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Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
Told by a young girl growing up in northeast Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire it's semi autobiographical and so, so evocative of childhood in the late 1930's and early 1940's.
The story evolves as a close-knit, rural community gradually changes as communications improve alongside the mechanisation of agriculture and urban growth.
It's an absorbing insight into a long-lost way of life that never ceases to reveal a far less hurried and frantic world, where community and family were valued and prioritised above possessions and money.

It's my literary version of Valium, uplifting and soothing and has been my 'turn to' book for more than half a century.......scary thought but reassuringly still there.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2016. I love Strange but true facts as books are there to give a meaning, a pleasure and are a treasure.

Books I keep rereading: Lord of the Rings, Jungle Books, Pride & Prejudice...but my all time fave must be Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr

It's hard to pick as I like find new stories. The most recent book which I couldn't put down was The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. about the repercussions on relationships after a man slaps a naughty child at a BBQ. The characters he created are complex, diverse but you can't help but feel you know them.

My favourite book is The Throwaway Children. It is sad, interesting and it will take you on a journey with them.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff.
One of the few books purely in letter form. Inspiring, wonderful plot and great characterisation.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Have read this many, many times and never tire of this book.

"Time and Time Again" by Ben Elton. It's the second book of his I've read and he is a brilliant writer. This one is set in 1914. Hugh Stanton is trying to change history, and prevent the war from happening. It's a gripping read.

A really beautiful book is The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin. Think I got it courtesy of Gransnet. A story of 'family' love - caring - and protection. Different to anything I have read before.

It has to be Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend. It is side splittingly funny, irreverent and thought provoking. Queen Camilla, the sequel to The Queen and I follows the now deposed royal family and their lives in a rough council estate. Princess Anne rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it. She even keeps a horse in her back yard. Charles is still the dreamer. Wills and Harry are wide boys and even the corgis are running with the mongrels from the estate pack.

I must dig it out and read it yet again.

My favourite book at the moment is Split Second by David Baldacci. I love the twists and turns of the story. A fantastic author of crime, with a plot which keeps me guessing right to the end. I do love a page turner.

Choice of best books depends for me on the time of year. As Christmas is coming, I do like to read 'A Christmas Carol' in the weeks before. Gets me 'in the mood'

My favourite book is Jane Eyre, I have always loved this book specially the atmosphere and beautiful writing. I read a lot of books about 4 a week, but this one is always my favourite

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – amazingly feminist for the time, hauntingly beautiful and wildly passionate. Love it!

My favourite is Winter in Madrid even though I wasn't happy with the ending.

My favourite book is A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. He was a wonderful storyteller and this book has it all. From London to the Far East to Australia the book carries you along effortlessly. The characters are well-drawn and likeable. It is a book I can read again and again.Brilliant book.

I can't say it is my Favourite book, but the one that sticks in my mind when anyone asks me this question is: 'we need to talk about Kevin'. She discusses things which are taboo subjects in such a gripping way.

Pride and Prejudice - love a good romance - and the examination of social manners

It must be Treasure Island by RLS - childhood reading but still the best adventure story and very re-readable

Smallcreep's Day by Peter Currell Brown has to be my favourite book. Extremely surreal and gripping from start to finish.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach,

I have read this book more times than I can remember, if you get it then it offers the reader the option to live life as an individual, my six children have also read this and I can sometimes see in them the teachings of the book, I think up to now I have had more than 15 copies of the book.

Time for a re-read I think

the snow child by eowyn ivey
is a grown up fairy tale about a childless couple who long for a child of their own build a little snow man and sculpts the face like a little girl in the morning it's dissappeared and all that remains are tiny footprints in the snow - its magical and at times a little sad but i really enjoyed it.

Read the Morland Dynasty by Cynthia Harrod Eagles, found it fascinating, each book kept me interested in the series.

My favourite books are the 'Department 19' series by Will Hill. They are actually classed as young adult fiction, but it is definitely the most gripping series I have ever read; the story stays with you long after you've read the final page!

My favourite book is Strumpet City by Joesph Plunket. Set in Dublin During the 1913 Lockouts, amazing story of Dublin City and it dwellers, brilliant historic detail.