One book that sparks joy for me is Alice in Wonderland. When I pick it up, it generates memories of an old Disney animated film, a 45rpm vinyl soundtrack, Book Week costumes ...

"There’s something comforting about having pretty spines to stroke, covers to smile over, pages that flip open to favourite scenes. They have a tactile loveliness that ebooks will never have and that I miss hugely."

You’ll find my books on bookshelves and any other available surfaces. At any one time I’ll have three or four books on the go. However, these days, if a book hasn’t drawn me in after the first couple of chapters, I don’t persevere. Life is too short and there are too many books.

Even though books are exempt from any rare attempts to de-clutter, I do pass some onto family and friends and also like to support the local little street libraries

Books have been important to me since I was little. My parents were great believers in the empowerment of knowledge and the inspiration of story.