Lorriane Candy's book, Mum, What’s Wrong With You?! (4th Estate £14.99), a guide to raising teenage girls, is out this week.
1. The Birthday Boys
Beryl Bainbridge (1991)
I am obsessed with Antarctica and went on an expedition there 20 years ago. This haunting novel is about Scott’s ill-fated 1912 trip, and uncovers the arrogance of these upper-class male explorers, but also paints a beautiful picture of an untouched land and the human endurance needed to conquer it.
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Abacus £9.99; the Week Bookshop £7.99
2. The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Judith Kerr (1968)
I have four kids, so I know this one off by heart. If I can’t sleep, I just recite it in my head. But one look at the cover makes me instantly melancholy about my babies growing up.
HarperCollins £6.99; the Week Bookshop £5.99
3. Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson
E. Jean Carroll (1993)
This is a crazy tale of a crazy man told by one of Rolling Stone’s funniest female writers. I am not entirely sure what’s true or what’s not, but it is a wild ride.
Simon & Schuster, out of print
4. Menopause: All you need to know in one concise manual
Dr Louise Newson (2019)
All midlife women should read this fact-filled, evidence-based book – it changed my life when I hit my late 40s. It explains the low risks associated with HRT, and defines the symptoms of perimenopause.
J.H. Haynes & Co. £12.99; the Week Bookshop £9.99
5. Girl, Woman, Other
Bernardine Evaristo (2019)
I love this humorous and spirited exploration of difficult women, which follows 12 characters, of different ages and generations, as they navigate life’s big questions. I encouraged my teenage daughters to read it.
Penguin £8.99; the Week Bookshop £13.99
6. Just Kids
Patti Smith (2010)
This autobiography is the vibrant story of the author’s relationship with the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, and of her love affair with New York City. I met Patti once and was so star-struck that I couldn’t think of a single thing to say, so we talked about hairstyles!