books
March 6, 2026
Saba Sams: ‘I’ve no interest in reading Wuthering Heights again’
The Send Nudes author on rereading Lorrie Moore, finding Dodie Smith at the right time, and the enduring brilliance of Muriel Spark
TL;DR
- Saba Sams' earliest reading memory involves reading Jacqueline Wilson aloud with her mother.
- Her favorite childhood book was "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" by Muriel Spark.
- Kathy Acker's "Blood and Guts in High School" was a mind-expanding read at university.
- Gwendoline Riley's consistent writing style inspires Sams, contrasting with the expectation of literary range.
- Ali Smith's "The Whole Story and Other Stories" made writing seem playful and satisfying.
- Clarice Lispector's "Água Viva" provided a singular, out-of-body reading experience upon a second attempt.
- Lorrie Moore's "Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?" is a mood-fitting comfort read with enchanting sentences and a wise, melancholic atmosphere.
- Sams has no interest in rereading "Wuthering Heights" after studying it for A-level.
- She recently enjoyed Dodie Smith's "I Capture the Castle", appreciating its surreal and predictable elements.
- Ben Pester's "Sail Away Land" is her current, weird, and soulful read.
- Arundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" is her comfort read, offering expansive love and humor.
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