Three Books Sheila Heti Recommends

Author Sheila Heti has shared three book recommendations that shaped her own literary perspective. Her selections provide a window into her specific taste and the writers she admires.

First, Heti highlights Jane Bowles's novel Two Serious Ladies. She describes it as an original work that functions entirely by its own logic, noting that she would have written her own books differently had she not encountered this specific text in her twenties.

For readers interested in how fiction interacts with different mediums, Heti points to Émile Zola’s 1883 novel, The Ladies' Paradise. The book details the rise of modern department stores and the mechanics of marketing and consumer desire. Heti notes how Zola parallels the strategies of the store's founder with the methods of a seducer, making it a compelling study of capitalism and human behavior.

Finally, Heti suggests Vigdis Hjorth’s novel If Only for those looking for a book to read while traveling. Heti found the story of a turbulent relationship particularly effective while she was navigating airports and transit herself, as the rhythm of the book matched the experience of movement across time zones and continents.

These recommendations offer a glimpse into the reading life of a prominent writer, highlighting works that challenge typical narratives and explore the nuances of human experience.