‘Under the Covers’ at The London Library: David Nicholls & Mel Giedroyc

Last week, I attended one of the regular events at The London Library, called ‘Under the Covers’. Chaired by the bibiotherapist Ella Berthoud, the evening was an in-depth interview with the writers David Nicholls and Mel Giedroyc, delving into their bookish habits, their literary inspirations, and - at the end - some book recommendations from Ella as light-hearted ‘therapy’ for their current worries. I always love to hear the books that writers have adored in their youth, and perhaps those titles that originally sparked their own bookish journeys. Highlights from the interview included David Nicholls’s admission that, when he begins a journey, he must always start a new book, citing the satisfaction of reading ‘Page 1’ as his train pulls away from the station. And from Mel Giedroyc, her memory of how much her mother loved the writer Marcel Proust, so much so that, as a child, Mel believed he was a real living person. It was a brilliant evening, made even better by a backdrop of the wonderful volumes, tucked away in The London Library, and a reminder that books touch us all, from such an early age.

Mel Giedroyc, Ella Berthoud and David Nicholls for ‘Under the Covers’ at The London Library