Add to this the fact that my partner has only ever been out with me, and we’re looking at a seventh son of a seventh son phenomenon. And from this rather sheltered position I can report that there are pros and cons.The good thing is that, by and large, we are extremely positive about all things coupley and the relationship can function without hurt, mistrust and other fallout from previous, failed partnerships. No, my concern is the first “proper” relationships that people embark upon; still being in mine – three years and going strong – I am naturally an interested party, and having seen the fallout from my friends’ first encounters I am equally intrigued as to how they continue to impact on us long after they are over.
It was only when I seriously considered the emotional histories of other early twentysomethings I know that I realised to still be involved in Serious Relationship Number One at this age is rather unusual. Anything other than telling my first true love that I had forgotten to call him the evening before because, well, I just hadn’t remembered and had been having too good a time without him to notice. He looked at me, his first true love, with a look of unreadable sadness. Was it all downhill from here?

Now, whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.

This was not a relationship in the first throes of heady passion coming into unwelcome contact with Planet Reality, nor is the rest of this article going to expound the merits of Friendship and Companionship in relationships that have gone slightly off the sexual boil. A small lie, a big lie, a condemn-me-to-eternal-purgatory lie, no matter. It has some of the most wonderful writing Dickens ever produced, the most memorable characters, and the most striking scenes. The bit where mad Miss Flyte lets her birds go free gets me every time.Anything by Leslie Kenton. When you want to resist that box of chocolates or glass of champagne, a few pages of any Leslie Kenton book, opened at random, normally help.”Epipsychidion” by Shelley. I often carry a copy of Shelley’s long poem, a sort of erotic and spiritual rhyming autobiography, on long-haul flights to read during bouts of turbulence. Not only is it very soothing, it’s important to have something beautiful to clasp in the event of sudden death.’Booked’, Channel Four, starts Tuesday April 7, see listings for times ‘Book Club’ starts Sunday April 5, Radio 4, 4pm..

AS SOON AS the words were out of my mouth, I realised that anything at all would have been more acceptable than the truth. Even her happiness has the mad, crackling intensity of a migraine.Bleak House by Charles Dickens. When life gets hideous I immerse myself in Bleak House, which I’ve read about eight times. For a week or so you can be totally absorbed in this bizarre world. It reminds you that no matter how dire your circumstances (Sara Crewe goes from pampered pet to starving skivvy in a snobbish Edwardian school), you can win through by force of personality, imagination and grace.The journals of Sylvia Plath. No matter how bad you’re feeling, Sylvia Plath’s journals will cheer youup because she always feels much, much worse than you do. Makes you want to go to see Naples and die tomorrow.Catch 22 (Joseph Heller) Thefunniest book ever written.