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Is it possible to be a good writer without being a good reader? Yes and no. To become a good writer, one has to be a good reader. Education-wise, training-wise, reading is crucial. I do not believe, though, that once one learns the mechanics of writing, reading is not as important. At that stage, for a writer of fiction, certainly, life experiences matter more. It’s knowing what’s going on in the world – knowing what’s going on in peoples lives – and translating that into words with those earlier-honed skills that maintains the “good writer” status. According to a report of the Independent Book Publishing Association, over five million American adults belong to reading groups. What, do you believe, is the basis for this country's love for literature and books? Reading, as an activity, has stood the test of time. In these days of the five-second sound bite, reading is particularly valued for intellectual stimulation, entertainment, and quiet, calm, relaxation. Moreover, as our lives become busier, the fact of meeting with a group of people whom one enjoys is as important as the reading the book, itself. It’s the group, the meeting, the connecting. Have you ever belonged to a reading group? Yes. I’ve been in the same group for 18 years. Often in the course of a given year, the books I read for group meetings are the only ones I have time to read! What advice do you have for reading group members when it comes to selecting books for discussion? My group has a rule that a member can only recommend a book she has read, rather than pass on a second-hand recommendation – because each book group is different, with different makeup, different needs, different pacing, different types of discussions. We want to read books that will inspire lively discussion in our own group. What books are you reading now or do you plan to read? I am currently reading The Good Wife, by Stuart O’Nan. If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring one book with you to read, what would it be and why? It would be John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany. Each time I read it, I find another layer. If you could have dinner with three writers (dead or alive) who would they be and why? Harper Lee, Margaret Mitchell, and Grace Metalious. All were women who wrote important books in an age before female writers were widely accepted. I would love to know more of what was going through their minds as they wrote, both in terms of the content of their book and the prospect of having it published. Have you ever read anything you're too embarrassed to admit (except in this interview)? No. Favorite book when you were a child? The Velveteen Rabbit. If you have children, is this the same book you read to them? If not, what is your favorite book for your children? Many, many times! Words to live by? The Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
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