5 Books That Rock Dawn O’Porter's World
Dawn O'Porter is a journalist and novelist, and lives with her husband Chris O’Dowd in LA. Her novel, Goose, is out now, and This Old Thing, based on her new C4 show about vintage clothes, is out now.

Dawn O'Porter is a journalist and novelist, and lives with her husband Chris O’Dowd in LA. Her novel, Goose, is out now, and This Old Thing, based on her new C4 show about vintage clothes, is out now.
Here are the five books that rock Dawn O'Porter's world:
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
This is the book that made me want to be a writer. Losing my mum, and living with my aunt and uncle always made me feel a little different, so reading about a young girl who felt ‘special’ was very dear to me.
Flowers for Mrs Harris by Paul Gallico
This is the perfect book – an endearing story about a human’s need for the one thing they love. The main character is on her way to Paris to spend all her savings on a Dior dress. I can relate to this, as I would probably do the same!
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Woolf looks back at female authors and concludes that women need to be free of mind, have their own space and be financially independent to write fiction. I couldn’t agree more. It’s inspiring, and a feminist polemic that reminds us of the importance of women in literature.
We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
This book nearly ruined me, but I love it – I’ve never been so gripped by a novel. Lionel Shriver is fascinating and I can’t believe this book came out of her head. The nature/nurture debate it throws up is very poignant, and it’s written to absolute perfection.
I Feel Bad About My Neck And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron wrote graphically about her life, and I appreciate it when writers do that because female progression is hugely helped when women in the public eye are honest. Her rants show how ridiculous we women are for caring so much about our appearance.
-
The real reason why Taylor Swift is 'taking a break' from public life
Good for her!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Here's why the internet is conflicted over Chappell Roan's motherhood comments
People have big thoughts
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
I'm calling it—these are the must-have trainers of the season
Sack off your Sambas once and for all
By Clementina Jackson
-
Jenny Slate on chemistry reads, working with her idols and building trust on set
By Jenny Proudfoot
-
Sarah Catherine Hook on The White Lotus, acting rituals and Patrick Schwarzenegger's insatiable hunger
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Gillian Anderson: "The pressure not to fail for women has always been high up there for me"
The actor on International Women's Day and beauty rituals
By Nessa Humayun
-
Raye says music is her medicine—it’s also the reason she self-medicated for so long
“The time when you’re most vulnerable is when you’re a little girl with a dream”
By Mischa Anouk Smith
-
Letitia Wright on being 'jealous' of Timothée Chalamet's style and why she almost quit acting
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Kathy Lette: 5 Books That Shapped My Life
Columnist, scriptwriter, author, and outspoken feminist Kathy Lette’s latest novel Courting Trouble is out now. Here she reveals the 5 books that have shaped her life.
By Marie Claire
-
Dermot O'Leary: The 6 Books That Shaped My Life
X Factor host and BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O’Leary, author of new memoir The Soundtrack to My Life, reveals the books that shaped his life.
By Andrea Thompson
-
Caitlin Moran: 5 Books That Changed My Life
Caitlin Moran is a best-selling author and award-winning columnist for The Times. Here, she tells Marie Claire about the five novels that have influenced her the most.
By Marie Claire