What Hank's Writing: An Article about...Guess What?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What I’m writing? FORGET ABOUT IT. I am writing the worst book on the planet. Fifteen thousand words in, and I am NOT happy.

But. And yet. I know I felt this way about Her Perfect Life, which comes out September 14 and which I now adore. So I am persevering. I have faith in the process. It's part of the journey, and I am well and truly on it.  And so honored that you are here with me.

(And if you want to be one of my Super-Readers, with access to a free advance copy (with an eye to a review on Netgalley, Goodreads, Amazon, Bookbub or wherever else your heart desires), click here. LOVE to have your kind approval!)

But what am I writing? One of my delights is to create other kinds of work, essays and listicles and conversations, for other publications. (I’m working on a short story, too, and so far have a glimmer of an idea and zero words. More on that another day.)

But I was assigned by the amazing BookTrib to write a listicle: books about graduation. Books about graduation? It seemed like a good idea at the time. But then I couldn't think of any.

So I thought about what graduation meant. And who we are when we get there. And that’s when my article took shape. Here’s a little peek at part of it. And then at the end, Reds and readers, I want your suggestions.


THE BOOKS OF OUR LIVES

Hank and Eli 18 years ago!

I remember when my grandson was born--I showered him with books. Yes, he was maybe two hours old, but there were books I needed him to have. A Hole is to Dig, and the Edward Eager mysteries. Winnie the Pooh, and the Narnia residents, and A Snowy Day. The Dot and The Line. Many Moons. The Complete Sherlock Holmes. (My husband chuckled at me, and then said "Make sure you add Horatio Hornblower.")

But I remember feeling it was my responsibility to make sure that whenever he was ready for them, those books would be there. Those necessary books. Or maybe, more honestly, my necessary books.

And now he has graduated high school, and is going off to college, a reality so full of emotion that I am not sure there’s a word for it.

But my instinct, again, is to load him up with books, to make sure that when he is ready for them they will be there. (I know, the last thing he needs going off to college is books. But maybe…he does.)

I started listing them, and each one seemed so obvious to me. I will admit I didn’t wanna overthink, I wanted to put myself in a cosmic bookstore, so any book I wanted could appear.

During this chaotic and unprecedented and brave new graduation season, when so many students are opening new doors. What do they need to read that they don’t even know they need to read? What can we offer them? The books that changed our lives.

So I asked some pals. (and you'll have to read the whole article here to find out what they said. Amazing, Because not one of the people I asked mentioned any of the same books.)

Remember, these are not being listed as the best books of all times that everyone must read. It’s simply…the books we’d offer. (Shakespeare doesn’t count. That’s a basic.)

Here are mine.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig: because attention to detail and mindfulness will help you in every part of your life.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: because we are all fish out of water, entering a new and mysterious world. And people are not what they seem.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie: because life is a mystery, and you’re never quite sure what the end of every story will be. And you may be surprised.

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens: because perseverance and humor and relationships--and good storytelling--are timeless.

Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe: because it’s okay to be nostalgic and sentimental and lush and gorgeous.

The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: Identity and truth and perspective. Who are we to ourselves—and to each other? I read this maybe fifty years ago. I still think of it.

Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton: because some may call it selfish power-mad ambition, and others may call it--ambition. Undine Spragg. There’s no one like her. Maybe.

Dreyer‘s English by Benjamin Dreyer: Because you need to know everything in this book in order to be a civilized human being.

On Writing by Stephen King: because inspiration comes from places you must explore on your own, and our imaginations and creativity are astonishingly powerful. And writing is difficult and wonderful.

The Winds of War by Herman Wouk: because times were different and the same, and everyone is fighting a difficult battle.

Winters Tale by Mark Helprin: because love and joy and journalism and truth and a crazy wild tale that makes no sense and all the sense in the world is a good thing to read.

The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer or How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman: Because you need to know the basics of cooking, for gosh sake. This book only comes to life after its pages are splotched with soy sauce and tomato paste and wine.

There’s more to the article, and again, I hope you’ll read it. What other authors chose is truly through-provoking.

But what would you choose, reds and readers?