Natalie Haynes: I'll never read anything by a Bronte again'

"My earliest reading memory Harvey's Hideout by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban. Harvey is a muskrat with a grievance against his awful sibling. His sister Mildred feels just the same way. I read this at four or five curled up on a yellow beanbag next to the radiator, in Bournville, where I grew up. I honestly don't think there is a better reading spot anywhere in the world."

"My favourite book growing up Peanuts. I loved Snoopy long before I became an author. But he is an inspiration to all writers, sending a novel to his publishers with an immortal covering letter: Gentlemen, enclosed is the manuscript of my new novel. I know you are going to like it. In the meantime, please send me some money so I can live it up."

"It had been written for prep school boys, I think, so the stories centred on a little boy named Thrasymachus, wandering about the Underworld, using simple constructions until we got the hang of the alphabet and the many, many verb endings (perfect, imperfect and pluperfect not enough for you? Let us throw in the aorist to keep you on your toes)."

Earliest reading memory is Harvey's Hideout by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban, about a muskrat with a grievance against an awful sibling and sister Mildred's equal resentment. Reading occurred at four or five, curled on a yellow beanbag next to the radiator in Bournville, described as an unrivalled reading spot. Favorite childhood book was Peanuts; Snoopy inspired early affection and exemplified writerly audacity with a cover letter requesting money. Teenage transformation came from Thrasymachus, a Greek primer featuring a boy in the Underworld that eased readers into complex verb endings. Instruction manuals reshaped attitudes toward writing, and Cynthia Heimel's sharp, funny columns sparked a desire to write and perform standup.

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