Best books ... chosen by Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin is the author of the Inspector Rebus novels, one of Scotland’s most popular literary exports. The series finale, Exit Music, will be out in paperback next month. Rankin’s first art-world thril
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (Norton, $14). I first read this during high school, because I wasn’t old enough to see the 1971 film at the cinema. I loved the language, story, and structure. I started scribbling stories about my own experiences, so really this is the book that got me writing.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (Harper Perennial, $13). I studied this novel at university and marveled at its conciseness and depth. Spark packs so much into each sentence and scene. It’s also very funny, with moments of tragedy and horror.
Laidlaw by William McIlvanney (Harvest, $15). Again, I read this at university, just as I was beginning to sketch out what would become my first Inspector Rebus novel. McIlvanney brought depth and nuance to the crime story, showing us the effect crime has on those who investigate it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Players by Jilly Cooper (Ballantine, $23; originally published in the U.K. under the title Rivals). My wife and I moved to France in 1990, and I set out to become a full-time writer. Our first winter we were snowed in, and the only book in the house I hadn’t read was this one. It managed to defrost me with its bawdy, well-researched look behind the scenes at a British television company.
A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell (University of Chicago, $93 for the complete set). I’m cheating, because this is a connected series of 12 novels, which encompass the lifetime of the hero, a novelist not unlike Powell himself. Powell’s prose is exquisite, his characters memorable, and he has a keen understanding of what makes us human.
Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot (Harvest, $9). I studied these poems in high school and come back to them every decade or so. As I grow older, they become ever more meaningful as a meditation on the passing of time and the span of human life. They are opaque, humane, moving, and I look forward to reading them again … in time.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Welfare reform: are more cuts the answer?
Talking Point Disability benefits are at risk of cuts as the government hunts for funding
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Spherex: Nasa's cutting-edge telescope searching for the origins of life
The Explainer New mission to unlock the secrets of the universe with most comprehensive map of the cosmos yet
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Dog-friendly days out in the UK
The Week Recommends Fun activities for you and your furry friend to enjoy together
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Elliot Ackerman’s 6 favorite books on war and duty
Feature The Marine veteran recommends works by Robert A. Heinlein, John le Carré, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Xochitl Gonzalez’s 6 favorite books that shaped her storytelling
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Stephen King, Julian Barnes, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jason Isaacs's 6 favorite books that changed his perception on life
Feature The British actor recommends works by George Orwell, C.S. Lewis, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Tessa Bailey's 6 favorite books for hopeless romantics
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Lyla Sage, Sally Thorne, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Pagan Kennedy's 6 favorite books that inspire resistance
Feature The author recommends works by Patrick Radden Keefe, Margaret Atwood, and more
By The Week US Published
-
John Sayles' 6 favorite works that left a lasting impression
Feature The Oscar-nominated screenwriter recommends works by William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Jojo Moyes' 6 favorite books with strong female characters
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Lisa Taddeo, Claire Keegan, and more
By The Week US Last updated
-
Stacy Horn's 6 favorite works that explore the spectrum of evil
Feature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Anthony Doerr, and more
By The Week US Published