What a Writer Reads: My Favorite Books
A little about me: I’m a reader, writer, and I love cinnamon rolls. I’m a sucker for a chai latte, and you’ll never hear me refuse to watch an adaptation of any of Jane Austen’s novels (except for Netflix’s loose interpretation of Persuasion). I like traveling, and love England, and don’t always enjoy last-minute plans (they stress me out). And though all of those things are interesting to varying degrees, I feel like reading and writing go hand-in-hand. So, I thought I’d share what a writer reads: my favorite books.
What a Writer Reads
Obviously, every writer is different. Typically, writers are drawn towards books about writing. There are definitely some of these on my list, but, like most people, my reading tends to include a huge variety of genres and topics. Over the past few years, I’ve been working my way through the classics and I’m still on that journey, but I’m also growing fond of non-fiction titles and mysteries. In short, writers tend to read what their drawn to, reserving very little time for books that don’t interest them and instead preferring to follow their hearts: because they know the value of words and search out good storytelling.
My Favorite Books
These are in no particular order. Each has stuck with me in a different way and I fully plan to return to them again one day. I hope you add them to your own list!
Persuasion by Jane Austen
This is probably my all-time favorite Austen novel and it’s in the top three of my favorite books overall. So you can see why I’d have a bone to pick with Netflix over their adaptation. I’ve reread this book many times and love every aspect of this very romantic story. Persuasion is a must if you’re starting the classics or just want a fun, short read.
PC: Elaine Atherholt, emcopyediting.com
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
It’s been years since I read this book and I’m still obsessed. The perseverance of the men on Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated expedition to Antarctica is incredibly admirable. Told using the journals of the men who fought for their lives in the Arctic circle, Endurance is engaging from page one.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
I will recommend this book to everyone. William Shakespeare meets Dead Poet Society meets mystery in this dark academia story of Shakespeare academics and performers who find out exactly what happens when rolls are reversed and egos run wild. If We Were Villains is so much fun and definitely left its mark.
Shady Characters by Keith Houston
If I told you this book was about punctuation would you just tune me out? Probably. But you’d be wrong. It’s so much more fascinating than it sounds as Houston takes you through the history of the well-loved and lesser-known dots, dashes, and marks that add meaning and pause to everything we read and write. Shady Characters is a must for anyone who loves weird history.
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King
Laurie R. King had me at Sherlock Holmes. One of my favorite characters from literature is now retired and living in the sweeping fields and tiny towns of rural England. When he meets Mary Russell, both of their worlds are turned upside down in all the best ways. I was immediately hooked and now I’m working my way through the series.
PC: Elaine Atherholt, emcopyediting.com
Read Like a Writer
Basically, writers read just like everyone else. No surprise there. We are people who love to indulge in our favorite topics, tropes, and fantasy lands. We might just approach our reading a little differently. For example, writers often look at the finer details, take mental note of how to apply what we’re reading to our own writing, and enjoy the logistics of the process behind the words.
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