Clare Tanner: 7 books

Communication becomes so hard in the teenage years. Families can fall apart over misunderstandings. If only we could all learn to listen to each other.

Evergreedy Squeeze is a wealthy banker, out of touch with the age of austerity. At Christmas he receives visitations from three spirits, who attempt to show him the truth of his situation. Will he heed their lesson? Apologies to Charles Dickens for this affectionate homage to his famous story in his bicentenary year.

A personal crisis might seem like the end of the world, but sometimes it is a catalyst for change and renewal.

The complexities of life in the modern world can be hard to cope with, but also hard to escape from. Sometimes, we have to go back to basics to realise what is really important in life.

Life can be cruel, but help can come from unexpected places, at the most surprising times. We learn the most from the things that go wrong in life.

Sometimes the ripples from world events can cause waves in our own lives...

Lost opportunities from the past can drag us down and prevent us from enjoying the present and the future. Sometimes we have to revisit the past to escape from it.