By Mahsuda Snaith.
- The Things We Thought We Knew by Mahsuda Snaith: I’ve put my own book at the top of this list as a shout out to all the books below. Set on a council estate in Leicester,
it follows the life of Ravine Roy, a young woman confined to her mother’s flat, which she doesn’t want to leave. It’s a product of all the books I have devoured, studied and learnt from over the years. Without them, this book wouldn’t exist.
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery: This was one of the first books I fell in love with as a child. Even though the central character was so different from me (she is an outspoken Canadian girl brought up on an idyllic island in the late 19th century; I was a shy British-Bangladeshi girl, brought up on a Leicester council estate in the
1990s) I connected with her vivid imagination and love of words instantly.
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy: Reading this in my late teens, this novel not only gave me a glimpse of an India I had never seen before, but also gave me a masterclass in the art of beautiful, evocative writing. The story is a devastating one that
I didn’t understand the full meaning of until I reread it years later. Incredibly powerful and moving!
- Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson: Based on Winterson’s own experience of growing up in a working-class strict evangelist household, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit reflected a lot of my own personal experiences growing up in a working-class, strict Muslim household. Both funny and brilliantly-written, this is a prime
example of great working-class literature.
- Siddhartha by Herman Hesse: This inventive, slender book follows the spiritual journey of an Indian man who leaves his home to find enlightenment. Written by the German writer Herman Hesse and published in English in the 1950s, this novel reads like a holy text and was heavily influenced by Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. It is deceptively simple, yet profound and philosophical, a very fine art for any writer to master.
- Roots and Tales of British Bangladeshi Settlers by Yousuf Choudhury: When I found this book for 50p at my local library, I bought it because it was the first book I’d seen with ‘Bangladeshi’ written on the cover (and it was 50p). It’s only recently, as
I’ve become more interested in my heritage, that I’ve begun to read this detailed and fascinating book. Although hard to find now, I’d encourage anyone with ancestry in other countries to explore their history.
- The Girl With A Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender: I love reading short stories. We
seem to read copious amounts of them as children, but gradually are weened away
from them as we grow up, which I think is a great shame. Nothing can beat the
pleasure of reading a whole, complete story in less than an hour. Bender’s stories
are surreal and magical, playing with language, imagery and story in a brilliantly entertaining way.
- We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo: This wonderful, lyrical book is set in both Zimbabwe and America. It’s funny, inventive and absorbing, and for me demonstrates the importance of diversity in literature. By putting ourselves in other people’s world, one we may not have experienced ourselves, we can truly broaden our minds and relate to the emotions we all have in common. There is a wonderful escaping from people/connecting to people magic to stories that cannot be replicated.
- Why I No Longer Talk to White People About Race by Renni Eddo-Lodge: I think everyone in Britain should read this book (everyone!). It is a fascinating depiction of race not only in history and politics, but in the workplace, in feminism and class. Leaving no stone unturned, Eddo-Lodge helped enlighten me to the many complexities of racism and helped me understand and appreciate my own Bangladeshi heritage and how it affects me in Britain today. A life-changing book!
- Zen and the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury: This funny, illuminating manual is a motivating call for writers to approach their work with zest, gusto and curiosity. Describing his own journey from writing short stories for sci-fi magazines to becoming a world-renown novelist, Bradbury gives tips on mastering the craft and finding your
own voice. A must-read for anyone wanting to write for a living.
- Mahsuda Snaith is the winner of the SI Leeds Literary Prize 2014 and Bristol Short Story Prize 2014. She was named an Observer New Face of Fiction 2017. Her debut novel The Things We Thought We Knew was released in hardback last year and on paperback on August 9, 2018. Visit www.mahsudasnaith.com and Twitter: @mahsudasnaith for more.
