Susan Choi Reveals Her Life-Changing Literary Experiences: A Personal Journey of Self-Discovery Through Reading.
Growing up, Susan Choi's love for literature was shaped by the stories of Roald Dahl, Donald Barthelme, and Mary Norton. These authors ignited a spark within her, instilling a passion for reading that would forever change her life. However, as Choi delves into the world of classic literature, it becomes clear that some works have had a profound impact on her writing style and perspectives.
One such author is Sigrid Nunez, whose short story "Chang" had a seismic effect on Choi's understanding of multiracial characters in fiction. This experience marked a turning point in her thinking, as she began to recognize the limitations of her own writing and sought to challenge them. The realization that her protagonists could have been people like herself – brown Asian and white European – was both heartbreaking and thrilling.
Choi's journey of self-discovery also led her to reevaluate her literary inspirations. Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse" had a lasting impact on her writing, though not always in a positive way. The pressure to emulate her style ultimately made Choi's own work feel insufferable. Instead, she found solace in comfortingly familiar classics like F Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." This unexpected appreciation for a book that once repelled her served as a reminder of the complexity of personal taste.
Choi's fascination with literary authors continued to evolve as she rediscovered some old favorites and encountered new ones. Charles Dickens, once associated with unbearable Christmas television specials, emerged as a cherished author who captivated her imagination during the pandemic. "Bleak House" became one of the great reading experiences of her life, leaving an indelible mark on her literary journey.
As Choi looks to the future, she finds herself drawn to unconventional writing styles and authors like JA Baker, whose breathtaking work "The Peregrine" has left a lasting impression on her. The transformative power of literature continues to shape her world, inspiring her to explore new horizons of thought and creativity. Through her personal narrative, Choi underscores the significance of reading as a catalyst for self-discovery, growth, and artistic evolution.
Growing up, Susan Choi's love for literature was shaped by the stories of Roald Dahl, Donald Barthelme, and Mary Norton. These authors ignited a spark within her, instilling a passion for reading that would forever change her life. However, as Choi delves into the world of classic literature, it becomes clear that some works have had a profound impact on her writing style and perspectives.
One such author is Sigrid Nunez, whose short story "Chang" had a seismic effect on Choi's understanding of multiracial characters in fiction. This experience marked a turning point in her thinking, as she began to recognize the limitations of her own writing and sought to challenge them. The realization that her protagonists could have been people like herself – brown Asian and white European – was both heartbreaking and thrilling.
Choi's journey of self-discovery also led her to reevaluate her literary inspirations. Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse" had a lasting impact on her writing, though not always in a positive way. The pressure to emulate her style ultimately made Choi's own work feel insufferable. Instead, she found solace in comfortingly familiar classics like F Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." This unexpected appreciation for a book that once repelled her served as a reminder of the complexity of personal taste.
Choi's fascination with literary authors continued to evolve as she rediscovered some old favorites and encountered new ones. Charles Dickens, once associated with unbearable Christmas television specials, emerged as a cherished author who captivated her imagination during the pandemic. "Bleak House" became one of the great reading experiences of her life, leaving an indelible mark on her literary journey.
As Choi looks to the future, she finds herself drawn to unconventional writing styles and authors like JA Baker, whose breathtaking work "The Peregrine" has left a lasting impression on her. The transformative power of literature continues to shape her world, inspiring her to explore new horizons of thought and creativity. Through her personal narrative, Choi underscores the significance of reading as a catalyst for self-discovery, growth, and artistic evolution.
she's so fascinating and relatable at the same time! it's crazy how books can literally change your life and perspective... i mean, who hasn't had that experience right? 
anyway, i love that she mentions JA Baker now - have you guys heard of her? totally new to me but 'The Peregrine' sounds AMAZING 
She's so brave sharing all this stuff about how certain authors changed her perspective on writing and even challenged her own identity. I mean, it's like she's saying that we can learn to see ourselves in the stories we read. That's so powerful! 
For me, reading about different cultures and experiences has always been a way for me to connect with others who are different from me. And I love how Susan Choi is finding new authors and styles to explore – it's like she's discovering new worlds! 
I've always found comfort in familiar classics too, you know? There's just something about them that feels like home. Anyway, this article made me want to go re-read all these classic books that I love and maybe even discover some new ones... thanks for the inspiration! 
It sounds like she's just been reading a lot of books and suddenly it all clicked into place? Like, I get it, some authors can really influence you, but is this really a groundbreaking insight or just a fancy way of saying she found her favorite books? And what's with the obsession with 'comfortably familiar classics'? Is that code for 'I'm too lazy to try anything new'? 
I just read this about Susan Choi and it's so cool she found her own writing style by not copying others... like when I was in uni and I started reading more Japanese lit... it opened my eyes to a whole new world of storytelling 
I'm loving this conversation about Susan Choi's literary journey! She's literally taking me on a wild ride through her favorite books 
. But it's so great that Choi found comfort in those familiar classics and discovered new authors like JA Baker! I need to pick up "The Peregrine" ASAP 
It's amazing how reading can lead us to places we never knew existed 
. Don't get me wrong, some books can be super impactful, but let's not forget that everyone's experiences are unique 
then BAM! she's like "aha, I got this" after reading Sigrid Nunez's "Chang". girl power 
. and now she's all about reevaluating her favorite authors, kinda like me when I realized I don't actually like Christmas TV specials either 
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. So, it's awesome to see her embracing the complexity of literature and not being afraid to explore new horizons. I mean, who knows what amazing stories we'll discover? 
susan choi's story is like, totally inspiring, but idk if its too late for me lolololol i was like 10 when i first fell in love with roald dahl and now im a "grown up" 
anyway, sigrid nunez is def a new author to add to my tbr list 
btw, who else loves charles dickens but hates christmas tv specials 
But what really resonates with me is how she found comfort in re-reading "The Great Gatsby" after feeling inspired by Virginia Woolf's style, only to realize it wasn't for her after all 
like roald dahl who's all about weird kids in chocolate factories? but then she starts reading more classic lit and realizes like sigrid nuez's "chang" changed her life 
kinda like how i discovered anime while watching christmas specials for charles dickens 
Choi's story is so inspiring she went from being stuck in a rut to finding new writing styles & authors that actually resonate with her 
The thing is, it's all about finding your own voice and what makes you happy as a writer 
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And oh, I just found out that Susan Choi is actually a professor at Yale University! 
. It just goes to show that literature is all about personal taste and growth...and I think that's a beautiful thing! 
. I've been there too! Anyway, it's awesome that Susan Choi is speaking out about the transformative power of literature and how it's helped her grow as a writer and person