‘It’s more than a book’: Nine books that could change your life – as picked by Woman’s Hour guests
Which books have changed your life? We’re thinking about those books that had you gripped from cover to cover, that you couldn’t put down, that have stayed with you since you first read them or have completely changed your outlook on life.
Some of the most well-known guests on Woman’s Hour have been revealing their favourite books to us. From actors Geena Davis and Andrea Riseborough to England Lioness Beth Mead and Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse, here's what they would recommend...
Mel Giedroyc – Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
“It’s going to sound weird,” says Mel. “I know you’ll be going: ‘Oh? What?’ But it’s so brilliant and so extraordinary in terms of the resilience and focus and single-mindedness of Jean Valjean. I know he’s a man, but we’ll forgive him that.
“And it’s so bleak that, actually when you finish it, you feel, do you know what, at least life isn’t as bad as what Jean Valjean went through.”
Geena Davis – Backlash, Susan Faludi
“It’s about how society works against feminism and whenever women start making progress, there’s a lot of clamping down,” says Geena. “I bought copies of that book for everyone I knew because I thought it was so impactful.”
Which books have changed your life?
Geena Davis, LeAnn Rimes, Beth Mead, Motsi Mabuse and more share their recommendations.
Juliet Stevenson – Beloved, Toni Morrison
“It’s the story of what happened as slavery in America was in the process of being abolished and what happened to so-called ‘freed’ slaves during that time,” says Juliet. “It’s completely revelatory. It’s a genius, genius novel. She’s an astounding writer.
“She’s created an entirely unique way of writing and I think it immerses you so profoundly in that experience of that horrendous, brutal, unimaginably despicable world of what that slave trade meant and the impact of it on souls and bodies and minds. It was completely revelatory.
“I would encourage everybody to read it. Whatever your skin colour, whatever your experience, it’s more than an experience. It’s a whole layer of consciousness I feel that she gives the reader.”
LeAnn Rimes - Mary Magdalene Revealed, Meggan Watterson
“I’ve read it a couple of times now,” says LeAnn. “I wrote a song called ‘The Wild’ after reading that book. It just really struck me at the heart of being a woman and coming into my own power now at 40.
“They talk about that mask as women, we’ve been put in boxes and told we have to be polite and there’s certain emotions we have to push away, and our sexuality has been so shamed. For any woman out there who is wanting to get in touch with their wild, to remember who they are at the core of who they are, I highly recommend that book.”
Amanda Wakeley – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari
“I love to delve into it time and again,” says Amanda. “It is a fascinating book. It’s just one of those books that has so many truths in it and I do tend to pick it up and put it back down again but it’s great.”
Ophelia Lovibond – The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
“I read it when I was about 13 or 14,” says Ophelia. “I just remember my mind exploding at how incredible it was. It ignited my love of literature.”
Motsi Mabuse – Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela
“It’s one of my favourites,” says Motsi. “It was just looking into the spirit of this man, who was in prison for 27 years and how he just dealt with all the situations. Because of him, I’m here speaking to you.”
Plus Motsi gives a special mention to Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne!
Beth Mead – The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris
“It just, for me, put life into perspective,” says Beth. “Everything’s not easy. There’s a lot of wrong in the world, so as much love as we can put into the world is the best possible.”
Andrea Riseborough – James Baldwin
“I think I’m not alone probably in saying that anything and everything that Baldwin’s written has been formative and life changing really,” says Andrea. “I can’t even single one of his books out. It’s all of them, his whole body of work.”
What books would you add to this list? Which books have changed your life? Get in touch and let us know here.
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