Bonnie Garmus recalls early writing and the books that inspired her
Bonnie Garmus, author of *Lessons in Chemistry*, describes how books shaped her reading and writing, from learning to read *Fun With Dick and Jane* at four to being inspired by Harper Lee’s *To Kill a Mockingbird*. She says Harriet the Spy encouraged her to keep a notebook and taught her the importance of owning mistakes.
Garmus wrote her first illustrated book at five and a novel at 12, neither of which has found a publisher. She recalls rediscovering *Little Women* while trekking in Nepal, admires Joan Didion’s essays and is currently reading *May We Feed the King* by Rebecca Perry. She also names *The Virgin Suicides* and William Maxwell’s *So Long, See You Tomorrow* among books she values.
In short
- Bonnie Garmus wrote a novel at 12 that remains unpublished.
- Harper Lee and Louise Fitzhugh influenced her outlook and writing.
- She revisited *Little Women* while trekking in Nepal.
Explained simply
Bonnie Garmus is a novelist best known for Lessons in Chemistry, a story that brought her wide attention as an author. Like many writers, she has spoken about how reading from an early age shaped the way she tells stories.
The books she mentions span children’s stories, classic novels and essays. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women are among the works she says stayed with her, while Harriet the Spy prompted her to keep a notebook. Such influences offer a glimpse of the reading that has mattered to her over time.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Guardian as “Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus: ‘I wrote my first novel at 12 – it has not yet found a publisher’”.