What book changed how Makenna viewed reading? Which book genres offer the most immersive escapism? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Located in Arizona, Makenna is a book guide writer for Shortform. She has a unique relationship with books\u2014she went from viewing reading as a waste of time to adopting reading as one of her personality traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Makenna has varied reading tastes\u2014she reads everything from Regency romance to fantasy to classic literature. Here’s our interview with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is always an impossible question for me because I love so many books for different reasons. My favorite comfort read is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society<\/em> by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It’s a lovely, cozy, historical epistolary novel about the profound connections we can find through books. It’s well-written, and the characters are adorable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My favorite fantasy series is The Raven Cycle<\/em> by Maggie Stiefvater. It perfectly blends lyrical language, mythology, mystery, and found-family character dynamics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of classics, you can’t go wrong with Pride and Prejudice <\/em>and Little Women<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last book I read was Half a Soul<\/em> by Olivia Atwater. It is a Regency romance set in an alternate version of England where faeries and magic are real. The plot was engaging, and the characters were great. It also dealt surprisingly heavily with the social issues of the time, like poverty and the workhouses. I enjoyed it quite a bit! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Right now, I’m reading Darling Girl<\/em> by Liz Michalski. I got it a few months ago with my Book of the Month subscription. It’s a modern-day Peter Pan <\/em>retelling. I just started it, so I don’t have a verdict other than it’s pretty sad so far. I’m not sure what I’ll read next. I have a huge TBR list, and my reading mood has been very nebulous as of late. I’ll probably choose something spooky for October!<\/p>\n\n\n\n My first pick would be Maggie Stiefvater because I adore everything of hers that I’ve read, and she’s also a musician and visual artist like me. Next, I’d probably choose Jane Austen because her powers of wit, humor, and observation would make for excellent conversation. I’d love to know what she’d think of her legacy today. Finally, I’d choose Sy Montgomery. She’s led such an interesting life, and she has amazing stories about her experiences with humans and animals across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another difficult question. Just based on the distribution of my bookshelf, my favorite genres are fantasy, romance, and contemporary fiction. I use reading as an escape from everyday life, and these genres offer the most immersive escapism. I’m also very character-driven in my reading choices, so I look for books that have characters I can love and root for. I’ll read a good mystery or historical novel now and again, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t flat-out refuse to read anything, but I don’t tend to enjoy self-help books in my personal reading life\u2014sorry! I’m a naturally suspicious person, so anytime an author tells me that their ideas will fix my life, it puts me off. I also find a lot of self-help books repetitive and boring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I prefer a physical book that’s easy to hold open with nicely-textured pages. My favorite place to read is in the forest by a stream or river. The sunshine, the fresh air, and the sound of the water are heaven to me. I used to do that all the time as a kid when we’d visit my grandparents in Colorado during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think everyone should read The Little Prince<\/em> by Antoine de Saint-Exupery and How to Be a Good Creature<\/em> by Sy Montgomery. The Little Prince<\/em> carries such important messages about understanding what truly matters and holding onto your dreams. I think everyone needs a reminder to see with their heart, now more than ever. How to Be a Good Creature<\/em> is full of lessons from animals about living a good life<\/a>. I’m a firm believer that the world would be a better, kinder place if more humans appreciated the wisdom of our fellow creatures, and I think Montgomery captures that idea beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My reading tastes honestly haven’t changed that much over the years. I’ve always loved fantasy and romance. As I’ve grown older, I have come to appreciate the “classics” more, like Jane Austen novels and the Anne of Green Gables<\/em> novels. I’ve also started to read more introspective works like Mrs. Dalloway<\/em>. Overall, though, I’ve always read whatever interested me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Warriors<\/em> series by Erin Hunter sparked my love of reading. I actually didn\u2019t like reading when I was first learning how\u2014I thought it was boring and a waste of time. Then, my sister started reading Warriors<\/em> and, as soon as I picked up one of the books, I was hooked. The series checked all the boxes for my childhood self: animal protagonists, drama, fantasy, and mythology. Warriors <\/em>gave me years of fodder for dreams and stories, making me believe the world held hidden secrets. I\u2019ll always appreciate the series for that. Harry Potter <\/em>and Percy Jackson<\/em> came shortly after, both of which cemented my love of reading as a personality trait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had a long paranormal romance phase, and it may or may not still be happening. They’re so bad, but they’re so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quiet<\/a><\/em> by Susan Cain put words to feelings I’d had my whole life, really validating my existence as a young introvert. It helped me realize there wasn’t something wrong with me, but, rather, the world wasn’t designed for people like me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tibetan Art of Serenity <\/em>by Christopher Hansard helped introduce me to mindfulness<\/a>, which later became a practice and a passion of mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs <\/em>taught me the basics of herbalism, igniting my interest in gardening and natural medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most recently, my favorite quote was, “Stories aren’t fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.” It’s the epigraph of Other Birds <\/em>by Sarah Addison Allen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I thought they did a beautiful job with the movie adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower<\/em>. The casting was spot-on for the most part, and they still managed to capture the protagonist’s voice in the film format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I also love the BBC show Call the Midwife<\/em>, which is based on Jennifer Worth’s memoirs. I think it’s a great example of how adaptations can successfully move beyond the source material. Both the book and the movie versions of Howl’s Moving Castle <\/em>are gorgeous and strange as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tamsin<\/em> by Peter S. Beagle is a great coming-of-age fantasy ghost story. It’s relatable and well-written, and it captures the pain and triumphs of growing up. If you have any interest in art, history, design, or fashion, The Secret Lives of Color<\/em> by Kassia St. Clair is a fascinating read backed by detailed research.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat’s on your reading list these days?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
If you could have a dinner party with any three authors\u2014dead or alive\u2014who would they be and why?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What’s your favorite genre? Why does it intrigue you?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Are there any book genres or tropes that you dislike or refuse to read? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What’s your favorite way to read a book? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What book or books do you think everyone should read in their lifetime? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
How have your reading tastes changed over the years?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Was there a specific book that sparked your love of reading? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Do you have any guilty pleasure books?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Have any books you\u2019ve read caused you to make any life changes or to change or develop any habits?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s your favorite quote from a book or an author?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are your favorite book adaptations<\/strong>?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Are there any lesser-known books that you\u2019ve read that you want others to know exist?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are your favorite books in the Shortform library<\/strong>?<\/h6>\n\n\n\n