Tomasz Jedrowski, the author of Swimming In The Dark – Dua’s Monthly Read for May – shares a reading list of the books that inspired his novel.
Another Country by James Baldwin
“I will always cherish Giovanni’s Room, but my favourite Baldwin novel is Another Country. Maybe because of its abundance of flawed, likeable characters – the story revolves around a loose group of New York friends in the wake of a suicide – or maybe because it’s the most searing and resonant portrait of Baldwin’s own country I’ve ever come across.”
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
“This is my go-to when self-doubt strikes. With an approach that combines pragmatism with spirituality, and compassion with humour, Gilbert deconstructs our culture’s damaging beliefs around creativity, offering more joyful alternatives. Thank you, Liz! Also, check out her Substack, Letters From Love, for more healing and inspiration.”
Drive Your Plow Through The Bones Of The Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
“A good place to start exploring Tokarczuk’s world is this strange and brilliant novel about an old woman taking on the patriarchy with the mysterious help of the forest. I also adore its film adaptation, Spoor, directed by the great Agnieszka Holland.”
Who You Might Be by Leigh Gallagher
“I love Gallagher’s sharp and evocative writing. Among other storylines, her debut novel includes a romance between two boys in Detroit’s graffiti subculture that has been haunting me ever since I read it a few years ago.”
Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton
“This is my favourite non-fiction book of recent years. In it, Barton retraces her experience of moving to Japan after graduating from university, taking us on a thrilling journey into another culture, another language, and deep into her own complex psyche.”
