Rue Kothari’s five favourite books

Courtesy Penguin Random House

Courtesy Penguin UK

Courtesy Fourth Estate

Courtesy Little, Brown

“Books have been an important part of my life since I was very young,” says Rue Kothari.

The London-born former journalist has spent more than a decade in the UAE and is the fair director of Downtown Design, Dubai (this year's edition will run from October 25 to 28). She spent 11 years working in consumer publishing, including serving as editor of Harper's Bazaar Interiors, where she launched the HBI awards. "From my teenage years I became obsessed with magazines such as The Face – it was a lifeline to popular culture," she says. "Reading gives you insight beyond your own experience. You can immerse yourself in another dimension, and this fascinates me.

“Reading a gripping novel or a story in the newspaper will ignite my imagination, fuel my conversations and, over and above anything else, breeds a better informed and more open-minded perspective on life. More intimately, as a writer at heart, I have an emotional connection to words that I find comforting. I’m at my happiest curled up with a great book.”

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

It’s kind of an obvious one, but the narrative of this book and the way it was written completely changed my view on literature – from something to be enjoyed passively to something that could be rebellious, groundbreaking and subversive.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

The first Murakami I read was like eating the most delicately made sushi. It was utterly surprising and transformative. His writing is light, subtle and truly poetic, kick-starting my lifelong love affair with Japanese literature.

The Famished Road by Ben Okri

I was captivated from the very first page of this book, which tells the story of Azaro, a spirit-child living in Africa. The author weaves between two dimensions, reality and fantasy, with such deft and ease, and it is crafted with exceptionally beautiful language – I still love to dip into it.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I had never been a big fan of the historic novel, but Mantel brings the court of Henry VIII to life in such an original and exciting way that I am a passionate convert. A very clever and thrilling piece of writing.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

This complex story touches on so many of our human experiences and, aside from a brilliant plot and fine prose, is incredibly profound and enlightening. It is accessible even to people “who don’t read”, democratising good literature and universal ideas of love, light and magic.