books
Katie Kitamura: ‘Almost every writer changes my mind
The American author on the magic of Yasunari Kawabata, the hidden layers of Henry James and coming late to the genius of Muriel Spark
TL;DR
- The author's earliest reading memories are intertwined with her childhood, with 'Dangerous Liaisons' being a memorable early, albeit age-inappropriate, read.
- Theodore Dreiser's novels, particularly 'Sister Carrie', were a significant childhood influence due to their focus on female characters.
- Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' transformed the author's understanding of literature's capacity for social change.
- Kenzaburō Ōe's 'A Personal Matter' offered a new perspective on writing's role in understanding life.
- Henry James's 'The Portrait of a Lady' is noted for its enduring complexity and shifting meanings.
- Muriel Spark's works, discovered in early adulthood, have become a deeply satisfying reading experience.
- The author also mentions rereading Ford Madox Ford's 'The Good Soldier' and Graham Greene's 'The End of the Affair', as well as Javier Marias's entire body of work.