I used to give a fantastic talk about Frankenstein and Dracula, but I’ve never been able to finish either book.
Which book are you ashamed not to have read?
Question
When was the last time you changed your mind about something?
Change of mind
Question
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Daily life
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
What would you like to leave your children?
Death & what remains
Question
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Time & hindsight
Question
Who most deserves an apology from you, and why?
Failure & regret
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
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My new year resolution is actually to read all the classics and I’m ashamed that I haven’t read everything by the Brontë sisters.
The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 32 →Ulysses – I’ve tried many times and never got through it.
Probably all of them because I am not big into English literature. I read a lot of self-improvement books.
My own biography! Being serious, there’s an Australian novel by Gregory Roberts called Shantaram that I didn’t read through.
More from Helen Skelton
View profile →There’s a house near me that I adore and it came up for sale, and I got to the point of nearly buying it and then pulled out because I’m trying to be sensible.
More sleep – my children do not sleep.
Getting to the end and thinking that I haven’t laughed enough.
Good memories. When I’m gone, I want them to feel that they were always my No 1 priority.
That you get out of life what you put in. When you grow up on a farm you literally reap what you sow.
To Gorka Márquez, who was my Strictly partner, for not winning the glitterball in 2022.
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