Best books … chosen by Sophie Kinsella
Sophie Kinsella is the author of the best-selling Shopaholic series. Her new novel is Remember Me?, the story of a London amnesiac who can’t recall how she landed the perfect life.
Emma by Jane Austen (Penguin, $8). I’m constantly torn between this and Pride and Prejudice as my all-time favorite Jane Austen books; her wit and observation is unsurpassed. Emma is such a lovable, flawed heroine, and I think her epiphany over Mr. Knightley is one of the most romantic moments in all fiction.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (Harper Trophy, $6). This is a short, vivid children’s book about writing poetry. It weaves in allusions to famous poems, which are then quoted at the end—and it tells its own funny and very poignant story about Jack, a boy who can’t understand poetry and doesn’t want to. I recommend it to everyone.
The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield (Prion, $18). This is a gem of the 1930s, with one of the most endearing, funny characters in British literature. The heroine is a country lady with a wry sense of humor and I adore her self-deprecating commentary on life. She faces many of the same problems as any modern-day woman (obtuse husbands, bills that won’t add up) and some that are utterly of their time (the terror of having to speak to the staff).
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.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (Berkley, $7). To be truthful, I’d have to recommend all of Agatha Christie books. They are comfort reading of the highest order; I love to escape into that cozy world of English villages, butlers, and country houses. I’m also very fortunate that I often forget “whodunit,” so I can read them again and again!
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney (Simon & Schuster, $15). I was on the judging panel that awarded this novel Costa Book of the Year last year, and absolutely loved it. It’s a gripping, atmospheric murder story set in the snowy wastes of Canada, with some wonderful descriptions of an extreme landscape. I never knew I could be so riveted by snow.
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (Signet, $4). I read both Alice books as a child and always preferred the sequel. It is full of the most fabulous mind games and riddles. The characters are wonderful—Humpty Dumpty is one of the all-time great comic creations—and throughout there’s a marvelous sense of menace.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Kirsty Coventry: the former Olympian and first woman to lead the IOC
In the Spotlight Coventry, a former competitive swimmer, won two Olympic gold medals
-
Critics' choice: Carrying the flag
Feature The best barbecue in town, Bradley Cooper's cheesesteak restaurant, and more
-
Film review: Materialists
Feature Two suitors seek to win over a jaded matchmaker
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
John Kenney's 6 favorite books that will break your heart softly
Feature The novelist recommends works by John le Carré, John Kennedy Toole, and more
-
Andrea Long Chu's 6 favorite books for people who crave new ideas
Feature The book critic recommends works by Rachel Cusk, Sigmund Freud, and more
-
Bryan Burrough's 6 favorite books about Old West gunfighters
Feature The Texas-raised author recommends works by T.J. Stiles, John Boessenecker, and more
-
Tash Aw's 6 favorite books about forbidden love
Feature The Malaysian novelist recommends works by James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and more
-
Richard Bausch's 6 favorite books that are worth rereading
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and more
-
Marya E. Gates' 6 favorite books about women filmmakers
Feature The film writer recommends works by Julie Dash, Sofia Coppola, and more
-
Laurence Leamer's 6 favorite books that took courage to write
Feature The author recommends works by George Orwell, Truman Capote and more