Author's Choice

We’ve asked some of our popular authors to tell us what they have on their bookshelves. Authors have chosen their Favourites, and some of our experts have shared their Essentials. Find out what helped shape the careers of these writers, and get some tips on what to read next. From Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Bell Jar to Jackie Collins on Bonfire of the Vanities, this is a chance to find out what makes your favourite authors tick.

Will Self's Favourites

Will Self is the author of eighteen books, including seven novels, three novellas, four collections of short stories and four collections of journalism. He is also a prolific journalist and a regular broadcaster on television and radio. He lives in south London with his wife, the journalist Deborah Orr, and their four children.

›See Will Self's full list of favourites.

Zoë Heller's Choice

Zoë Heller is the author of three novels. Her best-selling second novel, Notes on a Scandal, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2003 and later adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Her third novel, The Believers, was published this year. She lives in New York with her husband and two children.

›See Zoë Heller's full list of favourites.

Geri Halliwell's Favourites

Geri Halliwell shot to fame in the Spice Girls, a global music phenomenon selling over 55 million CDs. In 1998 Geri went solo, recording three bestselling albums. She has travelled widely as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, taking special interest in issues affecting women and children. In 2007 the Spice Girls reformed for a sell-out forty-seven-date world tour, which broke records and received much critical acclaim. Geri is the author of the Ugenia Lavender series for children, including Ugenia Lavender and the Terrible Tiger and Ugenia Lavender and the Burning Pants. She has also published two bestselling autobiographies.

›See Geri Halliwell's full list of favourites.

Louise Rennison's Favourites

Louise Rennison is a British author and comedienne most known as the author of the best-selling Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series for teenage girls. The first two books in the series, Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging and It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers, were made into a film in 2008. She is also a major contributor of comedy scripts. Her one-woman live show Stevie Wonder felt my face ran in the 1990s.

›See Louise Rennison's full list of favourites.

Marina Lewycka's Choice

Marina Lewycka was born in a refugee camp in Germany of Ukrainian parents, and grew up in England. She lives in Sheffield where she works as a lecturer. Her first novel, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and sold over a million copies. Her second novel Two Caravans was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize.

›See Marina Lewycka's full list of favourites.

Sir Richard Branson's Favourites

Sir Richard Branson was born in 1950 and educated at Stowe School. He is a hugely successful international entrepreneur, icon, and chairman of the Virgin Group. He is the author of the worldwide bestsellers Screw It, Let's Do It, Losing My Virginity and most recently Business Stripped Bare.

From world leaders to extreme sporting heroes and with a sprinkling of environmentalism, his list of favourites is a fantastic collection of non-fiction.

›See the full list of Sir Richard's favourite books.