Last week, I posted on my favourite books over five years old. But that’s hardly old. Five years ago, an earthquake hit Japan causing a tsunami. Five years ago, Steve Jobs died. Five years ago, we saw the last Harry Potter movie hit the screens. Do we remember all these events? Of course we do, they were only five years ago!

So here is a list of my favourite, slightly older books. Have you read any older books and can still remember their stories? Perhaps a book from your childhood?

Top 3 books over 20 years

Tuesdays with Morrie, while not quite 20 years old, is so close that I couldn’t help but include it in this list. Author Mitch Albom was originally a journalist and while the short-sharp style does come across in all his writing, it is worth looking past for this book. It is also important to note here, that this is not a work of fiction. Morrie lived. He continues to live within the pages of this book. And we can all benefit from his lessons in life, regret, emotions and relationships as Mitch asks him the questions we all want to know. Definitely worth the read.

Equal Rites is the third book in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (although it was the first which I read). This book proves that your English teacher was wrong as the ‘quite expensive special effects’ are mentioned in the third paragraph. It goes on to explain that wizards are always male. Well, except for the one who isn’t. Discover what magical worlds were like before Harry Potter by reading any or all of the Discworld series (they don’t need to be read in order).

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was originally a radio play, later converted into a trilogy of books in five parts (I’m being serious here), and later a disastrous movie which you would be better off skipping. Douglas Adams’ unique humour is present in all five books, but is at its best in this, the first. Hitchhiker’s Guide has possibly THE best opening I have read, and is a book which I try not to read in public as it does cause me to laugh out loud. Travel across the galaxy if you must, but make sure you read this book.

An honourable mention goes to my favourite childhood book. Now out of print, The Python and the Pepperpot is completely in rhyme and has split pages which I always thought were magic. Written by Keith Faulkner and illustrated by Jonathan Lambert, it captured my imagination and primary-school humour so much that even to this day, I can recite most of the book. For some strange reason though, I never took the book’s advice, which was to carry a large pepperpot with you everywhere.