The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon

I first read this book at the age of eleven after my older brother recommended it to me. His not being an avid reader led me to believe that there was something special about this book. I was not wrong. The book follows 15 year old Christopher Boone who describes himself as a "mathematician with behavioural difficulties". With Christopher's interesting view of the world propelling the plot forwards, I instantly fell in love with this book.

Upon discovering the body of Wellington, his neighbour's dog, Christopher takes on the challenge of unearthing the killer, not knowing where his new endeavor will lead him. Christopher's world is soon turned upside down when he discovers hidden secrets of much more importance than the identity of the dog killer. The reader is sucked in to Christopher's world, wanting to befriend him, to help him through this time of discovery in some way.
The teenage protagonist's attempts to relate everything in the world around him to maths made this book an instant favourite for both my brother and I, being the "maths heads" of the family. This book has stayed with me for years and is still being read all the time, impossible to put down once it has been picked up.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, by John le Carré.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is, as Terry Pratchett might put it, 'a mystery inside a riddle, wrapped in an enigma'. In fact, the author's name is not John le Carré, as the cover may have you believe, but is in fact David John Moore Cornwell. He took the name 'John le Carré' when he was working with the British intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (lack of punctuation intentional) is a story about a man, George Smiley, who has retired from the British secret service, so we can see the experience le Carré brings to the table.

It is this authenticity that makes the novel for me. Everything in the novel feels real, from the rather grey London atmosphere the author conjures, to nail-biting tension that so electrifies the book's plot. The book is not filled with action, this story is not akin to the action-packed world of espionage that Ian Fleming wove so famously for James Bond to rampage across. Tinker Tailor Solider Spy is a sombre and nervy affair.

The reader is thrust into a world where nobody is to be fully trusted, given that most of the characters spy on others for money, armed with nothing but an insight into the truly brilliant mind of the protagonist, George Smiley, as he pieces together a mystery and tries to uncover a mole in the secret service even after he's been cut off from it. Though it doesn't involve a detective, aside from a few bit characters, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy boasts as good a 'whodunnit' as any book out there.

The great thing about the book is the sense that the reader gets of the planning that le Carré put into the book. Everything is thought out and everything the characters do is rational and fitting with their personalities, and this only contributes to paranoia imbued within the book. In short, Tinker Tailor Soldier is a compelling and tense thriller that had me at the edge of my seat throughout.

The Diary of a Young Girl

One of my absolute favourite books from my childhood is The Diary of a Young Girl, it is the book of Anne Frank's diary. I remember there was a small picture book in our library at primary school, it was about the Second World War and inside, it mentioned Anne Frank. There were a few pictures of her with her mother and father and her sister Margot, as well as a tiny paragraph explaining her story. I became fascinated with these pictures, I love anything old, especially pictures, these reminded me of some we have at home of my Grandmother and her sisters, I used to look at that picture book nearly everyday, I wanted to know Anne's story. I think I was about eight years old when I first came across the picture book and from then on I pestered my parents to get me her diary. They kept saying I was too young, that I'd read it when I was a little bit older, but I was very persistent with my pleading until finally I got it for Christmas that year. The cover of my copy was bright pink, with a plaid design, just like Anne Frank's real diary. There were extra pictures inside, as well as extra facts about her family and friends.

I think I read the whole book in two days. Once I started reading it, I was hooked! It was so incredibly personal that I felt like I really knew Anne Frank. Because I was so young, I had no idea what her story would be like, my parents had told me about the Holocaust from a young age but I hadn't really understood it completely until I read her diary. I really didn't understand why her story just, ended. I remember running to my Dad, telling him that the story was really bad because it just ended with no warning. My Dad then had to explain to me what happened to Anne, her family and friends and millions of other completely innocent people. I was absolutely devastated when I found out what happened to Anne, Margot, their parents, Peter, his parents and all of their friends.

This stands out as being one of my favourite books of all time because I became so attached to it so quickly. I felt like I was friends with Anne, I wanted to attend her birthday party, to meet her friends and family, even to hide with her just so she wouldn't feel so alone. This book affected me hugely, as it did to the other millions of people who have read it. I know I will treasure this book forever.

Champagne Moijto

Champagne Moijto

Whilst relaxing one day during my summer holiday in France. I cleverely feel asleep beside the pool in 38 degree heat. I knew this because afterwards I realised even my iphone could not handle the temperature and it had decided to shutdown and even melt, leaving me on my lonesome without entertainment.

My mother forced me to become reclusive and decided to lock me up in the appartment for two days, attacking me with aftersun and all and all sorts of stinging creams. During this time I rummaged through all sorts of dusty bookshelves and found what looked like a semi modern book. I started reading it with bad intentions as I presumed that if it was a book of my uncles, it would probably bore me to death.

It managed to surprise me as I was transported back to the the South Side of Dublin within only a few pages. I instantly recognised the common south side lingo and I found it hilarious because Kelly dramatises it to a whole new level. The use of landmarks and places which I know well made the book even better, as I could really relate to the outrageous things he was saying! I thought it was extremely funny how he still relies on his parents for money because it seems that he cannot do anything but play rugby and he can't even make a career out of it. This book is excellent because it shows this boy who has been spoiled his whole life and he has to learn to fend for himself all of a sudden. The diary like tone of this book allows the reader an insight into Kelly's thoughts whether or not they are good or bad.

I comfortably finished the book within the two days. Who needs an iphone when you find such a good book? :)

My Favourite Book - On The Road, by Jack Kerouac

On The Road, by Jack Kerouac, had a profound effect on me when I first read it. I was twelve years old at the time. I had heard exceedingly positive things about the book. It was seen as a hugely important piece of American literature.

The book amazed me. It's tale of young man leaving home to a world of possibilities and opportunities was wonderful. His journey felt important, the characters eccentric, yet totally believable. This is thanks, in part, to the book being based on Kerouac’s life. These events actually occurred. The book is an accurate picture of life in the 50’s as the beat generation was born and fell in love with sex and drugs and jazz.

The book reads like an exploration of newfound freedom, a trip through a new world recovering from a time of great hardship.

At its core, On The Road is a poignant coming-of-age tale. It’s gritty, honest and utterly engrossing. This is why it has stood the test of time as my favourite book.