books
January 23, 2026
Ali Smith: ‘Henry James had me running down the garden path shouting out loud’
The Scottish author on a masterclass from Toni Morrison, the brilliance of Simone de Beauvoir and the trim novel by Tove Jansson containing everything that really matters
TL;DR
- Learned to read at age three using labels on Beatles 45s.
- 'Charlotte's Web' was a favorite book, though initially banned by a teacher for its speaking animals.
- Liz Lochhead's 'Memo for Spring' was a transformative read during teenage years, inspiring with its use of Scottish English.
- Writers like Toni Morrison and Muriel Spark continuously inspire the author's writing.
- Simone de Beauvoir's fiction and Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' are frequently reread.
- Currently reading 'Every One Still Here' by Liadan Ní Chuinn, appreciating its honest portrayal of life.
- 'The Summer Book' by Tove Jansson serves as a cherished comfort read.
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