What books must any writer read? That’s not for me to say. I have, however, compiled a list of works that lecturers cited as must-reads at my recent Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing residency. This is NOT a definitive list of all of the top must-read books, but an of-the-moment selection with some old standards and some you may not have heard of. I’ve divided the list into craft books (instructional) and examples of craft well done (novels, memoirs, biographies, essays).
Let me note that this is not my semester reading list. I have twelve books I must read (and write critical essays on) during the next four months, but that is a list personalized to my study. There is some overlap; three of my assigned books are listed below. But this list is a broader snapshot of recommendations I heard and had the time and presence of mind to jot down.
Enjoy!
CRAFT
- The Writing Life, Annie Dillard: A classic volume of essays in which the author walks her readers through the pain and joy of writing.
- Theory of Prose, Victor Shklovsky: The author breaks down the novel to its foundation and hints at the infinite ways a new one can be constructed.
- The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present, Phillip Lopate: The introduction tells you everything you need to know about writing to a reader about your life and your beliefs; the rest of the book is dozens of examples about how this form is a staple of literature.
- The Art of Time in Fiction: As Long as it Takes, Joan Silver: How to manage time in a novel.
- The Next American Essay, John D’Agata: The author collects one lyric essay per year spanning the last quarter of the 20th Century, showing the evolution of the prose form that presents facts that sing.
- The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci, Jonathan D. Spence: A look at a 16th Century missionary to China and his development of a method for storing and accessing memories; promoted here as a tool writers can use to better tap their experiences in their writing.
- An Actor’s Handbook: An Alphabetical Arrangement of Concise Statements on Aspects of Acting, Constantin Stanislavsky: This venerable guide for actors can give any writer the tools she needs to perform readings of her works and speak in promotional settings.
STORIES WELL-TOLD
- My Family and Other Animals, Gerald Durrell: A beautiful example of melding factual writing with memoir, in which Durrell focuses on the flora of the Greek island of Corfu but gives the reader much more.
- The Mind of a Mnemonist: A Little Book about a Vast Memory, Aleksandr R. Luria: This Russian essayist tells the story of a man with unlimited memory in what Luria called a “romantic science” genre, painting a literary portrait of an individual through description of science and psychology.
- A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan: A brilliant novel that works through its manipulation of time, moving the reader back and forth to different moments seen through different eyes.
- The Liar’s Club: A Memoir, Mary Karr: A study of an author who gives what any reader wants, the opportunity to live someone else’s life, with all the bumps and laughs one can find there.
- Fly and the Fly Bottle: Encounters with British Intellectuals, Ved Mehta: A strong example of a collection of interviews where the interviewer inserts himself less through personal revelation and more through his passion for the subject matter.
- Hunting for Hope: A Father’s Journeys, Scott Russell Sanders: An example by the accomplished essayist of examining an important topic (environmentalism) through a personal prism (his relationship with his son).
- Stop-Time: A Memoir, Frank Conroy: A classic work highlighting an author unafraid to combat romantic notions of the magical moments of youth, with stories of brutality and mental illness.
What books do you recommend?
The Artist's Road 
Hi Patrick, some great resources here. I have a load of how to write books but only a couple from your top list. The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricc sounds intriguing, I’ll have to check that out.
LikeLike
That was suggested by a graduate lecturer. He had us create our own memory palace, by visualizing entering an empty room and “storing” a memory in there by placing an item we’d associate with it in the room. But frankly, the story of a missionary who learned new tricks while in China sounds good on its own.
LikeLike
Thanks Patrick, some new ones here for me as well! Looking forward to checking some of these out!!
LikeLike
Happy to give you homework!
LikeLike
Really great list (I need to finally snag a copy of “The Writing Life” and get my career in order)!
I would add some literary classics however, for inspiration if nothing else. “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau, of course, would be #1. 🙂
LikeLike
You know, I’ve read bird by bird and The Artist’s Road more than once, and never read Dillard’s book, negligence on my part.
As for classics, some of my readers suggested made suggestions here recently: https://artistsroad.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/three-authors-every-writer-should-read/
LikeLike
Patrick, for “Craft”, check out the just-released “Confessions of a Young Novelist” by the 77 year old Umberto Eco. A fascinating discussion of how intensely “true” a novel has to be in order to come to life for the reader.
In terms of the “stories well-told” it seems we both like a similar genre: the semi-fictional, semi-autobiographical stories told by writers with strong voices. I would highly recommend “Ham on Rye” by Bukowski or “Cockpit” by Kosinskin.
LikeLike
Hi James, how fantastic Eco has a craft book out.
Yes, I’m focusing on writing creative nonfiction, love your description of that genre. Much appreciate your suggestions!
LikeLike
I’ve read only a few writing books at this point. I tend to read “at” books, rather than read them cover to cover–especially those I find a tad dry. Much more fun to open them randomly to see what bit of synchronous goodness they have for me in any given moment.
And speaking of that, I was just about to say that I’ve read bits and pieces of “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser and “Becoming a Writer” by Dorothea Brande, and then picked up my wavy-paged copy of “One Writing Well,” (it got a little soaked at the laundromat one day, heh) and opened right to the Chapter entitled “Bits & Pieces.” 🙂
On the other hand, I devoured every tasty morsel of Natalie Goldberg’s books, “Wild Mind” and “Writing Down the Bones, Freeing the Writer Within.” It’s been several years since I read those two though, I probably should re-read them. I’m feeling a strong need for that “freeing” thing 😉
Off topic, but in that synchronicity vein, I find it fascinating that I so strongly resonate with the energy of birds, and the very first book that I took deeply into my soul was “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. Love Maya. I wonder if she’s written any books on writing.
Dove
LikeLike
Hello Dove,
Love your description of reading “at” books. A nice approach. As for your connection to birds, have you read a new novel out in April called “The Bird Sisters” by Rebecca Rasmussen? It’s beautifully written, I think you might like it.
LikeLike
I’m not much of a novel-reader, Patrick, but after reading the reviews on Amazon, including quotes from this book, I’m glad you suggested it. As you might have noticed from my tweets, I’m heavily into metaphysics–the Universe speaks to me (and all of us) in so many ways. This book represents a message that’s been coming to me lately. Heavily, just yesterday–the Universe can be relentless, ha. A message that frightens me actually, especially the way it’s put before me with the “Bird Sisters.” But I need to be frightened. And for most of us, including me, that seems to be the best impetus for change. The message is how our past weaves not only the present–but the future. And if we allow ourselves to stay rooted in and saturated by a past that wasn’t so pretty, then we can be assured the future will hold the same. Nothing changes until we change–until we release that past (and often that’s about re-living it for a while), accept all the horror of it, embrace it as something we grew and learned from…and move on. Otherwise, we just keep living in that “childhood home.”
Sorry for the little side road to Bird-Sister Land, ha
Dove
LikeLike
This is an intriguing list. I hadn’t yet heard of The Memory Palace, but I’d probably like to read it.
One of the things I find interesting about this list is actually the number of significant absentees. There’s no Derrida, no Adorno, Stanley Fish, Frank Kermode, Barthes or even Harold Bloom. Ok, so they don’t focus on ‘craft’ per se, and Derrida teeters on the edge of unreadable — still, I’m glad I got to tussle with his rambling, half-demented philosophy. Also, no Paul de Man, Leslie Fiedler or Terry Eagleton?
(Yes, I know your list is not extensive.)
Anyway: The Memory Palace, A Visit from the Goon Squad and The Art of Time in Fiction are going in the Wish List right now. After your concise descriptions, I’m sold.
LikeLike
Glad it could prove of use to you, Bell!
LikeLike
This is a great list! Have you come across The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron? It’s not specifically geared toward writers, but I found it extremely helpful (not to mention inspiring) for tapping into my “creative child.” If that sounds too hairy-fairy (as it did too me when I first heard about it), she also gives a lot of sound, practical advice about cultivating discipline… and then finding joy in that discipline!
Thanks for sharing!
http://www.theartistsway.com/
LikeLike
Hi Erin! Thanks for commenting. The Artist’s Way is very important to me, I first found it in the early 90’s, and the name of my blog is an homage to the book and to Cameron. I’m glad you gave it a shout-out here.
LikeLike
Excellent! I did wonder if there was an allusion there. I look forward to reading your blog.
LikeLike
Pingback: Round-Up: Blogs, news, and other posts about books, part II. | Insatiable Booksluts
I’d add Stephen King’s On Writing.
I concur with earlier votes for Dorothy Brande and Natalie Goldberg.
From a purely screenwriting perspective; William Goldman’s Adventures In the Screentrade and Robert McKee’s Story are both excellent resources that any writer would benefit from.
Great article, thanks.
LikeLike
Yes, King’s book fits well in the must-read craft category.
I’m not up on screenwriting but some of the folks who read this blog do focus on that, so thank you for including those resources!
LikeLike
This looks like an interesting list. I compiled a similar one a few weeks ago, taken directly from the critical and craft reading list of my MA in Creative Writing. Interestingly, there’s no cross-overs with this list!
http://sophieplayle.com/creative-writing-ma-reading-list/
LikeLike
That’s a good-looking list!
In some respects I’m not surprised your list varies from mine. I’m just beginning my MFA, and I suspect if I put together a “most-referenced” list in two years at my conclusion it would have some cross-overs.
Mine is compiled from scribbles taken at lectures, so not only is it unique to my specific 10-day on-campus residency at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, it’s specific to my schedule; none of my classmates would generate this particular list. That perhaps leaves it short in the category of “definitive reading list” but based on feedback I’ve gotten via Twitter it seems to be serving well as a “I hadn’t heard of that book before, thanks” list! 🙂
LikeLike
Upon second read of your list, I see it’s heavily focused on fiction, and most of the lectures I attended were on non-fiction or not genre-specific, so that’s one difference, I think.
LikeLike
You might also consider Eudora Welty’s graceful book “One Writer’s Beginnings.” http://www.amazon.com/One-Writers-Beginnings-Eudora-Welty/dp/0674639251
LikeLike
Thank you, Craig. I’ve heard that book mentioned before, it’s about time I put it on my reading list. Thanks for including the link!
LikeLike
Can’t imagine this type of list without “Bird By Bird” by Anne LaMott.
LikeLike
A great book, indeed. That is one of about a dozen books I squeezed into my suitcase when I went to the MFA residency. It wasn’t mentioned in the lectures I attended, but I’m sure many of the faculty would have included it in their own personal must-read lists.
LikeLike
I’ve heard of the first two craft books, but nothing else and I have not read any. LOL
LikeLike
A head’s up: it’s Philip LOPATE, not LAPOTE.
Also, many commenters have offered great suggestions. I’d only say perhaps find more great books written by women and writers of color. There are numerous terrific ones out there!
LikeLike
Ah, my biggest disappointment with blogging — no editors! Thank you for catching my typo, I’ve fixed it. The irony is that book is sitting just to my left on my desk as I type.
Nearly half of the authors listed there are women, as are many of the suggestions, but I’ll note a graduating student — Sion Dayson, who blogs about her ex-pat life in Paris at http://parisimperfect.wordpress.com/ — gave a moving lecture on James Baldwin’s life as an ex-pat and the role that played in his writing about being a black man and a homosexual. It was a fantastic lecture about an amazing writer, and in keeping with the theme of this post, namely what I picked up in a brief period of time, let’s add Baldwin to the list. She didn’t recommend a particular title, but she talked about how time in Zurich allowed Baldwin to process his experiences in Harlem, so let’s add Notes of a Native Son. http://www.amazon.com/Notes-Native-Son-Beacon-Paperback/dp/0807064319/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311070180&sr=1-6
LikeLike
“Write Like the MAsters” William Cane, (Writers Digest, 2009)
I found this book to be very useful as it analyses the writing styles of greats such as Hemningway, Woolf and Kafka to help aspiring writers find their voice and style.
LikeLike
Excellent, thanks for the contribution. I’m always up for more analysis of Hemingway, his prose seems simple but is actually fantastically complex.
LikeLike
Pingback: When a Blog Post Goes Viral « The Artist's Road
There are so many very good books on writing. One I recommend is a classic, originally written in the early thirties and republished after the author’s death: If You Want to Write by Brenda Euland. She deals with how to maintain concentration, as well as uses examples of ordinary people discovering how their “plain” talk was the clearest path to clarity.
LikeLike
Fantastic, Ellen. That is a book that I am not familiar with. You have to love the idea of a book still being in print, that speaks well of it. I’m going to give folks a link to the book below, and here’s the Amazon.com review:
“For most, the hardest part of writing is overcoming the mountain of self-denial that weighs upon the spirit, always threatening to extinguish those first small embers of ambition. Brenda Ueland, a writer and teacher, devotes most of her book–published back in 1938, before everyone and their goldfish got their MFA’s in creative writing–to these matters of the writer’s heart. Still, the real gift of the book is Ueland herself: She liked to write, she didn’t care what anyone thought, and she had a great sense of humor. You’re simply happy to hang out with her.” (Emphasis mine)
LikeLike
Pingback: I’m not lost, I’m just exploring! - Southern Fried Chicas
I just finished reading The Memoir Project by Marion Roach Smith. I loved it, and it actually moved me to get off my butt and get writing. I’m truly enjoying myself and feeling like I’m doing what I was “meant” to do.
LikeLike
That book just came out, right? I’m so glad it worked for you and you’re moving forward. If you’re looking to write memoir let me add a book that’s been out awhile written by one of the faculty at my MFA program, Sue William Silverman. It’s called Fearless Confessions.
LikeLike
Pingback: Creativity Tweets of the Week — 7/22/11 « The Artist's Road
I’ll add another vote for Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird”, the book that finally made me believe I too could be a writer. I’d also suggest Peter Elbow’s ‘Writing Without Teachers”, now in its 25th anniversary edition. I was introduced to Elbow by Richard Washer, one of my writing instructors at The Writers Center. And for those interested in writing fiction, Elizabeth George’s “Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life” is a worthy addition.
LikeLike
I do love bird by bird, absolutely. I’m not familiar with Elbow but I’m going to look into that. Thanks, Kathryn!
LikeLike
Fantastic round-up of tips. For those who haven’t discovered the wisdom and enduring inspiration that is Natalie Goldberg, here’s a new article she just published: http://www.facebook.com/NatalieGoldbergWriter?sk=app_205521576149308
Or on Scribd: http://scr.bi/pmEK5r
LikeLike
Also the Artist’s Way is a very helpful book. Along with Wild Mind by Goldberg, On Writing by King and Bird by Bird by Lamott, v highly recommended!
LikeLike
Thanks for these, Lauren, and for the Goldberg link. Lamott, King and Cameron are making repeated appearances in the recommendation category!
LikeLike
Another vote for “Bird By Bird”….and for screenwriters, there’s nothing better than “Save the Cat: The Last book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need” (and it’s 2 sequels 🙂 by the wonderful, late Blake Snyder.
Two classic greats for screenwriters and playwrights: The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri and the never-topped Poetics by Aristotle.
But there are a number on your list that I look forward to discovering!! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
AACK, I meant “its” NOT it’s”!! Slip of the keyboard. (And that mistake is one of my biggest pet peeves. Oy.)
LikeLike
Pingback: Creativity Tweets of the Week — 8/19/11 « The Artist's Road
Pingback: Congrats, You’ve Won a Top Blog Award! « The Artist's Road
Pingback: What Would You Like to See on The Artist’s Road? | The Artist's Road