My friend Brett recently wrote a Facebook note asking that we make a list of the 15 authors (poets included) who have had that most influence on us. Being someone for whom reading is a top 5 pastime, this is intriguing. Brett's list is full of classic authors like Thoreau, Emerson, and Dickens, and reaches as far as the Buddha. I don't really make Facebook notes anymore, as I write this blog instead, so I'm putting my list here. I also chose to include that which each has written that I have loved most dearly. I know that's not part of Brett's game, but it's part of mine.
1. Truman Capote -- Music for Chameleons
2. Jonathan Safran Foer -- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
3. Jonathan Ames -- I Love You More Than You Know
4. JK Rowling -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
5. Mohsin Hamid -- Moth Smoke
6. Salman Rushdie -- Midnight's Children
7. Christopher Buckley -- Thank You For Smoking
8. Joseph Conrad -- Heart of Darkness
9. Aldous Huxley -- Brave New World
10. Khaled Hosseini -- The Kite Runner
11. Zadie Smith -- On Beauty
12. Elie Wiesel -- From the Kingdom of Memory
13. Dr. Seuss -- Put me in the Zoo
14. Mark Haddon -- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
15. William Shakespeare -- Twelfth Night
I was hesitant to even include Shakespeare, as he seemed too obvious. But the question wasn't "which authors no one else reads" it was just which authors. And Dr. Seuss absolutely affected my life, particularly as a reader. And I could have included the Apostle Paul, and Martin Luther, and Buechner and Brueggemann and all of those brilliant theologians. But authors of fiction are particularly close to my heart. And it should be obvious that all of these authors have written more than one piece that I hold dear. That is why they are on this list. But because of the "favorite author" thing, there are some books I have loved very much that are not on this list. But if you're looking for something to read, I would wholeheartedly recommend all of the above.
Writing this list reminded me of the joy I have found in each of these brilliant minds. Each of these authors has helped me to better understand the world that I live in and the world I would like to live in. Each of these authors has taken me into a world of her or his own creation (or in the case of Elie Wiesel, a world of our creation) and made me never want to leave it. Each of these books has left me never wanting it to end. If I had time -- and if there weren't infinite more books to be reading and learning from -- I would sit down and read all of these again. Over and over and over. But until tonight, I'd forgotten.
I'd forgotten that Truman Capote tells me everything I need to know about everything, one perfectly constructed sentence at a time.
I'd forgotten that Jonathan Safran Foer wrote a novel about 9/11 without writing a novel about 9/11. Oskar Schell is the best-developed character I've read.
I'd forgotten that Jonathan Ames is wacky and irreverent and gross and witty and unbelievable and honest to a disgusting fault.
I'd forgotten that JK Rowling, though by no means in the same league as any of these other names, wrote the most riveting adventure of my generation, and never let us down.
I'd forgotten that Mohsin Hamid makes me want to sit on a rooftop in Lahore and smoke a joint with Daru like it's that simple.
I'd forgotten that Salman Rushdie can write a sentence that, even after translation, leaves you breathless.
I'd forgotten that Christopher Buckley constructs an America that we may think is far-fetched, but may be just around the hilarious corner.
I'd forgotten that English is Joseph Conrad's sixth language, and yet he writes of the Congo as no one else could.
I'd forgotten that Aldous Huxley defined the dystopia, and reminded us that we are us.
I'd forgotten that Khaled Hosseini introduced a nation to another, in a way besides war.
I'd forgotten that Zadie Smith writes the most realistic dialogue, down to the slightest accent or the lightest hint of sarcasm.
I'd forgotten that Elie Wiesel catalogued a monstrosity while retaining a sense of peace.
I'd forgotten that Dr. Seuss taught my generation to laugh while reading.
I'd forgotten that Mark Haddon writes a character so well, I felt like I was Christopher John Francis Boone and that today was a Super Good Day.
I'd forgotten that I had to read William Shakespeare each year from 7th to 12th grade, but also that I'd fallen in love with mistaken identity, love triangles within love triangles, and the most fitting character names ever concocted.
I'd forgotten how much one book can give you. Thanks for the reminder, Brett.
Writing this list reminded me of the joy I have found in each of these brilliant minds. Each of these authors has helped me to better understand the world that I live in and the world I would like to live in. Each of these authors has taken me into a world of her or his own creation (or in the case of Elie Wiesel, a world of our creation) and made me never want to leave it. Each of these books has left me never wanting it to end. If I had time -- and if there weren't infinite more books to be reading and learning from -- I would sit down and read all of these again. Over and over and over. But until tonight, I'd forgotten.
I'd forgotten that Truman Capote tells me everything I need to know about everything, one perfectly constructed sentence at a time.
I'd forgotten that Jonathan Safran Foer wrote a novel about 9/11 without writing a novel about 9/11. Oskar Schell is the best-developed character I've read.
I'd forgotten that Jonathan Ames is wacky and irreverent and gross and witty and unbelievable and honest to a disgusting fault.
I'd forgotten that JK Rowling, though by no means in the same league as any of these other names, wrote the most riveting adventure of my generation, and never let us down.
I'd forgotten that Mohsin Hamid makes me want to sit on a rooftop in Lahore and smoke a joint with Daru like it's that simple.
I'd forgotten that Salman Rushdie can write a sentence that, even after translation, leaves you breathless.
I'd forgotten that Christopher Buckley constructs an America that we may think is far-fetched, but may be just around the hilarious corner.
I'd forgotten that English is Joseph Conrad's sixth language, and yet he writes of the Congo as no one else could.
I'd forgotten that Aldous Huxley defined the dystopia, and reminded us that we are us.
I'd forgotten that Khaled Hosseini introduced a nation to another, in a way besides war.
I'd forgotten that Zadie Smith writes the most realistic dialogue, down to the slightest accent or the lightest hint of sarcasm.
I'd forgotten that Elie Wiesel catalogued a monstrosity while retaining a sense of peace.
I'd forgotten that Dr. Seuss taught my generation to laugh while reading.
I'd forgotten that Mark Haddon writes a character so well, I felt like I was Christopher John Francis Boone and that today was a Super Good Day.
I'd forgotten that I had to read William Shakespeare each year from 7th to 12th grade, but also that I'd fallen in love with mistaken identity, love triangles within love triangles, and the most fitting character names ever concocted.
I'd forgotten how much one book can give you. Thanks for the reminder, Brett.