel or novellas rather,I read and being broken into 4 stories makes it relevant to read what ever the mood. It has been made into three maybe four different yet successfully films for very good reason, every story has a depth unusual for such a short story.

7. The Stand - Stephen King. My other favourite novel by this author (although I have another two I am particularly fond of). This is your typical good verses evil novel, written in a world we can all relate to.

8. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte. I never thought I'd truly understand this novel, until I spent a week on the moors, doing nothing but reading writing and filming. Suddenly the depths of this book became clear, beyond the romantic and into the study of nature.

9. Twelfth Night - Shakespeare. Humour aplenty, and a great introduction to the bards work. It was the second play I read of his and my favourite for so many reasons, with Taming of the Shrew coming a close second.

10. Actors Anonymous - James Franco. Rapidly becoming a stable in my choice authors this novel takes the  glitz of Hollywood and strips it bare to show the reality in its maggot ride beauty.

11. Don Juan - Lord Byron. Little can be said about this, that hasn't be said before, but there is a verse for every man in this book.

12. North and South - John James. This is a 3 novel story about the American civil war from the points of two friends one of which is southerner the other a northerner. Romantic history at its best.

13. Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse. one man's spiritual journey, becomes a journey for you the reader.

14.The Matthew Swift series - Kathy Griffin. If it is possible to write a harry potter series for adults then this is it. Set in London it's reality makes the fantasy more acceptable.

15. Chronicles of Narnia - C S Lewis. I never could understand the fussy over The Hobbit when I had already read these. I just love the imagery and the hidden or not not so hidden sub messages.

This is my selection it's by no means complete but it's a good start.