Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)

'Heart of Darkness' is one of those 'story told within a story' stories. Frankly, an uncomfortable book to read on account of it's realistic first-hand accounts of the exploitation of Africa. Though a short book, it doesn't withhold blows describing 19th Century British attitudes to Africa, Africans and the environment; none of which are pretty.

The clever title can be applied to most issues raised in the book. Is the darkness the depths of the unknown, the attitude of those who would exploit others or does it dwell in seed form within the hearts of all men?

Life of Pi (Yann Martel)

I cannot remember the last time I fell in love with a book so immediately. Life of Pi tells a gripping tale of an Indian boy, Pi, lost at sea with only a few meagre supplies, his determination to survive and an fully grown Bengal Tiger.

Beginning with his boyhood in India where he found his faiths, we travel with Pi through trial, joy, innocence, fear and philosophy. Not once does he bore.

Much like standing up in a lifeboat might, this book keeps knocking you over, but this only serves to imbed it in your mind. An instant favourite.

To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

While I learnt absolutely nothing about killing mockingbirds, I did truly love this book. Harper Lee demonstrates the fallout of racism in the southern United States on, and through the eyes of, children.

But this is contrasted with seeing the world as it should be through the eyes of their father, Atticus Finch, whose integrity and warmth can be matched by few literary figures.

With these (and several other endearing) characters in a beautifully described setting, Lee invites you in and directs you to a chair on the front porch to watch the world she sculpts before you go by. 

Notes From A Small Island (Bill Bryson)

What Bill Bryson does through this book is take the reader on a tour of Britain (and Britishness) through the eyes of an outsider while possessing the experiences of an insider.

Travelling north from Dover and stopping at any number of locations on the way to John O'Groats, Bryson reflects on the intricacies, quirks and idiosyncrasies of the people of these fair islands. He lovingly points out the weird and ridiculous aspects of Britain without ever making you resent him for it, and he does so with humourous flair.

Experiencing Britain through his eyes made me love her anew.