Books featured:

True Grit by Charles Portis

Nicci Gerrard and Sean French write collectively as Nicci French. They not only write together, they're also a married couple and they love to read.

Sean chooses True Grit by Charles Portis, better known for the film versions with John Wayne and Jeff Bridges. But Sean passionately believes that to really experience the brilliance of the story you have to read the book, in which the 14 year old female protagonist hires a gunslinger to track down her father's killer.

Harriett's choice is a story of mental illness and family fallout. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason documents the life of Martha, who seems to be in permanent self-destruct mode and is unaware of the effects her behaviour have on those around her.

Nicci picks Tove Jansson's Moominland Midwinter, a book she read and loved as a child and continues to love today. Unlike Jansson's other books, which are set in summer, this story set in deep dark winter is a coming of age story about taking responsibility and conquering fears.

Producer: Maggie Ayre

Photo copyright Johnny Ring