The Girls by Lori Lansens

"I have never looked into my sister's eyes."

This book tells the story of Rose and Ruby Darlen, craniopagus conjoined twins. Written as Rose's autobiography, her sister Ruby also contributes chapters from her perspective,showing that they might be joined at the head but the two girls are as different as any sisters can be.

What I love about this novel is the unique angle, making you consider life from a vastly different point of view, Rose and Ruby have aspirations, their own careers and loves and as a novel, this book is packed with an exciting narrative as well as being endlessly fascinating due to the nature of the girls telling the story.

Neither sister is negative or at any point moans about the position they are in, which is why this is such a heartwarming and positive read. It brilliantly puts into perspective the often trivial problems we concern ourselves with in day to day life and is one of those wonderful stories that will always be etched on my brain.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

This is one of the first books I remember reading completely in one long sitting (the very first was Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl), I was on a 10 hour coach journey from Melbourne to Sydney on my gap year and didn't sleep a wink, as I was so engrossed from the first page.

Not previously knowing much about the world of a Geisha, I was captivated by the old world traditions, the brutal way girls were trained up, the silks of the Kimono's, it was just an amazing glimpse into such a different place. In Sayuri, Arthur Golden created a character who although thrown into essentially a world of selling herself for the pleasure of men, she remains strong and dignified and takes the reader on a personal, evocative journey. Read immediately!

P.S. My tip would be to avoid the film at all costs, it strips all the magic from the narrative and the wonderful writing means you can conjure up far more beautiful settings in your head than the ones presented to you in the film.

The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre

There are not many books I always look forward to re-reading, but this gem is definitely one of them. The brilliantly named Angelique de Xavia is a police detective that pops up in a few Christopher Brookmyre novels, and here she has to battle the age-old crime novel problem of catching bank robbers and art thieves. However, in Brookmyre's hands, this narrative takes such clever twists and turns that it never once feels cliched or predictable.

The action starts with five men dressed as clowns and named after Dadaist painters (Dali, Jarry) who dance their way into a bank in broad daylight. You know this is going to be good. The other great aspect of The Sacred Art of Stealing is Angelique's tantalising relationship with the very charasmatic American Zal, who also happens to be one of the criminals she is chasing. Naughty.

Angelique and Zal's story is picked up again in a later Brookmyre novel, A Snowball in Hell, which is also a brilliant read. It sees Angelique hunting down a crazed murderer who has had enough of the Z-list celebrity culture and is killing off all the plebs who are famous for no reason. Admit it, we would all like to do that really.......

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This much read novel is one of my all time favourites, recommended to me by a friend, The Secret History sucks you in from the first line: 'The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.'

You've got to admit - that's a great opener! You read that and so many questions immediately pop into your head and you WILL keep reading until they are answered. A testament to the brilliant level of writing is that although you know Bunny will die, the sense of suspense never waivers.

Lead character Richard joins the elite Classics class in his University, already populated by a group of unique and unusual students; Bunny, Patrick, Charles, Camilla and Francis. Their love of the Greek classics (which are referenced throughout the book but without feeling heavy) and reluctance to participate in everyday society, cause their lives to take a dangerous and tragic turn, pivoting around Bunny's death. Just superb.