Books An Author Can Read To Build Themselves

 

Suggesting books an author can read makes me think,

“Who saves the Hero?” or “Who makes the Comedian laugh?” Similarly, what books can an author read? Suggesting a book to an author is a daunting task, indeed. But, worry not! Below are several books an author can read and heartfully enjoy.

 

All of them are available on all major e-commerce stores like Amazon, Flipkart, Kindle, Barnes & Nobles etc.

 

1. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders

●      A deep exploration of how good writing works and how the mind works when we’re reading something.

●      “There’s a deep connection between reading stories and writing a book”, says Saunders in this book.

●      Published by Random House (12 January 2021)

●      Goodreads: 4.5

●      No of Pages: 403 (Kindle Edition)

 

2. Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattinson

●      A staple for songwriters for nearly two decades, this book has tools for every songwriter to generate ideas for their next song.

●      It will also help them to understand the form and structure of music.

●      First Published on 15 September 1995 (Writer’s Digest Books: 15 July 2001)

●      Goodreads: 4.2

●      No of Pages: 195, Paperback

 

3. Living with a Dead Language: My Romance with Latin by Ann Patty

●      It’s a funny and delightful mix of words, grammar and growth.

●      It teaches one- how learning and literature transform our life. It shows us how an infectious enthusiasm for words can transform our past and change our future.

●      Published by Penguin Books/Viking (14 June 2016)

●      Goodreads: 3.4

●      No of Pages: 256, Hardcover

 

4. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

●      A modern classic, this hilarious and homely book continues to spark creative minds to this day, something that it will do for years to come.

●      It is full of advice for aspiring writers. This is a book that has inspired millions of budding writers of all ages.

●      First published on 5 May 1994. (Anchor: 1 September 1995)

●      Goodreads: 4.2

●      No of Pages: 237, Paperback

 

5. Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe’s Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O’Connor

●      This bestseller unties the knottiest problems in English grammar.

●      This book has charmed millions of readers across its previous editions, written in simple-to-read and fun language.

●      First published in 1996. (Riverhead Books: 5 February 2019)

●      Goodreads: 3.9

●      No of Pages: 256, Paperback (Second Edition)

 

6. The Clothing of Books by Jhumpa Lahiri

●      The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri asks a simple question in this book, “How do you clothe a book?”

●      Probing the relationship between text and art, material and design, Lahiri explores the art of creating book jackets from the perspective of both writers and readers.

●      Published by Vintage Books (15 November 2016)

●      Goodreads: 3.6

●      No of Pages: 74, Paperback

 

7. The Forest For The Trees by Betsy Lerner

●      “The Forest for the Trees should become a permanent part of any writer’s or editor’s personal library,” says The Seattle Times, and for a good reason.

●      Betsy Lerner’s quick-witted and sharp guide meticulously addresses the many changes that have taken place in the publishing industry whilst shaping it.

●      First published on 20 March 2000 (Riverhead Books: 5 October 2010)

●      Goodreads: 3.9

●      No of Pages: 284, Paperback

 

8. Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing by Margaret Atwood

●      This wise and irresistibly quotable work by the legendary author Margaret Atwood is an ambitious artistic inquiry into the world of writing. It is an invaluable insider’s view of the realm of writers.

●      First published on 6 March 2002 (Anchor Books: 9 September 2003, Virgo Press: 2003)

●      (Anchor Books)

●      Goodreads: 3.9

●      No of Pages: 198, Paperback

 

9. Writer’s Market 2020: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published by Robert Lee Brewer

●      A guide to aspiring writers through the process of publishing.

●      It includes thousands of publishing opportunities, listings for book publishers, literary agents and much more. 

●      Published by Writer’s Digest Books (5 November 2019)

●      Goodreads: 4.2

●      No of Pages: 896 (Kindle Edition)

 

Authors?

Those masters of literature, who know the language to its barebones, can spot terrible writing at a mere glance: elite readers. And thus, it becomes a difficult task for them to simply enjoy a book. Nonetheless, we hope these books are like the Holy Grail for both experienced and rookie writers.

 

Plus, books in this list of “books an author can read” are fun to read too! As they say in Germany, ‘Das ist alles.’