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Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives
Writer's Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives | Nancy Pearl, Jeff Schwager
12 posts | 5 read | 1 reading | 16 to read
Introduction by Susan OrleanTwenty-three of today's living literary legends, including Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Andrew Sean Greer, Laila Lalami, and Michael Chabon, reveal the books that made them think, brought them joy, and changed their lives in this intimate, moving, and insightful collection from American's Librarian Nancy Pearl and noted playwright Jeff Schwager that celebrates the power of literature and reading to connect us all.Before Jennifer Egan, Louise Erdrich, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Jonathan Lethem became revered authors, they were readers. In this ebullient book, America's favorite librarian Nancy Pearl and noted-playwright Jeff Schwager interview a diverse range of America's most notable and influential writers about the books that shaped them and inspired them to leave their own literary mark. Illustrated with beautiful line drawings, The Writer's Library is a revelatory exploration of the studies, libraries, and bookstores of today's favorite authors--the creative artists whose imagination and sublime talent make America's literary scene the wonderful, dynamic world it is. A love letter to books and a celebration of wordsmiths, The Writer's Library is a treasure for anyone who has been moved by the written word. The authors in The Writer's Library are: Russell BanksTC BoyleMichael ChabonSusan ChoiJennifer EganDave EggersLouise ErdrichRichard FordLaurie FrankelAndrew Sean GreerJane HirshfieldSiri HustvedtCharles JohnsonLaila LalamiJonathan LethemDonna TarttMadeline MillerViet Thanh NguyenLuis Alberto UrreaVendela VidaAyelet WaldmanMaaza MengisteAmor Towles
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

This book, a series of interviews with writers about their reading lives, is pure joy. I read it slowly to savor each delightful morsel so it would last as long as possible. I now hope for a volume 2 or, even better, a weekly newsletter with a new interview each time. A reader can dream.

lakshmee Hey that little bookstore is so cute & dreamy✨💫 4y
Hooked_on_books @lakshmee Thanks! It was fun to make. 4y
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Hooked_on_books
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A book about books and this is the first line? Oh yeah, I‘m all in!

Librariana I read Orlean's "The Library Book" and it was fantastic! So interesting. I also own a copy of and can't wait to get to 4y
Hooked_on_books @Librariana Yes, The Library Book is fabulous! She only writes the brief foreword in this one and otherwise it‘s interviews with authors. I‘ve just started and am loving it so far, as I fully expected. 4y
luvlee68 yes a good read !!! couldn‘t believe how long the guy walked , sorry i read it a long time ago - but i did enjoy it - will have to go back and refresh myself , it will be worth it i think ! 4y
Hooked_on_books @luvlee68 Hmmm, I suspect you‘re thinking of a different book. 🤔 This is a collection of interviews with writers about their reading lives. 4y
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OutAndAbout
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Excellent collection of interviews with celebrated authors, some of which I love, some that were brand new to me. Some common themes: all live surrounded by full bookcases, most grew up reading voraciously but some didn‘t often because of dyslexia. Most said something like “oh they‘re wonderful, I wish I could write that well”. They tend to immerse themselves in similar literature before writing but only on research while writing.

OutAndAbout I do wish there was an index of books tagged with the another‘s who mentioned then. Great way to get to know an author before reading their works. 4y
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OutAndAbout
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On discussing books with troublesome politics, Vendela Vida: “you don‘t read novels to make friends. ... you read novels to see how other people think.”

Milara Yes, I do think that nowadays people tend to absolutely reject things that don't conform to their world view and politics and it's such a shame. If your thoughts are not challenged they cannot evolve and get refined. 4y
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OutAndAbout
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When asked about not finding Native American books growing up, Louise Erdrich - “Perhaps that‘s why I was drawn to science fiction. If you don‘t see yourself reflected, you can travel to another world.” This idea of writers not finding themselves in literature is a common theme in this book.

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OutAndAbout

Laila Lalami when asked if writers have the right to write characters from different races - “People talk a lot about the right to tell stories. And I think we really need to shift the conversation to the responsibility that comes with writing these stories. I welcome people writing about characters from different backgrounds, but there‘s so much homework you have to do, and you can‘t be lazy about it.”

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OutAndAbout
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“What‘s happened here Homer? You just gave up?” Madeline Miller talking about Circe in The Odyssey. I loved her take on Circe and it was fun to read how the flat female characters in some classics angered and inspired her to write her own versions.

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OutAndAbout
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Started with Amor Towles who has a four person reading group that meets monthly and reads in author or theme based projects. One project was 19th century wives under pressure: Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, Middlemarch, and Portrait of a Lady. They focus on books worth rereading, which is where the above quote comes in. Later he talks about a Nobel Prize project where he notes the Cairo Trilogy by Mahfouz as a revelation.

Butterfinger That sounds neat. 4y
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ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

I finished this and then attended a late-night (for me) virtual event via the Seattle Public Library with the authors. They asked Jeff my question about Philip Roth (I noticed he mentioned him a lot.) I will always read a book on books and add books to my list and this one was no different.

Reggie I finished your latest show this morning. Elizabeth is still one of my favorite guests! 4y
ReadingEnvy @Reggie yes she's great! 4y
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TimSpalding
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Nancy Pearl! The authors are letting me interview them for the @LibraryThing State of the Thing. So I‘m zooming though it now.

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Lissa00
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New #bookmail! I‘m so excited for this book 📚

meghathecloud Same🙋 4y
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Revenge4bess
Pickpick

Had anyone read this yet