{"id":81346,"date":"2022-11-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=81346"},"modified":"2022-11-02T08:26:40","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T12:26:40","slug":"shortform-reads-caroline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/shortform-reads-caroline\/","title":{"rendered":"Shortform Reads: Dystopian Novels Are Actually About Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What book helped Caroline rekindle her passions after having children? What genre does she think is often misunderstood?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caroline is a Shortform book guide writer from Washington. She has soft spots for feminist dystopian fiction and pancakes. We recently interviewed her to learn a bit about her reading tastes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Our Interview With Caroline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caroline used to read books that she thought she “should” read. Now, she gives herself permission to read for pleasure. Here’s our interview with Caroline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your favorite book and why? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Native Tongue<\/em> by Suzette Haden Elgin. It\u2019s a feminist science fiction trilogy published in the 1980s that takes place in the 22nd century after the repeal of the 19th Amendment. I love the book because it speaks to the power of language to shape a society, and it\u2019s about women working together to shape a more inclusive future. And, when I need to slow down, I pick up The Book of Delights<\/em> by Ross Gay. The book is a delight in itself and a reminder to notice the everyday joys around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you reading these days?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The Thursday Murder Club<\/em>, The Man Who Died Twice, <\/em>and The Bullet That Missed<\/em> by Richard Osman. They’re murder mysteries set in a quaint retirement village in Kent, England. Hilarity and shenanigans abound. I can\u2019t get enough.<\/p>\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

Well, that would depend on the vibe of the party. I wouldn\u2019t say no to a taco night and margaritas with Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Ali Wong. But, on a different sort of night, I would love to sit down with bell hooks, Mary Oliver, and Wendell Berry. Their books continue to offer me wisdom about how to live my life, and a long conversation over a bottle of wine (or two) sounds just about perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your favorite genre? Why does it intrigue you?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

I love dystopian fiction. I think a lot of people find the genre bleak, but I think the stories are actually about hope. At times, when I feel doubtful about the future of the human race, it\u2019s comforting to remember that creativity and resilience are a part of who we are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any book genres or tropes that you dislike or refuse to read? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not a fan of what is often pejoratively called “chick lit.” I think the books often underestimate the intelligence of women and overestimate the importance of men in a plot line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your favorite way to read a book? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

I love this question! Physical book, always. In an armchair. Early in the morning. With a cup of tea and a blanket. Even better if no one else is awake. If we really want to dig into the fantasy, my family would wake up late and not interrupt me\u2014except hours later to tell me that they\u2019ve made pancakes and breakfast is ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What book do you think everyone should read in their lifetime? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Books are so personal. I don\u2019t know if there\u2019s a book I think everyone should read. It\u2019d be like saying there’s one person everyone should date. We learn something new with each book we read, and we all have different things to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How have your reading tastes changed over the years?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

I used to read a lot more classic literature and serious non-fiction. I would pick up books that I thought I \u201cshould\u201d read but, if I\u2019m being honest, didn\u2019t really want to. Now I give myself more permission to read for pleasure. I also used to look down on \u201cself-help\u201d books, but now I love books that offer me guidance on how to live my life better. Life is complicated! I\u2019ll take all the advice I can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was there a specific book that sparked your love of reading? <\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

When I was little, my mom read Little Women<\/em> aloud to me. Spoiler Alert: She got to the part where Beth dies and absolutely lost it. She was crying so hard that she couldn\u2019t keep reading. She had read the book before and knew what happened. But that didn\u2019t make a difference. I think, at that moment\u2014even though I wouldn\u2019t have been able to articulate it at the time\u2014I understood the power of books to cultivate empathy and to speak to the broader experience of what it means to be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any guilty pleasure books?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

I love juvenile fiction. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s really a guilty pleasure<\/a> because I never feel guilty about reading books, but it\u2019s definitely not targeted at my age demographic!<\/p>\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

Yes! I recently read Unicorn Space <\/em>by Eve Rodsky. She advocates for the need for all people, but especially women and mothers, to carve out time and space in their lives for creativity and passion<\/a> projects. Since having kids, I\u2019ve struggled to make time for my own projects. Her book inspired me to think about how to jump back into creative endeavors. So, recently, I ordered a couple of piano books and started playing\u2014something I haven\u2019t done since high school. I\u2019m rusty, for sure, but being good isn\u2019t the point. I enjoy doing it, and it brings me a lot of satisfaction to see myself improving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s your favorite quote from a book or an author?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

“It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are.” (Wendell Berry, The Art of the Commonplace<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n