My Life in Books: I have a list of five-star reads that I always go back to
Author Carmel Harrington has written 14 books.
, by Stanley Tucci. I’ve always enjoyed Stanley as an actor and love his Instagram stories, which give a fun glimpse into his life. This book shares how food and family are intertwined in his fascinating life.
I always go back to my five-star reads shelf. I’ll pick up a Maeve Binchy or Stephen King, depending on whether I need comfort or escapism.
I have a 50-page rule for books. If it hasn’t engaged me by then, I put it down. That doesn’t mean the book isn’t good; it’s just that I didn’t connect with it. I never name the books I didn’t finish, though. I’m an author and know how that can cut.
I realised the power of books on my first day of school, when Mrs Joyce began reading , which immediately put an end to my homesickness. I went back to school the next day just to find out what happened to Charlie next. I remember reading when I was 11 and wishing I’d written it. That was the point when I first told myself I’d like to do this.
series by Enid Blyton, which I borrowed from the library. I can still remember how happy I felt as I escaped into the wonderful fantasy world of Moon-Face, Silky, The Saucepan Man and Dame Washalot. I’m very excited about the forthcoming adaptation, The Magic Faraway Tree, starring Nicola Coughlan.
by Mitch Albom deeply affected me. It follows the life and death of Eddie, a mechanic, as he arrives in heaven and visits five levels, meeting someone whose life he deeply impacted on each one. Such an original and powerful premise.
by Elizabeth Gilbert was published a few years after I became an author, at that awkward stage when I struggled with imposter syndrome and my creative identity. It helped me understand that I can find and create magic through my words, and that I should face what I fear most.
Stephen King’s memoir, , is filled with practical advice and funny anecdotes from his own life.
That’s the question we authors ask ourselves all the time. I have a list of ideas based on the answers I came up with, but I’m not sharing them with anyone!
by Catherine Ryan Howard. Perfect twisty escapism for people who love clever thrillers.
Eason’s in Enniscorthy, because it’s where I first saw one of my books on a shelf. The Book Centre in Wexford, because it has a café, and I love how they organise their books. And Bookstation Gorey, because I’ve met the loveliest readers there and it’s such a happy space.
I have two sets of bookshelves. One is in our library, where books are organised by category, and my favourite shelves, the five-star reads. The second set of bookshelves is in my writing room, and it’s my ‘ego wall’, with only my books, organised by the date they were published.
Tea with a slice of lemon drizzle cake.
Odd Thomas in Dean Koontz’s novel of the same name. His motto for life is ‘persevere, be happy’, and I’ve adopted it as my own.
