WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK - ANY GENRE - THE ONE YOU ALWAYS GO BACK TO AND WHY?

My son asked me what my favourite book was the other day.

He'd just finished reading the last few chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird, homework given by his English teacher. He was blown away by it (as was I when I read it at not much older than him) and declared it was his favourite to date. So what was mine?

Now that got me thinking...



I'd like to be high brow and say something like Great Expectations, or Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, somewhere in that ilk, but I'm not entirely sure I'd be telling the truth.

Not that I don't adore all three of the aforementioned titles, along with Little Women, Gone With the Wind, North and South, winners all.

Although I must confess I'm not a fan of Shakespeare.


I also grew up on my friend's mum's Mills & Boon cast offs.

I remember coming back from her house with my carrier bag full of goodies and spiriting myself away in the bedroom until I'd read the lot - sometimes twice!

Leopard in the Snow by Anne Mather was one of my favourites, I loved her!



Of course, I have my favourite MM authors, too.

Elin Gregory's pirates.
Sue Brown's basically everything.
Patricia Logan's mysteries and gorgeous men.
Sue Laybourn's attention to detail.
Chris Quinton's heart and warmth.
And I'm still awaiting the sequel to Dead Things by my lovely Meredith Russell.



But there is one book I go to every single time I need my fix.... IT by Stephen King.

I am a bit of a Stephen King freak anyway, but this is the one. The first time I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. On more than one occasion missing my stop on the way home from work so I could just squeeze in a few more pages.

He builds such worlds, such amazing worlds, that'll scare the pants off you one minute and have you laughing out loud the next. Then leave you a sobbing heap on the floor clutching the book and begging him to take back those last few words. 'Cause he doesn't pull any punches. He doesn't always give you the happy ever after you're looking for. And sometimes it doesn't matter, because he stayed true to the story and the characters you've come to love. Even if a few of those you loved most are left behind. I love this book. In fact.... I think I'm due a hit....

So, what's your favourite? Genre doesn't matter. What's the book you reach for when nothing else will do?

Tell me in the comments and make sure you leave your email, because there might be a little goodie bag in it for two lucky commenters.