Alphareader - Danielle Binks

And even if you hate her, can't stand her, even if she's ruining your life, there's something about her, some romance, some power. She's absolutely herself. No matter how hard you try, you'll never get to her. And when she dies, the world will be flat, too simple, reasonable, fair.

'Anywhere But Here' by Mona Simpson

And the walls became the world all around.

'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak

At least if you were ignorant, you could do what you wanted, you had no idea what had been achieved in the past. You were free, instead of chewed at by bleeding impotence, dissolved away like a pearl in acid.

'Paint it Black' by Janet Fitch

There is a reason the word 'belonging' has a synonym for 'want' at its centre: it is the human condition.

'Vanishing Acts' by Jodi Picoult

Grief settles comfortably into any host; it is an ever-mutating, vigorous organism with an ever-renewing customer base. It generates a never-ending hunger, a never-ending ache, an unassuageable pain to new hearts, brains, guts every minute, every day, every year.It is the razor edge of a loose tooth shrieking to be pressed again and again into the soft pink sore gum. It’s a one-way tunnel with no proof of another exit.

'Wildlife' by Fiona Wood