This week’s Inspired By is dedicated to Andee Reilly, author of Satisfaction. Here, she is sharing the five books that have inspired her most.

Gidget by Frederick Kohner

Way before I started surfing, I watched reruns of Sally Field playing Gidget on TV and was fascinated by the surfer girl and her beach-bum friends as they rode the waves in Malibu. She inspired me to hit the beaches of Southern California and paddle out into the ocean to try a few Gidget-like maneuvers for myself. Years later, I picked up the novel and found this coming-of-age tale charming and surprisingly racy. I was lucky enough to meet the real Gidget, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, at a beach festival, and a signed copy sits proudly on my bookshelf. 

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

One of my college professor assigned this book, and I was instantly riveted. It was my first introduction into magical realism. Allende writes of family, politics, and revolution in such an explosive and unforgettable way. No wonder that while I was reading, I was haunted by the most vivid dreams. I adore Allende’s evocative characters and her uncanny ability to make me believe the unbelievable. 

The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer

I love this novel! Not only do we get compelling stories about four women and the lives of their mothers, but Wolitzer spans time and space, tucking in mini-chapters that range from Margaret Thatcher’s assistant catching the prime minister napping, to a celebration in Romania honoring Nadia Comaneci. I was a gymnast, so the latter reference really delighted me. What’s not to appreciate about a novel that explores the real struggle that women face finding their place in the world!

Life by Keith Richards

Obviously this is a no-brainer for me. Yes, I’m a huge Stones fan, but Richards’s memoir is so utterly captivating, I think it appeals to anybody interested in music and artists in general. His pure dedication to the craft of playing guitar and his love of music is inspiring. I already adored “Keef,” but after reading Life, I found a new respect for this extraordinarily talented, charming, and intelligent man. 

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

This novel in particular makes me think of my mother. I was engrossed from page one, and immediately recommended it to her. Even though my mom always seemed to be a few chapters ahead of me, we compared notes on a daily basis. We had our own private book club! Both of us were a little sad when we got to the end, but luckily there are plenty more wonderful Jojo Moyes novels for us to read together.