There’s a meme running around on Facebook with instructions that go like this :
The Rules – Don’t take too long to think about it. Fifteen authors, poets included, who’ve influenced you and will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag a few friends, including me, because I am interested in seeing what authors you choose. To do so, go to your Notes tab on your profile page, paste rules in a new note, cast your fifteen picks, and tag people in the note.
So I thought I’d give it a shot, and this is my list. Following my friend Chandrika’s example, I decided to add reasons why I’ve picked the following people:
Part 1
- Jane Austen – Pretty obvious choice for me. She gave me Darcy and Edward. Elizabeth and Elinor. She is one writer who’s books will have a special place in my library forever.
- Tanuja Desai Hidier – TDH has written exactly one book – Born Confused – but what a book it is! It was recommended to me by a friend when we were in the ninth grade, and since then I have told at least twelve other people about it, and every one has loved it. This book gave me Karsh, made me reflect on the various Gwen’s present in my life and taught me to be proud of my heritage in a way no part of ‘Indian culture’ ever has or ever will.
- Anuja Chauhan – The Zoya Factor is a book that made me laugh, cry and squeal ‘I know exactly what she means!’ It is amazing, the way Chauhan has incorporated everyday ‘Indianisms’ into a delightful book that is about THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM and even has SRK in it! What more could I ask for?? She recently came out with her second novel, Battle for Bittora, which although was quite interesting (purely for her style of writing), the characters were not as lovable as The Zoya Factor‘s Nikhil Khoda et all. But I still love her!
- Sylvia Plath – I admit, I’ve been far more enamored with Plath’s personal life. However, I got to study her poem Metaphors in my first year of college, and after that Daddy last semester. Her writing, though not complicated, makes me feel heavy and weighed down. A feeling I sometimes need when the world becomes too sickly sweet. She evokes a lot emotions, and half the time I imagine her standing behind me while I read, watching me with a wane smile on her face. I am halfway through The Bell Jar right now, although I need to take breaks now and then, so that I don’t slip into a mindset that only she can cajole me into.
- Chitra Divakaruni Bannerjee - A friend gave me Sister of My Heart for my sixteenth birthday, and I fell in love with it. Bannerjee writes with grace and smoothness, and captures the moods and emotions of characters so well that they stay with you, and you might even recall people who resemble them in your own lives. They are believable.