For Joelle Taylor, growing up was not about finding solace in children's books or traditional notions of heroism, but in the dark, mystical world of 12th-century Britain. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, a novel she devoured at nine years old, captivated her with its eerie landscapes and eerie characters.
Taylor recalls spending hours in the Bacup library, surrounded by stacks of books and sweets, as she delved into the story's complex mythology. "The darkness was delicious," she writes, "exciting because many of the landmarks in the story were from my local area." This connection to her surroundings imbued the novel with a sense of authenticity, making its fantastical elements all the more believable.
As Taylor grew older, her tastes shifted towards more experimental and avant-garde works. She credits For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange with influencing her writing style, particularly in terms of blending narrative, poetry, and performance art. This fusion of genres has had a lasting impact on Taylor's approach to storytelling.
Another writer who changed her perspective was Adrienne Rich, whose essay "The Dream of a Common Language" inspired Taylor to reexamine the role of language in literature. This sparked an interest in exploring the intersections between poetry, politics, and personal identity.
TS Eliot's modernist masterpiece, The Waste Land, is another work that has captivated Taylor. Once dismissed as inaccessible, it now speaks to her on a deep level, offering a cinematic vision of the world that she finds both expansive and immediate.
Taylor's affinity for queer literature is also evident in her approach to writing about marginalized communities. While she acknowledges the need for more positive introductions to queer culture, her own work reflects a commitment to representation and inclusivity.
As Taylor continues to read and write, her tastes are constantly evolving. Her current obsession is Wayne Holloway-Smith's RABBITBOX, which promises to challenge readers' assumptions about poetry and possibility. Meanwhile, ghost stories remain a comfort read for her, offering a unique blend of atmosphere and mythology that she finds endlessly fascinating.
For Taylor, reading has always been a source of both solace and inspiration, allowing her to navigate the complexities of identity, culture, and language with a depth and nuance that few others can match.
Taylor recalls spending hours in the Bacup library, surrounded by stacks of books and sweets, as she delved into the story's complex mythology. "The darkness was delicious," she writes, "exciting because many of the landmarks in the story were from my local area." This connection to her surroundings imbued the novel with a sense of authenticity, making its fantastical elements all the more believable.
As Taylor grew older, her tastes shifted towards more experimental and avant-garde works. She credits For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange with influencing her writing style, particularly in terms of blending narrative, poetry, and performance art. This fusion of genres has had a lasting impact on Taylor's approach to storytelling.
Another writer who changed her perspective was Adrienne Rich, whose essay "The Dream of a Common Language" inspired Taylor to reexamine the role of language in literature. This sparked an interest in exploring the intersections between poetry, politics, and personal identity.
TS Eliot's modernist masterpiece, The Waste Land, is another work that has captivated Taylor. Once dismissed as inaccessible, it now speaks to her on a deep level, offering a cinematic vision of the world that she finds both expansive and immediate.
Taylor's affinity for queer literature is also evident in her approach to writing about marginalized communities. While she acknowledges the need for more positive introductions to queer culture, her own work reflects a commitment to representation and inclusivity.
As Taylor continues to read and write, her tastes are constantly evolving. Her current obsession is Wayne Holloway-Smith's RABBITBOX, which promises to challenge readers' assumptions about poetry and possibility. Meanwhile, ghost stories remain a comfort read for her, offering a unique blend of atmosphere and mythology that she finds endlessly fascinating.
For Taylor, reading has always been a source of both solace and inspiration, allowing her to navigate the complexities of identity, culture, and language with a depth and nuance that few others can match.
. She's all about representation and inclusivity, which is super important, but what I love most about her is how she weaves together poetry, performance art, and politics into her storytelling 
It's like she's taking all these different threads and knitting them into this beautiful tapestry of identity and culture 
And let's be real, who else can make TS Eliot sound cool again? 
I mean, I've always been a fan of The Waste Land, but now it's like the ultimate comfort read for me - it's like TS Eliot is speaking straight to my soul 
.
. I'm not saying it's weird or anything, but have you seen her favorite book from when she was 9? The Weirdstone of Brisingamen? That's some serious fantasy right there! 
And let's be real, who needs traditional heroism when you've got a dark, mystical world to explore?
. I mean, I've seen some critics call it inaccessible, but I think that's just because they're not getting the vibes she gets from it.
. But hey, being weird and mystical is cool too! 
And the way she talks about books like The Weirdstone of Brisingamen making her feel like she's at home in a place that felt weird and magical to her... it's just so relatable 
. I've always been one of those people who turns to books when I'm feeling lost or overwhelmed, you know? 
And the fact that Joelle is all about representation and inclusivity in her writing is super cool 
. It's like she's saying, "Hey, everyone deserves a seat at the table, no matter what they're going through!" 
and I love how she talks about finding solace in those dark, mystical books as a kid 
idk about her writing style being influenced by for colored girls & adrienne rich tho... seems kinda deep 
but i def need to dive into more queer lit like she does 
She talks about how growing up in 12th-century Britain through Alan Garner's The Weirdstone of Brisingamen made her feel all the feels, you know? Like, she could practically smell the moors and hear the weirdness happening 
And then she grows up and becomes all about experimental vibes with Ntozake Shange and Adrienne Rich... it's like her taste in books is a never-ending adventure of discovery 
I love that she's not afraid to get deep into the weird stuff, you know? Like TS Eliot's The Waste Land - it's all about tapping into those dark, mystical feelings 