Katie Kitamura: ‘Almost every writer changes my mind – that’s the point of reading’
Katie Kitamura reflects on the books and authors that have shaped her life and writing, from early encounters with Dangerous Liaisons to transformative experiences with Upton Sinclair and Kenzaburō Ōe. She emphasizes how reading continually reshapes her perspective, with authors like Yasunari Kawabata and Henry James revealing new depths over time. Kitamura also shares her late appreciation for Muriel Spark and her ongoing engagement with complex literary works.
- ▪Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle transformed Kitamura’s understanding of storytelling and its power to enact social change when she read it at age 12.
- ▪Kenzaburō Ōe’s A Personal Matter inspired Kitamura to become a writer during a difficult period when her father was dying of cancer.
- ▪Kitamura discovered Muriel Spark later in life and now considers works like The Driver’s Seat among her most cherished reads.
- ▪She is currently rereading Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier and Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair.
- ▪Kitamura finds comfort in the works of Javier Marías as well as the novels she is revisiting for deeper understanding.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘Upton Sinclair transformed my understanding of what a story was’ … Katie Kitamura. Photograph: Benedict Evans/The GuardianView image in fullscreen‘Upton Sinclair transformed my understanding of what a story was’ … Katie Kitamura. Photograph: Benedict Evans/The GuardianThe books of my lifeBooksKatie Kitamura: ‘Almost every writer changes my mind – that’s the point of reading’The American author on the magic of Yasunari Kawabata, the hidden layers of Henry James and coming late to the genius of Muriel SparkKatie KitamuraFri 1 May 2026 05.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleMy earliest reading memory I remember reading throughout my childhood, but it’s hard to identify my earliest memory of reading. In a lot of ways, it’s as if my childhood began when I learned to read.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Books.
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