In a revealing interview, bestselling author Emma Healey offers a glimpse into her personal literary world, discussing the books that captivate her, provide comfort, and ignited her lifelong passion for reading. Her choices span from contemporary novels to classic diaries, reflecting a deep appreciation for humour, insight, and human connection in literature.
Current Reading: A Playful Exploration of Art and Truth
Emma Healey is currently immersed in Tony Interruptor by Nicola Barker, a novel she describes as uniquely compelling. The story centres on a minor incident at a jazz concert but unfolds into a series of witty and humorous conversations among characters loosely connected to the event. Healey praises the book for its playful dialogue and the way it probes profound questions about the meaning of art and truth within today's social and political landscape. She also highlights Barker's talent for crafting hilariously extended similes, adding a layer of tenderness towards the human elements in the narrative.
Desert Island Companion: Warmth and Re-readability
If stranded on a desert island, Healey would choose The Diary Of A Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield for its warmth, humour, and infinite re-readability. She values the intimate and honest voice of the protagonist, which would make her feel as though she had a slightly flustered friend by her side. Ideally, she would take the entire series, including the volumes where the Provincial Lady travels to America and Russia, and seeks meaningful work during the Second World War. Healey finds all these books equally amusing and insightful, offering a comforting escape in isolation.
First Spark of the Reading Bug: A Disappointed Protagonist
The book that first ignited Healey's love for reading was The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend, another diary-style work. She recalls reading it while her mother trained as a London Guide, often slouching against major monuments during practice sessions. Not quite a teenager at the time, Healey was drawn to the novel's perpetually disappointed and despairing protagonist. She enjoyed the challenge of reading between the lines to uncover what Adrian was missing or misinterpreting in his world, a experience that taught her the importance of the gap between reader and narrator in storytelling.
Books That Left Her Cold: A Struggle with Classic Prose
On the flip side, Healey admits that everything by Thomas Mann leaves her cold, finding his books a slog due to their long, finicky sentences, overly detailed descriptions, and pedantic explanations of characters' lineages. She couldn't even finish the short story Death In Venice. While acknowledging that Mann is beloved by many, she struggles to connect with his style. However, she notes a glimmer of hope, having once felt similarly about Joseph Conrad before changing her mind, suggesting that literary tastes can evolve over time.
Emma Healey's own book, Sweat, is available now in paperback from the Mail Bookshop, priced at £9.99, offering readers a chance to explore her writing firsthand.
