We are so thrilled to chat with Kate Hilton, author of The Hole in the Middle. Here, Kate shares a few facts about herself and the five books that have inspired her writing most!
A stack of books, including Elizabeth Gilbert’s BIG MAGIC, Jojo Moyes’s AFTER YOU, and a travel guide to Northern Italy. And a photo of my kids sharing a joke with each other. They are killing themselves laughing.
Self-criticism. I used to persuade myself that it was an asset to be in a constant state of self-improvement, but as I get older I see greater strength in self-acceptance.
At home, at my desk, looking out on my pretty little urban street.
It’s hard to write great comedy that also pulls at the heartstrings. Here are five books that did it brilliantly, and inspired me as I was writing THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. Also, I now see that four out of the five are by British writers, which tells you something significant about what makes me laugh.
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding
Long before Bridget Jones became an industry, this was a little book about how hard it is to get yourself together and become an adult, and it was (and is) screamingly funny and unexpectedly moving.
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
This is the funniest book about marriage breakdown that you could imagine. I read it as a teenager, when I knew nothing about marriage or divorce, and I thought: “I want to write like that.”
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Ever wondered what the hell goes on inside a man’s head? Read anything by Nick Hornby, and be very, very scared. This one is my favorite. His style has been imitated many times since, but never improved upon.
I Don’t Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
The first, and most famous, novel about why having it all isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I heard about it when a therapist (yes, you heard that right) recommended that I read it. The rest is history.
One Day by David Nicholls
Timing is everything, in comedy, in life, and most definitely in love. This masterful novel, about two complicated people with lousy timing, unfolds over twenty years as the couple in question figures out that they belong together. I could read it again and again.
What are the five books that inspire you most? Tell us below!
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