In last month’s Readings Monthly, we called on readers to nominate their favourite inspirational books.

Mary-Jane Boughen wrote: ‘My inspiration has got to be Holden Caulfield. His unique ability to spot a phoney a mile away has taught me a great deal about this crazy world. And now, as a parent, he's taught me to let my kids ‘reach for the golden ring’. Heck, I even named one of my kids Phoebe, after his little sister! (Given that Holden is a car and Caulfield is the next station on the train line, I couldn't do that to a son!!)’.

Naomi Nicholson nominated two favourite books. Her first was was 40 Odd by Mary Bard. ‘It’s the story of three women who travelled to Europe for the first time at the age of 40. I read it when in my twenties with three small children. I thought I would be too old at 40 to do anything! This made me look forward to turning 40. That year I did a solo round the world trip and loved every minute. Never looked back.’

The other was The Cinderella Complex by Colette Dowling. ‘My daughter gave it to me after my divorce and it inspired me to stand on my own two feet. My legal advice had been that I would be remarried within seven years and so another man would look after me. What rubbish! I am now financially independent and I did it all by myself.’

Cynthia O’Keefe’s picks were Sword of Honour by Evelyn Waugh and Last Orders by Graham Swift.

Thanks to those who wrote in!