books
Rebecca Perry: ‘Lorca hit me like a bolt of lightning’
The poet and novelist on the power of fairytales, being inspired by Frank O’Hara and the joys of Doris Lessing
TL;DR
- Early reading memories include Spike Milligan and a collection of fairytales, which taught the helplessness of the reader.
- Federico García Lorca's plays and poetry significantly impacted the author's relationship with language during adolescence.
- Frank O'Hara's poetry offered a more accessible and life-affirming approach compared to previously studied serious works.
- The author realized that writing books was a possibility and felt capable of writing a novel after reading Percival Everett's 'The Trees'.
- Anne Carson's 'Glass and God', specifically 'The Glass Essay', is a reread for resetting and appreciating writing's capacities.
- The author distances themselves from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series due to the author's actions.
- Doris Lessing's 'The Golden Notebook' is recommended for discovery at any age.
- Current reading includes proofs of 'Compensation' and rereads of Jamaica Kincaid's 'My Garden (Book)' and AK Blakemore's 'Doom Painting'.
- 'Adam' by Gboyega Odubanjo serves as a comfort read, offering solace through its poems.