The Writers Who Read series continues this week with Elizabeth Enslin.
Who are you?
Elizabeth Enslin, author of While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal, recently released from Seal Press. I was once an academic anthropologist but now write literary nonfiction and raise yaks, pigs, geese and chickens on a farm in eastern Oregon.
What are three beloved books you first read before the age of 12?
Never Cry Wolf, My Family and Other Animals, Wind in the Willows. I loved any book about animals or animal characters.
What is one book you are always recommending to friends and family (and maybe the local barista) as an adult?
It depends on where conversations go and what interests I perceive. I especially like recommending books that expand horizons around complicated cultural and political issues. These days, I often find myself suggesting The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea. Smart, poignant and highly readable, it provides a nuanced and informed understanding of immigration issues in the US.
What is your book kryptonite–those unique elements in a book, beyond just great writing and three-dimensional characters, that make you unable to resist reading?
Long, nuanced, many-layered, multi-vocal works that weave in some political or historical angle. I especially like books that explore complicated cultural encounters, gender, class, race, marginalized groups. I also love books that weave in natural history.
What is your ideal time and place to read?
It used to be in bed at night. But now, I need reading glasses, more light and reclining positions not so friendly to reading. I need to develop new habits. In fact, rather than a writing retreat, I think I need a reading retreat so I can shift out of some stale homebound habits and give more sustained attention to a growing stack of to-be-read books.
Which books have had the biggest influence on your writing?
As I made the slow transition from academic to literary writing about culture, I found great inspiration in fiction, such as (to name a few):
The Color Purple, Alice Walker
Midnight’s Children, Salman Rushdie
The Shadow Lines, Amitav Ghosh
Bastard Out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison
Nervous Conditions, Tsitsi Dangarembga
Love Medicine (and others), Louise Erdrich
The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
Hummingbird’s Daughter, Luis Alberto Urrea
How do you balance reading and writing in your life?
Not very well. I need to sink fully into one or the other.
Choose your preferred book form: ebook, physical book, or audio book?
I worship physical books, but I enjoy the convenience of my e-reader. I especially like being able to make font sizes bigger. I haven’t used audio books much but hope to listen to some in the next few weeks when I’m driving around the Pacific Northwest for the first phase of my book tour.
Do you consciously plan your future reading–i.e., set book goals, keep a TBR list, participate in book challenges or book clubs? Why or why not?
I’m not much of a joiner, especially around reading. I’ve tried keeping lists but never seem to be able to find them (even on the computer!) when I need to choose a new book. I have a running list in my head but like many other things there, it shifts around a lot.
What are you reading now?
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
You can find out more about Elizabeth at her website, Facebook, or Twitter.
“I need to sink fully into one or the other” – Great description, I feel that way a lot too.