'I love novels that focus on the human story'

What book(s) are you currently reading?

I am reading Cloud Atlas, a book by David Mitchell. Besides the author's wonderful use of words, I find the story fascinating; a very original way of showing, through six stories that take place in different times and places, that every small action we take extends into the future and may have an unexpected - but significant - impact in the lives of others. After all, we are all connected.

What are the books that shaped your outlook and changed your life?

That question is practically impossible to answer in an accurate and holistic way. I have read numerous books of various genres, and they have all contributed to the person I am today. I particularly love novels that focus on the importance of the human story- emotions, reactions, passions, weaknesses and personal victories over ego and pain are fascinating to me. I love classics from Homer as well as the works of the Bronte sisters, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Henrik Ibsen, Virginia Woolf, Naguib Mahfouz, Khalil Gibran, Nikos Kazantzakis and Anton Chekhov, just to name a few. More modern writers would be Jose Saramago, Haruki Murakami, Kazuo Ishiguro, Amin Maalouf and Orhan Pamuk.

What books would you pass onto your kids to read and treasure?

Every book is a small treasure in and of itself. I have my beloved books from Greek authors which are not so well-known in the Middle East because many of them have not been translated into English yet. Still, they have left a mark in my life. Sometimes, it is easy to get lost in more international books, but I do not want the legacy of the writers of my country to be forgotten.

Books that you never tire of reading and re-reading?

When I was eight years old, I read Jane Eyre five times in a row! Ever since, though, it has not been easy for me to re-read a book, especially if the book's impact has been so strong that I need time for everything to sink in. However, I do love reading books which I haven't touched for years because then I can see it through new eyes and be inspired by the new perspective. It is actually like reading a new book all over again.

A book you believe every person must pick up at least once?

I would like to suggest Ascesis by Nikos Kazantzakis. It is a spiritual book that is not so well-known to international audiences, and not to be missed. It is a book that changes lives not just by the ideas shared but also by the language used to convey them.

• Lifestyle