If one of your new year’s resolutions was to read more, then you might want to start with something bite-sized, but full of story and intrigue that’ll undoubtedly reawaken the book worm in you. Authors Dorothy Koomson and Kit de Waal are two of six writers involved in this year’s Quick Reads project, and have written a book each that’ll do just that: The Beach Wedding, and Six Foot Six respectively – and especially for Pride readers, they’ve shared five of their most influential reads. Add to your bookshelf ASAP
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Dorothy Koomson
“Books and reading have always been such a huge part of my life that it’s very difficult to narrow down these books to just five, but here goes…”
The book that encouraged me to write: The Garden Gang series by Jayne Fisher
Jayne Fisher started writing and illustrating her The Garden Gang stories about a group of talking vegetables when she was nine. I was 13 at the time and decided if someone my age could write books, then so could I. My first book was called There’s A Thin Line Between Love and Hate and I would write a chapter every night then pass it around my convent school classmates the next morning. I didn’t get published for another twenty-odd years, but I wrote novels and short stories in that time.
The book that changes as I get older: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I read this when I was young and thought that the story of a black man falsely accused of the rape of a white woman was heart-breaking. In many ways, I’ve grown up with this book because I have read it every decade or so, and with each reading time has altered its meaning and context. I read it again recently and, to me, it was quite scary how we much we think the world has changed yet, in many ways, things have stayed the same.
The book that inspired me: You Can’t Afford The Luxury Of A Negative Thought By John-Roger and Peter McWilliams
This is a book about trying to be pragmatic in the face of difficult situations. If negative thinking is your default setting, this could help by encouraging laughter and doing things that you find uplifting. I’ve found it very useful at various points in my life. This book, along with seeing an episode of the Oprah show, convinced me to quit my job and take a chance on becoming a freelance writer and editor, while continuing to write fiction. Not long after I left my job I came up with the idea for The Cupid Effect, which became my first published novel.
The Book that taught me about plot twists: Running Wild by JG Ballard
This novella about a group of extremely wealthy parents murdered in the exclusive, gated housing development where they live, taught me a lot about leaving clues in your writing to deliver a huge twist-in-the-tale. Even if you guess the ending, you can’t help but keep reading to find out if you’re right – I think JG Ballard was brilliant at that. I love his short stories and this is one of my favourite tales.
The book that challenged me: The Family by Buchi Emecheta
Gwendolen is the daughter of two Jamaican people who immigrate to the UK. When they send for Gwendolen, who already has a troubled upbringing in Jamaica, her troubles only deepen. I read this in one night because I could not put it down. The Family is deeply touching without being over sentimental while dealing with very serious subjects. It was this story that encouraged me to challenge myself to tackle difficult themes in my writing.
The Beach Wedding by Dorothy Koomson (Quick Reads, £1) and The Friend by Dorothy Koomson (Penguin Random House, £7.99) are both on sale now.
Kit de Waal
“The influence of particular books on a writer is often difficult to quantify; most writers read a lot and widely and absorb ideas like osmosis, slowly and invisibly only able to reflect later on specific books or writing that had a huge impact. But there are certain books and certain passages in books that have made me stop, mid-page, mid-sentence and marvel at its beauty or wisdom or I’ve finished a book and known that it has changed me fundamentally or changed the way I see the world. These are some of them…”
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.
I could barely bring myself to read the last page, so sad, so poignant. Beautifully crafted, a study in devastating self-deception and lost chances. It’s also an expose of the English class system, snobbery and appeasement. Unusually, the film of the book did it justice and if you can’t find time for the book, definitely find time for the film starring Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins. The writing, though is a masterclass in restraint and the unsaid.
- Whatever happened to Inter-racial Love by Kathleen Collins.
I was sent this book to review. I had never heard of Kathleen Collins, a black American civil rights activist who wrote these short stories in the 60’s and 70’s. They are funny and dark, terrible and sad, simple and bold. They are as important to read now as they were then telling the stories of how black and white people interact and love – or fail to – and how we misunderstand one another over and over again.
- My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tellant
This book was only published in August 2017 and is written by a young author from California. It is shocking. It is also shockingly well-written. Its main character is a young girl living almost off grid with her unstable father who is determined not to share her with the world. When she forms a new friendship, their relationship deteriorates in the most horrible way. I loved it completely.
- Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
This book isn’t even out yet and already people are talking about it. I had the good fortune to read it before it was snapped up at auction. It’s inspirational to me because it’s written by a new and exciting young woman, articulate, brave and, in the new parlance, ‘woke’. It’s a spicy, clever read about modern love and one woman’s journey into independence. Funny, wise and of the moment, this book and this writer are the ones to watch.
- The First Bad Man by Miranda July
Strange book, off-beat in every way. A main character who lives a parallel life in her own head, who invites a strange woman into her home and who throughout this funny, bizarre and completely brilliant book is looking for love and acceptance. It’s not like anything I’ve ever read before and if you have even the slightest odd thing about you or you’ve ever had a weird thought about your boss or next-door neighbour, you’ll love it.
Six Foot Six by Kit de Waal (Quick Reads, £1) is on sale now.
