Celebs back project highlighting best books

The #bestbook social media campaign has got everyone talking about their favourite reads.

Female celebs are backing a project to highlight the book which had the biggest impact on their lives.

TV presenter Susanna Reid, who turned up at the BAFTA’s last week in a stunning red dress, said We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver was her favourite book.

Others listed on social media site ThisBook include classics such as To Kill A Mocking Bird.

I’d find it hard to choose just one. But when I read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith many years ago I identified with the teenage girl growing up in a tenement in Brooklyn whose favourite place to visit was the local library.

It kept her spirit alive. I felt like that about the old red sandstone library in Coatbridge. It’s now gone. But I still have A Tree Grows In Brooklyn which is out in a new paperback edition.