One of the downsides of being a well-known author is that, once people have experienced your words, they often believe they know you. If we’re honest, many readers tend to put their favourite authors into neat boxes. For instance, we might assume Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s shelves are stacked with feminist books, or a legal thriller writer reads little beyond legal thrillers. But every true reader knows that interests are varied and fluid—and you might just be surprised to find a romance novelist nose-deep in a rocket scientist’s memoir!

That’s why in our First Draft column at The Republic, we ask leading African writers about the books that might surprise people on their bookshelves. From Ike Anya, who once randomly bought a second-hand copy of Sidney Sheldon’s Rage of Angels, to Onyi Nwabineli, who still reserves a spot on her shelf for her favourite children’s book, these authors’ bookshelves are full of surprises.

Here are seven African writers and the unexpected books on their shelves.