This week’s edition of Inspired By is dedicated to Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Worthy. Here, she shares the five books that have inspired her to be an author

Flowers for Algernon By Daniel Keyes

This was hands-down my favorite novel growing up. Probably still is. It may have been my first experience reading about a character most people would shun or avoid in real life. When an author can invest such a character with so much humanity that you fall in love with his soul… well, I believe that author has changed the world.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Again we have characters who are down and out, off to the left. The kind of guys who might inspire your mom to lock the door if they were walking down your street. Not only did I come to love them, but I was impressed by George’s dedication to Lenny. No blood ties, but he took the guy under his wing and kept him safe and guided him and sacrificed for him. I think you can see the influence on my own work if you’ve read just about anything I’ve written.

 

Bless the Beasts and Children by Glendon Swarthout

My very favorite high school English teacher, Lenny Horowitz—the one who helped me believe I could write—introduced me to this book. I loved it because it was a book about a bunch of kids who really cared about some animals—who really found their empathy. And the introduction of animals got me that much closer to what I wanted to write.

Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

I think it was the work of Kurt Vonnegut that gave me permission to be a little strange. A little… out there. Not that I could have been otherwise, but he gave me permission not to hide. I loved the creation of a religion, a spiritual understanding of the world, and a language, all of which felt so entirely right and real. I find myself using Bokononist phrases to this very day, such as “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God,” and “It is not possible to make a mistake.”

The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

Okay, I’m guessing this one may surprise you. But I’m no stranger to surprising people. The verse of Dr. Seuss is unflaggingly delightful, with an undercurrent of serious truth. In this case he takes a look at the pointlessness of classism, and the way a “ruling” class will turn on a dime to stay on top. But in this lovely piece of fiction the Sneetches do what we haven’t seemed to manage. They. Get. Over. It. I’m inspired by the reminder that serious topics can be presented in a way that is humorous and delightful. If anything, the humor and delight might aid digestion.