Books have always been part of my life — sometimes as comfort, sometimes as challenge, and sometimes as something I probably shouldn’t have read far too young. This is less a list of favourites and more a snapshot of how and why I read.

1. Books I regret reading

It by Stephen King.
I had already seen the movie, and after that I was genuinely afraid to go anywhere near the bathroom in case something came up the drain. Reading the book only deepened the trauma. There are scenes in the book that thankfully never made it into the film — and if you know, you know. Definitely not for me.

2. Books I loved as a child

Seven Little Australians.
I fell completely for the charm of the characters. It felt warm, human, and alive in a way that stayed with me long after childhood.

3. Books that made me think

This category could be a list on its own.


  • All the Light We Cannot See — seeing World War II through the eyes of children on both sides, and understanding that there were victims everywhere, changed how I think about history.

  • Nobody Nowhere and Somebody Somewhere — a woman’s experience before and after an autism diagnosis. After my son was diagnosed at three, twenty years ago, I read everything I could find on the topic of autism, clinical and otherwise, but the stories of the actual diagnosed people were the most helpful. These books stayed with me.

  • The Memory Keeper’s Daughter — a beautiful, heartbreaking look at life with Down syndrome and a reminder of how different the world was before adequate support existed.

More recently, I’ve been reading a lot of World War II history and survival stories:
The Stable Boy of Auschwitz, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Hitler’s Brothel — tragic, confronting stories of survival that are difficult but important to sit with.

4. Book I've gifted the most

The Barefoot Investor.
I was given this book as a gift and read it the same night. It surprised me — practical, straightforward, and unexpectedly funny in places. I found it genuinely useful, and I’ve since gifted it to three other people. It’s one of those books you want others to read because it feels empowering rather than overwhelming.

5. Book that took me the longest to read

How Big Things Get Done — which feels ironic given the title, but it took me almost a year

6. Best book recommendation from the last five years

52 Weeks to Better Mental Health.
It actually took me about 60 weeks because I kept forgetting, but that book helped me make some huge decisions. I regret none of them.

7. Favourite genre

I don’t have one — and I don’t really have a favourite author either.
I’ll read almost anything you put in front of me.

8. Why my reading taste is so broad

When I was studying in Melbourne, I travelled two hours each way on public transport. I used to buy $5 books from Big W’s bargain bin and read whatever was there — thrillers, horror, historical romance, modern romance. If it fit in my bag, I read it.

9. Books that scared me as a teenager

My school library was filled with Stephen King, Flowers in the Attic, and other unsettling authors — and I read most of it. Possibly too much of it.

10. What I want to read next

I’d love to get deeper into the classics. I’ve read some Brontë (Wuthering Heights), and now I’m drawn to beautifully made editions — books I want to read purely for their beauty as well as their content.
The ones catching my eye lately? Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Odyssey by Homer, with vintage-style covers and coloured page edges.

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A picture of Melissa from Melissa Rath Millinery

About the Author

Melissa Rath is an Australian milliner creating unique, handcrafted hats. She shares insights on design, styling, colour theory, the history of hats and all things millinery.