Top authors pick their books

Friday, September 23, 2011

Top authors pick their books for the Big Book Swap

We asked Lauren Henderson, Chrissie Manby and Matt Dunn to tell us about a book that has moved or inspired them.

Lauren chose a book that inspired her to become a writer - 'Modesty Blaise' by Peter O'Donnell. Here's what the author of the bestseller Jane Austen's Guide To Dating said about it:

"When I started writing crime novels in the late 80s, my inspiration, ironically, wasn't a woman writer - ironically, because the whole point of the books I wanted to write was to create a very strong and modern heroine. My role model was Modesty Blaise, created by Peter O'Donnell; the comic strip is better-known, but the books are infinitely superior, plotted tighter than a champagne cork in a bottle and as effervescent and delightful as the contents. Start with the eponymous first novel, 'Modesty Blaise', which introduces our kick-ass heroine and her adorable sidekick Willie Garvin".

Author of Spa Wars, Chrissie picked Justin Cartwright's The Song Before It Is Sung, a novel based on the events surrounding a real-life attempt to assassinate Hitler at the height of the Second World War.

Chrissie said: "I'm a huge fan of all Justin Cartwright's novels but 'The Song Before It Is Sung' has to be my favourite. The subject matter is fascinating, giving a perspective on the Second World War that I hadn't come across before. But this is not just a book for WWII buffs. The central themes of this book are timeless and universal: love, loss, guilt, passion, frailty, courage. The climax of this novel genuinely made me gasp in pain. Read this book to be informed, entertained (there are plenty of laughs) and moved."

Matt selected High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby as a book that changed his life. The author of the forthcoming The Accidental Proposal said:

"I'd known I wanted to be a writer since I was fourteen years old, but it wasn't until I read High Fidelity that I knew what I wanted to write; because High Fidelity was the book I wanted to write. Six novels later, I'm still trying..."

Hosting a Big Book Swap is easy

Hold one at home or at work and invite friends, family and colleagues to swap their favourite books. Why not hold a competition with colleagues submitting their favourite books and guessing whose is whose - there may be some surprises! Or, if you're part of a book club, use one of the meetings already in the diary.

• Simply download a fundraising pack or call the fundraising team on 020 7386 4006 to receive yours
• Invite your guests and ask them to bring one or several books to swap
• Ask your guests to donate between £5 and £10
• Talk about your books and swap!