What Writers Read by Pandora Sykes

 

In this love letter to reading, curated by Pandora Sykes in aid of the National Literacy Trust, bestselling and beloved writers share their favourite books: the ones they hold most dearly, that they return to time and again and that helped make them the writers they are.

With contributions from: Nick Hornby, Ruth Ozeki, Ann Patchett, Benjamin Zephaniah, Marian Keyes, Elizabeth Strout, Deborah Levy, Tessa Hadley, Elif Shafak, George the Poet, Leila Slimani, Ali Smith, Derek Owusu, Dolly Alderton, Paris Lees, Jojo Moyes, Paul Mendez, Sebastian Faulks, Diana Evans, Meena Kandasamy, Lisa Taddeo, Nikesh Shukla, Taiye Selasi, Monica Ali, Nina Stibbe, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Elizabeth Day, Sara Collins, Damon Galgut, Naoise Dolan, William Boyd, Emma Dabiri, Fatima Bhutto, Kit de Waal.

I loved reading this. I took my time over it and read a few sections at a time, which is what Pandora Sykes says in the introduction. I preferred reading it this way, if I’d read it in one sitting, I may not have taken in as much as I did.

I love hearing what people’s favourite stories and books are, so this book was perfect. 35 different writers talking about their favourite books, and why. It has given me a list of books I feel like I need to read. 

If you enjoy reading things like this, I would definitely recommend this one.