Writers told us about their favourite book: the book that inspires or touches them, that set their artistic, moral or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone. Interview: Abdelkader Benali.

Maureen Ghazal told about A Flat Place (2023) by Noreen Masud. Masud’s memoir follows her journey to the east coast of Scotland, the birthplace of her mother, and her affection for the flatlands of Britain compared to those in her homeland. A lecturer at Bristol University in 20th century literature, she was diagnosed with CPTSD – complex post-traumatic stress disorder – after her “strange” childhood growing up in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province.