The Writer’s Library

The Writer’s Library

With a Foreword by Susan Orlean, twenty-three of today’s living literary legends, including Donna Tartt, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Andrew Sean Greer, Laila Lalami, and Michael Chabon, reveal the books that made them think, brought them joy, and changed their lives in this intimate, moving, and insightful collection from “American’s Librarian” and recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service Nancy Pearl and noted playwright Jeff Schwager that celebrates the power of literature and reading to connect us all.

Before Jennifer Egan, Louise Erdrich, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Jonathan Lethem became revered authors, they were readers. In this ebullient book, America’s favorite librarian Nancy Pearl and noted-playwright Jeff Schwager interview a diverse range of America’s most notable and influential writers about the books that shaped them and inspired them to leave their own literary mark.

Illustrated with beautiful line drawings, The Writer’s Library is a revelatory exploration of the studies, libraries, and bookstores of today’s favorite authors—the creative artists whose imagination and sublime talent make America’s literary scene the wonderful, dynamic world it is. A love letter to books and a celebration of wordsmiths, The Writer’s Library is a treasure for anyone who has been moved by the written word.

The authors in The Writer’s Library are:

– Russell Banks
– TC Boyle
– Michael Chabon
– Susan Choi
– Jennifer Egan
– Dave Eggers
– Louise Erdrich
– Richard Ford
– Laurie Frankel
– Andrew Sean Greer
– Jane Hirshfield
– Siri Hustvedt
– Charles Johnson
– Laila Lalami
– Jonathan Lethem
– Donna Tartt
– Madeline Miller
– Viet Thanh Nguyen
– Luis Alberto Urrea
– Vendela Vida
– Ayelet Waldman
– Maaza Mengiste
– Amor Towles

“Spirited collection.”

Kirkus Reviews

Review by 1000 Libraries

The Writer’s Library: The Authors You Love on the Books That Changed Their Lives, a collaboration between renowned librarian Nancy Pearl and journalist Jeff Schwager, is far more than a collection of celebrity interviews; it is a profound and intimate meditation on the creative life. Through conversations with twenty-three diverse and celebrated authors, Pearl and Schwager grant the reader a rare look not into the subjects’ writing habits, but into their reading lives—the libraries, influences, and literary passions that built them as writers.

The brilliance of this book lies in its tightly focused conceit. Instead of asking how the writers write, Pearl and Schwager ask about how they read. They inquire about where the authors keep their books, the volumes they return to, the books that shaped their view of the world, and even the books they dislike. The result is a series of surprisingly vulnerable and revealing portraits. We meet authors like Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen, Laila Lalami, and Viet Thanh Nguyen, not as literary titans, but as fellow, often obsessive, readers.

The Writer’s Library is essential reading for aspiring writers, dedicated bibliophiles, and anyone curious about the wellspring of literary inspiration. It confirms the fundamental truth that to be a great writer, one must first be a devoted reader.

“The Writer's Library offers a cornucopia of pleasures with respected writers giving fans an insider's look at their libraries and reading habits. This is a treat that no bibliophile will want to miss.”

“A spirited collection offering intimate insights into the writing life.”

“The Writer's Library is a great concept that is wonderfully executed. It would make a great holiday gift for the literati in your life.”

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