Jackie Collins's Reading List

"“Playing Along,” by Rory Samantha Green. This is a quirky, fast-paced story filled with engaging and hilarious characters. It’s also a fun love story."

"Recently on a trip to the Bahamas I managed to read “This Is How You Lose Her,” by Junot Díaz — a book of riveting short stories."

"“Robert B. Parker’s ‘Fool Me Twice’ ” — slick prose, fast moving, a perfect plane read."

"“Bright Shiny Morning,” by James Frey. Not only a wonderful unputdownable book filled with memorable characters, but “Bright Shiny Morning” gives you a history of Los Angeles that is quite brilliant."

"Chelsea created the most intriguing serial killer since Hannibal Lecter in Thomas Harris’s “Red Dragon.” Chelsea introduces us to Gretchen Lowell in “Heartsick.” Gretchen is a truly evil fictional character who leaps off the page and stays with you."

"I would like the president to settle back and pick up a copy of John McCain’s “Faith of My Fathers.” Now here we have a true American hero, a man with a moral compass and a sense of stunning loyalty and integrity."

"I took her book, “Ali in Wonderland,” home with me, and I spent the rest of the evening doubled over laughing. This woman has a dry wit and a way of telling life stories that is totally hysterical."

"The sexiest of them all was Henry Miller’s “Tropic of Cancer,” a rambling sexual odyssey. Wow! I enjoyed it, even if I didn’t quite understand it."

"from Henry Miller I moved on to Harold Robbins and Terry Southern — “Candy” being a standout as far as sexy books are concerned."

"“The Great Gatsby” has always been a standout as far as love stories go. Jay Gatsby is such a mysterious and sexy character, and as a reader one can feel Daisy’s yearning to be closer to him, yet he always manages to pull away."

"However, my absolute favorite book of hers was “The Magic Faraway Tree,” a fantasy story about a family who lived near a wood. The family’s children soon discovered this magical tree and spent most of their time exploring the various branches where an assortment of crazy characters reside."

"As an author, one is always obliged to name one’s current book as their favorite. So that would be “The Power Trip.” I have to say I loved writing about a luxury yacht filled with celebrities who get taken over by Somali pirates."

"“Hollywood Wives,” a book that really skyrocketed my career."

"And “Chances,” a book that spanned almost a hundred years and in which I created the Santangelo family."

"First off is Rod Stewart’s autobiography, aptly titled “Rod,” because not only is Rod a longtime friend, but I hear the book is a riot."

"Followed by “At the Devil’s Table,” by William C. Rempel, the story of the insider who brought down the infamous Cali drug cartel."

"And then “Back to Blood,” by Tom Wolfe — a melting pot of different cultures in Miami. Tom Wolfe is a brilliant writer, every word a gem."