Writers on Reading: David Nicholls

http://www.davidnichollswriter.com/

David Nicholls life could have led him down a very different path than that of a writer, he studied drama at school, college and university, before travelling on to train as an actor in New York. Drama's loss is literature's gain however, as his quirky and challenging books have managed to tap into the national psyche at such a level that 'A Starter for Ten' and 'One Day' have both been translated onto the silver screen, and his newest novel 'Us' has already got such names as Russell Crowe fighting over the film rights.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Rosie's Walk, Ant and Bee, The Giant Jam Sandwich, Richard Scarry's wonderful books. But the first 'proper' books I remember were the Moomin novels. I loved those books, read them over and over again. They were funny and charming of course, but also had this wonderful air of melancholy about them. I think it was the first time I realised that a book could be sad as well as entertaining. 

What effect does being an author have on you as a reader?

Like all writers, I read for inspiration. It's fuel, and hugely inspiring to read a book and think 'yes, I'd love to do something like that'. The flip side of this is envy - those moments where you read a wonderful passage and think 'My God, I'll never get anywhere near that. I might as well give up now.'

Are there any books you can read again and again?

Just a few; Great Expectations, Tender is the Night, The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark, The Great Gatsby, Cheever's short stories. I read Salinger's Franny and Zooey at least once a year.

Are there any genres that you wouldn’t choose to read?

I have a bit of a block about traditional whodunnits. Generally speaking I couldn't care less who did it, and find the whole business of red herrings silly and manipulative. Was anyone ever really moved by an Agatha Christie? I know people love them, but to me they're like crossword puzzles disguised as fiction. Surely an author should be able to grip you without that silly guessing game.

What is the current book on your nightstand/coffee table?

Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth - I love Roth, the anger and energy of his prose - and a biography of John Updike. American authors have always been a big influence on me. 

David's newest book 'Us' was released in September