Ali Smith Reflects on the Authors Who Shaped Her as a Reader and Writer.
For Ali Smith, reading has always been a deeply personal experience. She recalls teaching herself to read at the age of three by deciphering the words on Beatles 45s labels. This early encounter with language sparked a lifelong love affair with books that continues to inspire her writing.
As a teenager, Smith found solace in Liz Lochhead's Memo for Spring, a book that ignited a passion for poetry and Scottish literature within her. The impact of this discovery was profound, filling her with excitement and hope for the possibilities that literature could offer.
Throughout her life, Smith has been influenced by an impressive array of authors, each leaving their mark on her literary tastes and ambitions. Toni Morrison's powerful writing has convinced her to strive for courageous storytelling, while Muriel Spark's work continues to uplift and inspire her.
On a more introspective note, Smith finds herself drawn to the philosophical writings of Simone de Beauvoir, whose novels have been a source of fascination for her in recent years. Additionally, she remains devoted to Ovid's Metamorphoses, which she believes instills an essential sense of adaptability and fluidity.
Conversely, there are authors that Smith has yet to fully engage with, including Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and Villette. However, the allure of Henry James' The Golden Bowl proved too great to resist. Her experience of reading the book in a garden setting left her so enthralled that she found herself shouting out loud to her partner as she realized the golden bowl was broken.
Currently, Smith is immersed in Liadan Ní Chuinn's Every One Still Here, which has captured her attention with its thought-provoking portrayal of Ireland and recent history. These stories have not only changed her perspective but also recharged the potential of the short story form, earning two of them among her all-time favourites.
In conclusion, Ali Smith's love affair with literature is a testament to the enduring power of reading to shape our lives and inspire us as writers.
For Ali Smith, reading has always been a deeply personal experience. She recalls teaching herself to read at the age of three by deciphering the words on Beatles 45s labels. This early encounter with language sparked a lifelong love affair with books that continues to inspire her writing.
As a teenager, Smith found solace in Liz Lochhead's Memo for Spring, a book that ignited a passion for poetry and Scottish literature within her. The impact of this discovery was profound, filling her with excitement and hope for the possibilities that literature could offer.
Throughout her life, Smith has been influenced by an impressive array of authors, each leaving their mark on her literary tastes and ambitions. Toni Morrison's powerful writing has convinced her to strive for courageous storytelling, while Muriel Spark's work continues to uplift and inspire her.
On a more introspective note, Smith finds herself drawn to the philosophical writings of Simone de Beauvoir, whose novels have been a source of fascination for her in recent years. Additionally, she remains devoted to Ovid's Metamorphoses, which she believes instills an essential sense of adaptability and fluidity.
Conversely, there are authors that Smith has yet to fully engage with, including Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and Villette. However, the allure of Henry James' The Golden Bowl proved too great to resist. Her experience of reading the book in a garden setting left her so enthralled that she found herself shouting out loud to her partner as she realized the golden bowl was broken.
Currently, Smith is immersed in Liadan Ní Chuinn's Every One Still Here, which has captured her attention with its thought-provoking portrayal of Ireland and recent history. These stories have not only changed her perspective but also recharged the potential of the short story form, earning two of them among her all-time favourites.
In conclusion, Ali Smith's love affair with literature is a testament to the enduring power of reading to shape our lives and inspire us as writers.
It's clear that these books have had such a profound impact on her writing style and perspective, and I love how she shares her personal anecdotes about discovering new favorites 
Like, who wouldn't want to be inspired by Liz Lochhead's Memo for Spring or Toni Morrison's courageous storytelling? 
The way Smith weaves together these influences into her own unique voice is seriously impressive, and it makes me want to go read all of these books ASAP 
I mean, have you read Ali Smiths latest essay about authors who influenced her? It's actually pretty cool 
. But what really caught my attention was when she mentions Liadan Ní Chuinn... have you heard of her? 
Anyway, the essay is pretty interesting, you should check it out 
and spark this endless curiosity? she's so lucky that her first encounter with language was on those beatles 45s labels 
, who knew words could be so magical! what i love about her is how she finds solace in poetry & literature as a teenager, it's like finding your tribe, you know? 
and the way she's influenced by authors from different eras & genres is just mind-blowing... like, toni morrison's courage to tell powerful stories, muriel spark's uplifting work, and simone de beauvoir's philosophical writings... it's all so inspiring! 
. And Simone de Beauvoir's writing is so dense and heavy, I need some easier reads in my life 
. On a more positive note, I love that she's into Liadan Ní Chuinn now - her short stories are so underrated! Have you guys read any of Ali Smith's books?