My children don’t read. It is something I find really sad in this digital age. I read to them every night as kids and thought I had lit the literary fire, but digital life took over. I’ve always bought them books and even started a ‘family book club’ but all to no avail. Now aged 16 and 19 I have become resigned to knocking on their door at night to see them scrolling as I say ‘lights off, phone down’.

Then this week, I went into my 16 year old’s bedroom just before midnight, and there was no phone in hand. She was reading.

Since starting History A-level and studying Mao’s China something has ignited in her. She was there, 64 pages into Wild Swans (which would definitely be my desert island book).

She’s currently on the train to college, clutching it, not on her phone. I’m beyond happy. Thank you Jung Chang for achieving something I’ve never been able to 🙏❤️