I love talking books. There’s something so magical about sharing a great story with someone; the excitement is palpable. And, sadly, I can not read everything, so journeying through a beloved world with a fellow reader is an excellent way to experience a novel I may never get to dive into personally. Here’s some recommendations of chances to do just that with some authors we all love.
Librarian Nancy Pearl and Playwright Jeff Schwager interview a diverse group of authors in the excellent and explorative work, “The Writer’s Library.” You’ll hear from Jennifer Egan, Richard Ford, Laila Lalami, and 19 more beloved authors about their favorite books and authors, what they choose to read, how books shape their writing, and so much more. This is a celebration of cherished books, from childhood and adulthood, as professional authors and personal readers.
I also recommend “The Book That Made Me” by Judith Ridge. This work focuses on popular children’s and YA authors who share very personal stories (and occasionally photographs) of treasured childhood reads and adult reads that changed how they see the world, themselves, and their writing. If you’d like to check out some similar titles, try “By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New York Times Book Review” or “The Books that Changed My Life: Reflection by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians, and Other Remarkable People.” And finally, for a visual treat of some author’s personal bookshelves, check out “Unpacking my Library: Writers and Their Books,” which features excellent interviews and full-page photographs.
Every reader knows how some books can touch your life in deeply profound ways. Through literature, we can fortify our strength and perseverance to find our way through some of life’s toughest moments. Author Leslie Schwartz’s memoir, “The Lost Chapters: Finding Recovery and Renewal One Book at a Time” chronicles how reading and stories helped her through her personal journey with a drug and alcohol relapse, jail time, and making amends with her family and friends. I also recommend “The Futilitarians: Our Year of Thinking Drinking, Grieving, and Reading” by Anne Gisleson. This memoir is an ode to the power of literature and of friendship through life’s hardest moments.
If you want a more lighthearted romp through literary loves, try “Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks” by Annie Spence or “Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books” by Nick Hornby. Both feature short ruminations on books they’ve loved, books they haven’t loved, and everything in-between. I also recommend “The Call Me Ishmael Phone Book: An Interactive Guide to Life-changing Books.”
