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James McBride's Reading List

The author of “The Color of Water” and “The Good Lord Bird” says his favorite novelist is Toni Morrison. “She plays off the horn, like Coltrane did. She busts through the form.”

By the Book: James McBride (2013)

NYT By the Book column (2013-08-01).

Source: www.nytimes.com

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

William L. Shirer · Buy on Amazon

"“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” by William Shirer. All 1,100 pages, and I wish there were more. Just finished it. I should’ve read it years ago."

Becoming a Man

Paul Monette · Buy on Amazon

"At the top would have to be Paul Monette, author of “Becoming a Man.” He was a superbly gifted writer who died during the AIDS epidemic that deprived us of a generation of talent."

Bread Givers

Anzia Yezierska · Buy on Amazon

"Anzia Yezierska, “Bread Givers.”"

Call It Sleep

Henry Roth · Buy on Amazon

"Henry Roth, “Call It Sleep”"

Christ Stopped at Eboli

Carlo Levi · Buy on Amazon

"Carlo Levi, “Christ Stopped at Eboli”"

The Chrysalids

John Wyndham · Buy on Amazon

"the British writer John Wyndham (“The Chrysalids”), whose deep imagination and challenge to religious zealotry should serve as a template for any young sci-fi writer."

Been in the Storm So Long

Leon Litwack · Buy on Amazon

"Leon Litwack’s books on slavery are favorites, especially “Been in the Storm So Long.”"

Welcome to the Monkey House

Kurt Vonnegut · Buy on Amazon

"Kurt Vonnegut’s “Welcome to the Monkey House.”"

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive

John Muir · Buy on Amazon

"I started with John Muir’s “How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive,” and now have the service manuals to most of the cars I’ve owned"

Making the Most of Your Money

Jane Bryant Quinn · Buy on Amazon

"Jane Bryant Quinn’s “Making the Most of Your Money” works for me, though she’s not fond of cars."

Patterns for Improvisation

Oliver Nelson · Buy on Amazon

"Several books on jazz arranging and technique, most notably Oliver Nelson’s “Patterns for Improvisation.”"

My Way of Life

Walter Farrell · Buy on Amazon

"if I had to force him to read something, it would be “My Way of Life,” a pocket-reader version (edited by Walter Farrell) of the “Summa Theologica” of St. Thomas. God’s wisdom comes in handy when you’re the leader of the free world."

The Bluest Eye

Toni Morrison · 1970 · Buy on Amazon

"Toni Morrison (“The Bluest Eye”) got me out of bed"

Black Boy

Richard Wright · Buy on Amazon

"Richard Wright (“Black Boy”) got me to school on the bus"

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee · Buy on Amazon

"Harper Lee (“To Kill a Mockingbird”) helped me sleep at night."

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe · Buy on Amazon

"Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”"

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