Gumdrop by Val Biro

Jess Kim, Deputy Marketing Director

The book that inspired my love of reading:

How primordial do we go? The Val Biro Gumdrop adventures would have instilled a love of finishing a day with a story, Dick King-Smith’s Sophie books were formative both for my reading habits and, probably, entire personality.

The first chapter book I triumphantly traversed solo would have been a Baby-Sitters Club escapade, and anyone from my demographic who says theirs was I Capture the Castle or similar is lying; it was also a Baby-Sitters Club or Malory Towers book. That’s just how it is.

Chocky by John Wyndham

Hazel Thompson, Editorial Assistant, Poetry

The book that inspired my love of reading:

Chocky by John Wyndham. Growing up, my dad was a big sci-fi reader and our shelves were lined with Wyndham’s books. Chocky is about a twelve year old boy with an imaginary friend who turns out to be an alien consciousness living inside his head. Bear with me! It’s the first book I remember reading that made me feel something – it’s so creepy and haunting and strange in its depiction of loneliness and friendship, while asking these huge questions about consciousness and individuality.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Linda Mohamed, Commissioning Editor, Fiction

The book that inspired my love of reading:

I was perhaps too young to fully understand it, but Wuthering Heights is the first book that clearly ignited my love for the craft (quite a convenient answer considering the possibly controversial film adaptation, but it’s true!). I read an Italian translation in my early teenage years and when I eventually read the original, I was so surprised by how brilliantly Brontë’s turns of phrase and imagery could be conveyed in different languages. I think this might have also sparked my love of translated fiction.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Ruth O’Loughlin, Publishing Manager

The book that inspired my love of reading:

The book that inspired my love of reading was The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. I read it countless times as a small child but can’t remember anything about it now, although the title does give the game away. But the first ‘adult’ book which really piqued my interest was Animal Farm, given to me by my dad when I was eleven or twelve. It showed me the possibilities for fiction to explain the wider world and inspired me to expand my reading much further, which is really just one of the greatest gifts for life.

Firesong by William Nicholson

Hassan Ali, Head of Faber Factory

The book that inspired my love of reading:

Firesong by William Nicholson, the finale of The Wind on Fire trilogy. I think what left a mark on me here is that it was the first book that made me cry. Definitely an important milestone in any reading journey, and something I truly believe you need to seek out every now and then.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.

Angus Cargill, Publishing Director

The book that inspired my love of reading:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. I read this when I was thirteen and it was a lot more interesting than what I was being taught at school. Maybe for the first time I saw how important and vital fiction could be.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Bonnie Jones, Commercial Director

The book that inspired my love of reading:

The book that inspired my love of reading was Jane Eyre. I remember tucking myself behind the pipes and radiators at my Victorian school to read each breaktime, convinced I was at Lowood. My daughter has also just finished reading it and it’s been wonderful to share it with her, even though she had a totally different perspective on Jane’s life choices. Disagreeing about books with people is one of the joys of reading!

Not Now, Bernard by David McKee

Katie Hall, Marketing and Brand Director

The book that inspired my love of reading:

The first book I remember really loving is Not Now, Bernard. The relatable tale of the boy whose parents are too distracted to notice him get eaten and then replaced by a monster. Ari Aster should adapt it.