Jenni Fagan: 'Maya Angelou taught me that I owed myself hope'
Scottish writer Jenni Fagan shares the books that shaped her life and work, from Tolkien to Franz Kafka.
Early influences
Scottish author Jenni Fagan recalls being obsessed with fairytales as a child, taking them as moral lessons. Her favorite book growing up was 'The Hobbit,' which expanded her understanding of what fiction could achieve.
Source of inspiration
Maya Angelou taught Fagan that she owed herself hope, no matter how painful or difficult. Angelou's work has such dignity and light, and it made Fagan want to create a life that mattered.
Literary discoveries
Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' initially felt too claustrophobic, but in recent years Fagan has connected profoundly with Shelley and is writing a modern adaptation. Franz Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' is one of her all-time favorite stories, perfectly encapsulating the relationship between the individual and social structures.
Unreadable books
Enid Blyton's work has not aged well, according to Fagan. 'A Clockwork Orange' shocked her at age 15, showing that there are many ways to innovate in a novel.
Current reading
Fagan is currently reading Gisèle Pelicot's memoir 'A Hymn to Life,' finding her extraordinary and inspiring. Her comfort reading is poetry: single stanzas from Wallace Stevens, Elizabeth Bishop, or Nina Cassian.
