ROSE Devine (28) is a book lover from Arney. When she is not reading books, she can be found studying for her degree or working as a proof reader and copy writer at Devine Intervention.

What was the first book you remember reading?

I’VE always been a bookworm, so my childhood was inundated with books.

The 'Harry Potter' series are of course notable, but I remember reading and loving 'Raspberries on the Yangtze', by Karen Wallace.

The book starts with, “It all began the day my brother and I decided to poison our mother...” How can you not be intrigued with an opening like that?

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

I RUN a little copy writing and proofreading business, so much of my time revolves around reading material that is, by and large, non-fiction.

I absolutely love it, but there’s nothing like delving into a fictitious world to experience a little escapism at the end of the day.

What is your favourite book to film adaptation, and why?

ROALD Dahl’s 'Matilda'. It’s just lovely, and very nostalgic for me.

Has a book ever made you cry? What about it made you cry?

I’VE just finished reading 'The God of Small Things', by Arundhati Roy.

It's utterly beautiful, but it will shatter your heart into a million pieces. I cannot advocate this enough – read it.

Has a book ever made you laugh?

OH, SO many! For example, Ali Smith’s 'Hotel World' – whilst ultimately tragic, its irreverent language is quite humorous; 'The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy', by Douglas Adams; 'A Children’s Treasury of Milligan', by Spike Milligan.

And, to cheat a bit, Samuel L Jackson reading Adam Mansbach’s 'Go the F*** to Sleep', described as a “children’s book for adults”.

Look it up on YouTube for a laugh, but don’t play it whilst any impressionable children are within earshot!

If you were only allowed one book to take with you to a Desert Island, what would you take?

PROBABLY a really existentialist or dystopian book, such as 'The Plague', by Camus, or Orwell’s '1984', to give me a bit of perspective!

'The Lord of the Flies' mightn’t be a bad shout either, if I was marooned with a bunch of weans.

Maybe I’d totally chicken out and bring a wilderness survival guide – ain’t nothing wrong with being pragmatic!

What book would you give to a friend having a hard time?

FOR anyone struggling with mental health issues, Ruby Wax’s 'Sane New World' is a fantastically helpful aid.

Wax was so interested in how the physical brain contributes to mental unwellness that she studied a Masters in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy at Oxford University.

Focusing on rewiring our thinking through mindfulness, and examining how different components of the brain function, it’s a witty and unabashedly honest read. I thoroughly recommend it.

Is there a character from a book who you relate to?

I’M A big Philip Pullman fan, and I adored his 'Dark Materials' trilogy.

I’m anxiously awaiting the final book in his newest trilogy, 'The Book of Dust'.

I think Lyra’s journey into adulthood, the loss of her naivety, and her growing cynicism is very relatable.

That, or Mercutio, from 'Romeo and Juliet'. His verbosity and love of puns is a just a tad Rosie.

Waxing lyrical and cracking a joke on my deathbed sounds like something I would definitely do!

Is there a book that everyone loves that you hate?

THAT'S easy – 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into with that one when I started reading it, and Mr. Grey’s choice of interior design came as a bit of a surprise, but I found it to be so incredibly poorly written.

Fair play to E. L. James for making millions, but I like to read things that have substance and an element of artistry. That was not it.

Is there a book that you’ve read more than once? Why?

'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Harper Lee’s ability to relay the darkness of deeply rooted racism in the deep south of America through the innocent eyes of children is so beautiful, and Atticus Finch is the epitome of a benevolent, loving character.

I could read it every day for the rest of my life.

Which book do you think should be taught in schools?

'ON THE Origin of Species', by Charles Darwin. I think that if world religions are taught in schools, there should also be a balance achieved through the teaching of evolutionary biology.

What are you reading right now?

I’M studying a degree with the Open University from home, so I'm reading a lot of English language and literature course material. It’s stellar!

What do you hope to read in the future?

MY SISTER got me a copy of 'Where the Crawdads Sing' that I haven’t yet had a chance to read.

A lot of my friends have raved about it, so I’m dying to get stuck into it.