To Kill A Mockingbird, Child 44 and The Examined Life: Julian Ovenden's six best books
JULIAN OVENDEN, 38, is the Sheffield-born actor and singer most recently seen as the dashing Charles Blake in Downton Abbey.
Julian loves thrillers and crime novels
Now based in London with his wife and family he is appearing in My Night With Reg at the Apollo Theatre from January 17.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Roald Dahl, Penguin, £6.99
As a kid I was happy to get any book by the wonderful Roald Dahl.
I read and loved them all but if I had to pick one it would be Charlie And The Chocolate Factory for its characters and excitement.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Harper Lee, Arrow, £6.99
I really love thrillers and crime novels and remember this being one of the first books that really started my interest in this genre.
Also the burning sense of injustice that Lee is able to convey is so powerful.
THE EXAMINED LIFE
Stephen Grosz, Vintage, £8.99
My sister-in-law recently gave me this fantastic book about psychoanalysis for my birthday and I read it in one sitting.
It is about how people can change themselves through therapy and it's wonderfully rich and insightful.
CHARLES DICKENS: A LIFE
Claire Tomalin, Penguin, £9.99
This is the book I'm reading at the moment.
It is a great, thoroughly researched biography and it makes me want to read all his books which I guess is the biggest compliment I can pay the author.
CHILD 44
Tom Rob Smith, Simon & Schuster, £7.99
As I mentioned I love a good crime novel but am very picky about which ones as they can so often be formulaic and unimaginative.
This is definitely a superior read. Gripping, complex and disturbing.
A great holiday read.
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
Milan Kundera, Faber & Faber, £6.99
For some reason this book really speaks to me. I find it very moving and affecting, sad and full of wisdom.
I have read it three times and will revisit it again I'm sure.
- For more information and tickets for My Night With Reg please visit mynightwithreg.co.uk.