Starter for ten, Grace Williams and Whatever you love: Helen Lederer's six best books
HELEN LEDERER, 60, was a key player in the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s and appeared on TV in comedy classics Bottom, Absolutely Fabulous, French And Saunders and Girls On Top.
Her novel Losing It (Pan, £7.99) is out this week.
GRACE WILLIAMS: SAYS IT LOUD
Emma Henderson Sceptre, £8.99
A moving, arresting book that tells the story of an institutionalised disabled child, alienated from her family. It's an amazing perspective and it prompted many emotions.
THE CONSCIENCE OF THE RICH
CP Snow House of Stratus, £8.99
I read this when I was young. It's an early satirical look at the politics of wealth and pre-war socialism, set within a rich Jewish family.
It's thought-provoking and I love the elegant, arch writing style Snow had.
THE GIRLS OF SLENDER MEANS
Muriel Spark Penguin, £8.99
My favourite author. This is a romantic and evocative look at the coming of age of a group of young women.
I love her style, as in this quote from the book: "Long ago in 1945 all the nice people in England were poor, allowing for exceptions." She is witty and understated.
WHATEVER YOU LOVE
Louise Doughty Faber & Faber, £7.99
When I was a judge on the Costa Book Awards this is one I read. It's a gripping, emotionally raw thriller.
Everyone needs a thriller when they go away. The main character loses a child and it's unsettling, one of those books that stays with you.
STARTER FOR TEN
David Nicholls Hodder, £8.99
A laugh-out-loud read. Making people laugh is an important function of fiction and it's what I tried to do in my book.
It's a warm, touching story of a young man who arrives at university with the ambition of being on University Challenge. I thought that he was a real discovery as a writer and now the world has caught up.
ROOM
Emma Donoghue Picador, £8.99
This is told from the viewpoint of a young boy held captive in a small room with his mother.
It uses unusual devices to tell the story and observe their relationship. It's written with innocence and truth.
