Susan Choi Reflects on the Books That Reshaped Her Literary Identity
For years, Susan Choi associated Charles Dickens with unwatchable Christmas TV specials. However, it wasn't until she re-read Bleak House during the pandemic that she discovered a new appreciation for his work. Choi's journey to rediscovering Dickens serves as a reminder of the power of reading to challenge our preconceptions and broaden our literary horizons.
Choi's earliest memories of reading were influenced by Roald Dahl, whose whimsical tales captivated her as a child. As she grew older, she began to appreciate the works of Donald Barthelme, who introduced her to the world of art and literature. However, it was Sigrid Nunez's short story Chang that had a seismic impact on Choi, shattering her assumptions about diversity in fiction.
Choi's fascination with To the Lighthouse also played a significant role in shaping her desire to become a writer. Her obsession with Virginia Woolf's style made her writing "insufferable" for some time. In contrast, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald has become one of her comfort reads, despite its perceived shortcomings.
Choi's re-embracing of Dickens serves as a testament to the transformative nature of reading. Having initially associated him with unpalatable television specials, she now considers Bleak House "one of the great reading experiences" of her life. This newfound appreciation underscores the importance of being open to re-evaluating our literary favorites.
Choi's journey highlights the complexities and nuances of personal growth through literature. Her story invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with books and authors, encouraging them to reassess their preconceptions and explore new perspectives. As Choi so eloquently puts it, "The disruption to that thinking was thrilling."
For years, Susan Choi associated Charles Dickens with unwatchable Christmas TV specials. However, it wasn't until she re-read Bleak House during the pandemic that she discovered a new appreciation for his work. Choi's journey to rediscovering Dickens serves as a reminder of the power of reading to challenge our preconceptions and broaden our literary horizons.
Choi's earliest memories of reading were influenced by Roald Dahl, whose whimsical tales captivated her as a child. As she grew older, she began to appreciate the works of Donald Barthelme, who introduced her to the world of art and literature. However, it was Sigrid Nunez's short story Chang that had a seismic impact on Choi, shattering her assumptions about diversity in fiction.
Choi's fascination with To the Lighthouse also played a significant role in shaping her desire to become a writer. Her obsession with Virginia Woolf's style made her writing "insufferable" for some time. In contrast, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald has become one of her comfort reads, despite its perceived shortcomings.
Choi's re-embracing of Dickens serves as a testament to the transformative nature of reading. Having initially associated him with unpalatable television specials, she now considers Bleak House "one of the great reading experiences" of her life. This newfound appreciation underscores the importance of being open to re-evaluating our literary favorites.
Choi's journey highlights the complexities and nuances of personal growth through literature. Her story invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with books and authors, encouraging them to reassess their preconceptions and explore new perspectives. As Choi so eloquently puts it, "The disruption to that thinking was thrilling."
i mean who knew dickens could be so great?! 
my fave comfort read is actually the great gatsby tho 
has anyone else read chang by sigrid nunez? that story gave me LIFE 
It's crazy how reading can just blow away all our preconceptions and make us see authors in a whole new light. I need to do that w/ some of my own faves ASAP! 
Maybe I've been misjudging them for too long? 
. It's like, you never know what impact a book or author will have on your life unless you give them another shot 
! So like, did you know that re-reading classic books can be super beneficial? 
On the other hand, it's interesting to note that only 34% of adults in the US had read any books by authors from outside their own ethnic group. Diversity matters, right? 
And did you know that e-books are becoming increasingly popular? According to a report by Author Earnings, the number of self-published authors has increased by over 50% since 2012! That's some exciting literary growth! 
she literally went from hating dickens to loving him its like such a great reminder that our tastes change as we grow up 
. I mean, it's not like everyone else did the same thing during quarantine... anyway, I guess you can never be too old (or young) to discover new favorite authors 
. I also love how she talks about the importance of being open to new perspectives - for me, that's what writing is all about 
. The idea that our favorite books can be re-watched and re-read in a whole new light is so beautiful 
. Choi's story is so inspiring because it shows us that it's never too late to explore new genres and authors #LiteraryGrowthMindset. Can we talk about how much I love Virginia Woolf now? 
and I totally forgot how much I love the humor in Eugene Levy's character. Anyway, back to Susan Choi... I feel like her story is so inspiring! But have you ever noticed how some books can change your life in such a subtle way? Like, it was Bleak House that made her appreciate Dickens, but then she started re-reading all his other works and now she loves him 
... but hey, to each their own, right? 
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. It's clear that reading has had a huge impact on her life and writing career. And I have to say, I'm intrigued by the idea of our preconceptions about books being challenged 
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. Sometimes all it takes is one book (or author) to make us see things in a whole new light 
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back in high school... or was it college? 
Anyway, reading can be such a game-changer, right? It's crazy how one book (or author) can completely flip your perspective on life. I mean, who would've thought that Charles Dickens' Bleak House could become one of Susan Choi's favorite books after all these years? 
I had no idea about her journey from thinking Dickens was boring to loving his work. 
I mean, who wouldn't love a classic like Bleak House? 
I'm definitely going to have to re-read some of my old favorites with new eyes now! 