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The Writer's Library
The Writer's Library: he Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives | Nancy Pearl, Jeff Schwager
17 posts | 4 read | 19 to read
Introduction by Susan Orlean Twenty-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, Americas 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 Writers Library is a revelatory exploration of the studies, libraries, and bookstores of todays favorite authorsthe 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 Writers Library is a treasure for anyone who has been moved by the written word. The authors in The Writers Library are: Russell Banks TC Boyle Michael Chabon Susan Choi Jennifer Egan Dave Eggers Louise Erdrich Richard Ford Laurie Frankel Andrew Sean Greer Jane Hirshfield Siri Hustvedt Charles Johnson Laila Lalami Jonathan Lethem Donna Tartt Madeline Miller Viet Thanh Nguyen Luis Alberto Urrea Vendela Vida Ayelet Waldman Maaza Mengiste Amor Towles
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

Loved this. I could listen/read this style of interview for different authors for the rest of my life.
This book becomes a reading list in two ways, the books the authors talk about, and, as this is my first introduction to many of them, the interviews often become a recommendation to look into the author's own work, as I hear about what they write, how they speak. 1/?!

Robotswithpersonality 2/?.It's fascinating to see the variance in processes, experience, perspective, opinion in the authors selected.
A great book to listen to on audio, but have the text close by so you can grab the great quotes as they come!
I will say, as one of the two interviewers, Nancy Pearl is a little strident in her tone and volume, it sounds a bit like she's constantly worried the mic isn't picking her up, but the handful of other narrators are a delight,
2w
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 some of which are the authors interviewed themselves.
Just a marvelous time.

⚠️ discussion of racism, sexism, loved one with dementia
2w
willaful The book Shelf Discovery made me really interested in trying Laura Lippman. I loved how she wrote about books. 2w
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Robotswithpersonality
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I love the framing, the imagery: “we should come out not as clean as we went in...“ 🪏

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Robotswithpersonality
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Just found my new response for nosey people who want to know why I don't want kids. 😏

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Robotswithpersonality
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The only viable stance...

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Robotswithpersonality
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🤔

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Robotswithpersonality
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Warmed by fiery poems. 🔥☺️

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Robotswithpersonality
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Harsh but fair: shedding the mediocre through the engine of history.

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Robotswithpersonality
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New way to choose next read unlocked. 😋

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Robotswithpersonality
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👀🍄

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Robotswithpersonality
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Right vs responsibility. Well said.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Real, relatable. 😅

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Bookish.SAM
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Well this has sure added to my TBR list!! 📚📚📚

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Addison_Reads
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Such a wonderful book!

I loved reading these interviews and my TBR has grown so much because of it.

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vivastory
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When 3 books that are on my TBR are referenced back-to-back. Butcher's Crossing better than Stoner? Bold claim.

Leftcoastzen Love Stoner need to read Crossing 4y
vivastory @Leftcoastzen Have you read anything else by Williams? The only other book I read was Nothing But The Night, which I enjoyed. 4y
BarbaraBB They are so different. I preferred Stoner but Butcher‘s Crossing is unique too in its description of Kansas (don‘t you live there?) and the friendship between the men/hunters. You‘ll enjoy it I‘m sure. 4y
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Leftcoastzen @vivastory Just Stoner 4y
vivastory @BarbaraBB Close! I live in MO, but on the border of KS. Only about 20 minutes away. I think this will def be the next Williams that I read. 4y
Hooked_on_books I just loved this book! 4y
vivastory @Hooked_on_books It's a great one to dip in & out of 4y
Liz_M Jonathan who? 4y
vivastory @Liz_M Lethem. It's a great interview! 4y
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Jen2
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Just lovely!

Cathythoughts Indeed 👍🏻❤️ 5y
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blurb
vivastory
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I have read one book this week. Not a reading slump. It's just that it's not every day that a sitting president incites Vanilla Isis to overrun the Capitol & is subsequently impeached. For the second time. Justifiably. Let's hope that this time there are consequences. Anyways, I did begin reading the tagged book last night & found it to be delightful.👇

vivastory So far I have read Orlean's intro & part of Lethem's interview. Focusing more on the books that have shaped them as readers & writers, I immediately grabbed my highlighter. I think this one is a TBR explosion book. Here's to the weekend, friends! 🍻 Nolite te bastardes carborundorum! (edited) 5y
BethM Yeah this has really derailed my reading too! 5y
KVanRead I feel you my friend. Reading concentration is pretty f*ing low rn. I second the Atwood quote! What a perfect week for it. 5y
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vivastory @BethM Jan 20th can't arrive soon enough 5y
vivastory @KVanRead It's def a classic. I'm planning a new blackout this weekend for my sanity. At least all day tomorrow. 5y
sprainedbrain I have read two books so far this month... and nothing at all for the last 4 days. 5y
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ReadingEnvy
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Reading Envy Podcast Episode 203: Backlist with Marion Hill.

Marion and I talk about the rich possibilities of exploring author backlists and catch up on recent reads.

Listen or subscribe:
https://tinyurl.com/ReadingEnvy203

Reggie Face of an Angel and Bless Me Ultima are two of my favorite all time books. I remember being in Chicano Literature class and having some lively tsk tsking by the older women in the class discussions on Face of an Angel. So excited to hear him talk about it. Great show as usual. (edited) 5y
ReadingEnvy @Reggie thank reggie 5y
Centique @Reggie I was thinking of you while listening to this and noting the connections! You sent me both of those books and I AM going to read them soon 😍 Great episode again Jenny. 5y
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Reggie @Centique ❤️ No worries. The Bone People is right here in my bedroom and has been staring me down for 2 years. 5y
Centique @Reggie 😂😂 5y
43 likes6 comments