What to Read Today Now that the Sun is Out in London!

It's a beautiful day here in London today. Set to be the warmest day of the year so far at 15 Celsius, what better way to make use of the sunshine than by having your lunch break outside. And what better way to spend this glorious day than in the company of a lovely book. Not sure what to choose? Maybe these suggestions will help:

In the mood for a brilliant thriller/mystery? 

'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn: Who are you? What have you done to each other? These are the questions Nick Dunne finds himself asking on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. So what did happen to Nick's beautiful wife?

For our review of this book, click HERE.

Long to visit an ever-vibrant intriguing city?

'Jasmine and Fire: A Bittersweet Year in Beirut', by Salma Abdelnour: A poignant and humorous journey of trying to resettle in Beirut and fumbling through the new realities of life in one of the world's most complex, legendary, ever-vibrant, ever-troubled cities. What's more, in a year of roiling changes around the Middle East and the rise of the Arab Spring, Salma found herself in the midst of the turmoil, experiencing it up close.

Looking for laugh out loud moments?

'How to be a Woman', by Caitlin Moran: It's a good time to be a woman: we have the vote and the Pill and we haven't been burnt as witches since 1727. However, a few nagging questions do remain: Why are we supposed to get Brazilians? Should we use Botox? Part memoir, part rant, Caitlin answers the questions that every modern woman is asking.

A touch of the classics and my favourite book ever?

'The Brothers Karamazov' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky: When brutal landowner Fyodor Karamazov is murdered, the lives of his sons is changed irrevocably. Mitya, the sensualist, whose bitter rivalry with his father immediately places him under suspicion for parricide. Ivan, the intellectual, whose mental tortures drive him to a breakdown, and the spiritual Alyosha, who tries to heal the family's rifts and the shadowy figure of their half-brother Smerdyakov. As the ensuing investigation and trial reveal the true identity of the murderer, Dostoyevsky's dark masterpiece evokes a world where the lines between innocence and corruption, good and evil, blur and everyone's faith in humanity is tested.

To Be or Not To Be a Feminist? That is the Question. Or Is It?

What a weekend I've had. Brilliant time to myself yesterday vegetating on my Sunday Sofa (christened the name by son) and miraculously being able to read through all the Observer, and Saturday's Guardian paper. I also managed to finish reading How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. Stroke of fate should have it that Caitlin Moran's book coincided with the Guardian's main magazine story about female Tory MPs turning feminists. I know what you're thinking and probably Janet Street Porter has said it for you in today's Daily Mail, but seriously after reading Moran's book I am HAPPY and Comfortable calling myself a feminist.

Why declare it? Well because for so many years now the word feminist has been hijacked by women who I'd rather not have fighting The Battle for me. Caitlin sets everyone straight by what feminism is and should be. If you'd like a hint what this book is about then here it is in nutshell: If you want to have a boob job, go for it if it makes YOU happy and you are going for it for the right reasons and not to live out someone else's wet dream.

This is a hilarious book and you don't have to learn anything from it but you will. There are pages that had me snorting with laughter (waxing, menstruation and handbags) and others shedding bucket loads of tears (the chapter on her own abortion and her first pregnancy). It is a wonderful read and a very empowering book whether you agree with her ideas or not. It is also a dirty filthy book, the type of filth that you wish were more abundant in the real world.

Read this book and hold your judgement until the very last page. Then read it again and pass it on to each and every person you know. Men can benefit from this too!