As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, by Laurie Lee, January 21

Here we are - one of those books you mean to read but haven't yet. I read Cider With Rosie, and this is the second volume of his autobiographical writing. From all accounts, it's a thing of beauty. Let's see...

Under the Skin by Michel Faber, 9 December

This could be a rare step into science fiction, but it's a literary sensation so that's all right. It's also been a strange movie with Scarlett Johanssen.

Michel Faber's Under the Skin concerns a woman picking up well-muscled hitch-hikers in Scotland for reasons which become clear and could turn you vegetarian.

Her alien experiences - she is an alien, not to spoil the story too much - are well set out and utterly convincing. She's not enjoying her life, but never expected much,and there's dark humour in the way she does the job, though in the end, she's broken by it.

I thought this was great.