What books are on your nightstand?
Currently, my virtual nightstand is filled with a plethora of audiobooks on Libby. Inspired by your recent list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, I find two notable titles that I must confess I have yet to read: The Known World by Edward P. Jones and Veronica by Mary Gaitskill. On the other hand, my physical book stack is primarily occupied by upcoming releases in my Book the Writer series, which includes:
- The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson
- Bear by Julia Phillips
- The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
- Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Additionally, I’m exploring a captivating read titled Dime Novel Mormons, which delves into the portrayal of Mormon characters in popular fiction from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What book would people be surprised to find on your shelves?
One unexpected title that might catch people off guard is Myths and Legends of the Swahili by Jan Knappert. I must admit, I took it from a hotel bookshelf in Kenya when I was just 11 years old. The vivid and haunting depiction of hell’s torments left a lasting impression on me. Can you imagine being imprisoned in casks filled with scorpions? Or facing demons that whip you with your own hair? It’s a chilling read!
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
It truly pains me to admit this, but I have yet to tackle Middlemarch. I promise, I will get around to it soon!
Have you ever gotten in trouble for reading a book?
Indeed, I had quite the altercation in a bar in Alice Springs, Australia, over Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice, which ranks among my top six favorite novels. The bartender had the audacity to label it “a woman’s novel.” Excuse me? The only reason I even found myself in his insipid bar was because of my love for A Town Like Alice!
As a young writer, did you imagine or hope to be (for lack of a better word) popular?
At the end of the day, all we truly desire as writers is to have readers engage with our work. Ask any author: would you prefer your book to have a buyer or a reader? The answer is unanimous; we all choose the latter. While it’s undoubtedly rewarding to have the means to pay the bills, there are myriad ways to make a living. We write because we yearn for our words to resonate with others. Interestingly, gaining more readers later in my career has allowed me to appreciate them even more!
What’s the last great book you read?
The most recent exceptional book I devoured is The Desperate Hours: One Hospital’s Fight to Save a City on the Pandemic’s Front Lines by Marie Brenner. This gripping narrative plunges you into the heart of the fear that enveloped so many of us during 2020. Brenner’s courage in embedding herself with the staff at NewYork-Presbyterian is only rivaled by the bravery exhibited by the doctors and nurses on the front lines.
