Which childhood book sparked your love of reading? The Shoe Shop Bears by Margaret J Baker, now sadly out of print. It was the first book I bought with my own money. I was bored by picture books and w

The Irish author, 62, on escaping the news through writing, staying sober and scrolling the internet for pretty things

Look at this, Kerry!” I called over my assistant in the café I owned and ran. “What is it?” she asked. I handed her the letter. “A reviewer from the glossy local lifestyle magazine, Aspire, is arrivin

Our books editor Zoe West’s favourite picks for the month

THE LIBRARY OF TRAUMATIC MEMORY Tragic moments ★ ...

Sibyls , the book born of Ruth Fainlight’s poems and Leonard Baskin’s prints, became a memento of friendship, beauty and sorrow for its author