My London: Paul Theroux

Hawaii. I like the weather, the people, the food; I live in the country and have lots of space.

How long have you lived there?

Almost 14 years. Before that I lived in London, where my children grew up. To me, it has always seemed the most habitable city in the world. It's young, vibrant and has everything for children.

Who is in your secret address book?

Me. I still have a flat in London, but I wouldn't divulge where it is.

What have been your most memorable London meals?

In the early Seventies we used to go to an Indian restaurant for Sunday lunch. I found the idea of going out and having a curry with the whole family a very pleasant thing to do.

What is your earliest London memory?

I first came to England from the US in 1965. I remember travelling through Clapham Junction looking at the backs of the houses and thinking, 'How can people possibly live in this place?' About a year later that's exactly where I was living! From the train it looked sooty, strange and uncomfortable, but the houses were very nice.

What do you miss most about London?

Going to the Festival Hall at the last minute. Also, the great galleries and the shops that sell paintings. Great paintings and great music are something we don't have in Hawaii.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day?

Traffic is the thing that has destroyed London. I think everyone knows that, but the only way around it is to prevent all cars from coming in.

What is your life philosophy?

It's live all you can. And don't put things off, do them now.

What are your favourite shops?

I like the galleries on Duke Street. There are three or four there where I have bought pictures or looked in the windows.

How do you get around town?

Public transport (though I used to ride my bike if I was in a hurry). Ideally it would be the top deck of a bus. It's my favourite view of London.

What is in your summer wardrobe?

Comfortable shoes are the only things that I would spend money on.

What is your favourite fragrance?

There's a line from a poem by Salvatore Quasimodo, 'For my human smell I thank the air of angels,' so that's sort of where I am.

Do you have a favourite pub?

I can't really say I have a favourite pub, but I used to drink at my locals, The Beehive and The Fishmongers Arms, in Wandsworth. I would mark the end of a working day by buying the Evening Standard and going to the pub and having a pint of Guinness.

What was the last book you bought?

A fantastic book called My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malan. I also re-read books such as Joseph Conrad's Nostromo and The Secret Agent, or Flaubert's Madame Bovary. At each new phase in your life it's a good idea to reread a book.