Some people read to engulf themselves in a story. It's a great way to escape. To learn. To live out a dream. I often read books that I wish I would write. I read each line, jealous of the imagery and am in awe of how well articulated and full circle each story is. Here are 5 books that make me want to be a better writer.
– Beatriz Williams
The imagery in this book is inspiring. It's set in the early 30's and late 30's, back and forth between one woman's story of where life seemed to go all wrong. It's beautiful and draws you in, just as good writing should. I couldn't put this one down and felt like I could see the story happening as I went along.
– Susan Crandall
This is a book I recently finished, in record time, I should add. I'm a sucker for books set in the south and this one follows 9 year old Starla on her journey from Mississippi to Tennessee during the 1960s. Each character has so much depth and you care about each one. Not only does it deal with difficult subjects like the civil right's movement, but you're seeing it with different eyes, while a little girl tries to understand the world around her.
A Year in Provence
– Peter Mayle
Admittedly, I haven't finished this book. But the way the author, Peter Mayle, intertwines excellent writing along with the exquisite scenes in Provence with witty dialogue, is truly an art. He's basically living out my dream, in some ways, and writing about it. The characters you meet throughout the story are hilarious and detailed.
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
– Steven Pressfield
Do you need a book to tell yourself to get off your ass and start already? This is the book for you. This is a book about writing. It's anecdotal but filled with the strife we all face as “writers.” Taylor of The Daily Tay told me to read it and she couldn't have been more spot on. Just do it.
– Tina Fey
You might think it's odd to have this one on here, but I feel like Tina is just so brilliant and it shines through in this book. She is funny, insightful, and truthful all rolled into one. I wish that I would see everyday life and pull out the nuances like she does.
Want more? Check out 5 Books That Changed my Life.
What books inspire you to write?
