This week’s Inspired By is dedicated to Brigitte Quinn, author of Anchored. Here are five books that have inspired her passion.

Naked by David Sedaris

His simple prose and exquisite comedic timing make his stories literally laugh-out-loud hilarious.  Oh, and then there’s the pathos.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

The ultimate work of historical fiction.  And what a detailed, and ahead-of-its-time description of the deep friendship between Scarlett and Rhett that precedes their love.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gatsby’s such a great creation.  All the bling in the world can’t change him;  he’ll always be the poor boy helplessly in love with the careless Daisy.

The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

His exhilarating prose is perfect for the frenetic, greedy go-go 80s New York City he brilliantly captures.

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

The diary format, I think, set off a revolution.  And what a funny, lovable narrator, despite (or maybe because of) all her neuroses.