I found out it was World Book Day today from my daughter’s school. For me every day is book day, but still it’s nice that the world actually celebrates a good occasion. So my daughter’s school asked all the kids to dress up like their favourite book character. Oh what a joy it was to see the kids this morning, as I went to drop her at school. Some kids came in a really interesting characters like the beloved Hagrid. My daughter went as Sleeping Beauty. Don’t ask me why, it was her choice.

Growing up, Sleeping Beauty was actually one of my least favourite stories. I felt like there was no point to it. But speaking of favourite stories and World Book Day… here are 15 English books I love. I can’t say these are all. My list definitely runs longer, but here goes…

1) Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen (yes, yes, I’m a typical female!)

2) The Sicilian – Mario Puzo

3) The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahiri

4) A Million Little Pieces (& the sequel) My Friend, Leonard – James Frey

5) Sister of My Heart – Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

6) For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway (also one of my most prized possessions, as I have an edition from the 1950s)

7) Doctors – Eric Segal

8) Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

9) The Godfather – Mario Puzo

10) Harry Potter and …. (ok technically 7 books)

11) The Catcher in the Rye – J D Salinger

12) Animal Farm – George Orwell

13) To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

14) 1984 – George Orwell

15) Macbeth – William Shakespeare (technically a play, but still)

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