Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus: ‘I wrote my first novel at 12 – it has not yet found a publisher’

The author of the global sensation on being inspired by Harper Lee, the craft of Joan Didion, and the joys of rereading Louisa May Alcott My earliest reading memory I have a very clear memory of reading Fun With Dick and Jane. I was four years old, and my dad wrote each word on a

The author of the global sensation on being inspired by Harper Lee, the craft of Joan Didion, and the joys of rereading Louisa May Alcott My earliest reading memory I have a very clear memory of reading Fun With Dick and Jane. I was four years old, and my dad wrote each word on a chalkboard. I memorised them, then opened the book and read them back to him.

I couldn’t believe it. It felt like magic! When I was older, I stumbled across the book and was surprised to find Dick and Jane didn’t really have all that much fun.

My favourite book growing up Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Eleven-year-old Harriet Welch wants to be a writer, and her nanny encourages her to keepa notebook so she can practise writing every day. But when the other kids at school find her book (which is filled with her meanest, most vulnerable thoughts), she quickly becomes the school pariah.

I must have read this story a hundred times. Harriet Welch was the reason I started writing stuff down. She was also the reason I understood that no matter how hard it feels, it is imperative to own and apologise for your mistakes.

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