Hillary Rodham Clinton Credit Illustration by Jillian Tamaki
I’m looking forward to reading her latest book…
The New York Times
The former secretary of state and author of “Hard Choices” keeps copies of Republican memoirs like “Faith of My Fathers” and “Decision Points” on her shelves.
What books are you reading right now?
I’ve got a pile of books stacked on my night stand that I’m reading — or hoping to get to soon. I’m usually working on more than one at a time. So right now it’s “The Goldfinch,” by Donna Tartt; “Mom & Me & Mom,” by Maya Angelou; and “Missing You,” by Harlan Coben.
What was the last truly great book you read?
I can’t stop thinking about “The Hare With Amber Eyes,” by Edmund de Waal; “The Signature of All Things,” by Elizabeth Gilbert; “Citizens of London,” by Lynne Olson; and “A Suitable Boy,” by Vikram Seth.
Who are your favorite contemporary writers? Are there any writers whose books you automatically read when they come out?
What are your favorite novels? Your favorite short stories? Poems you hold especially dear?
“The Brothers Karamazov” made a lasting impression on me when I read it as a young woman; I intend to reread it this summer to see what I now think about it. My favorite short stories are by Alice Munro, especially her collections “Carried Away” and “Runaway.” That’s an easy choice for me compared with the many poets I’ve appreciated over time. Included in that list are E. E. Cummings, T. S. Eliot, Seamus Heaney, Pablo Neruda, Mary Oliver and W. B. Yeats.
What are your literary guilty pleasures? Do you have a favorite genre?
Cooking, decorating, diet/self-help and gardening books are guilty pleasures and useful time fillers.
And the best books about Washington, D.C.? Is there one book you’d recommend to someone planning to move to or work in the capital?
“Our Divided Political Heart,” by E. J. Dionne, shows how most everybody has some conservative and liberal impulses, but just as individuals have to reconcile them within ourselves, so does our political system if we expect to function productively. “After the Music Stopped,” Alan Blinder’s account of the financial crisis, is clear in its analysis and recommendations.
What do you like to read when you travel?
When I traveled as secretary of state, I was deluged with thick briefing books full of information about the politics, economy and culture of each destination, so those took up most of my reading time. But when I could, I’d read a novel or travelogue about the places I was visiting, such as “The House at Sugar Beach,” by Helene Cooper, about her childhood in Liberia, and “Finding George Orwell in Burma,” by Emma Larkin.
Is there one book you wish all students would read?
“Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen; “Out of Africa,” by Isak Dinesen; “Schindler’s List,” by Thomas Keneally.
What kind of reader were you as a child? What were your favorite childhood books? And the books you were most eager to pass along to your daughter?
Oh, I was always reading something, from “Winnie-the-Pooh” to Nancy Drew to “Little Women” to James Michener. And I started reading to Chelsea with “Goodnight Moon” and “The Runaway Bunny” and “Curious George” and all the favorites which led her to make her own reading choices.
If you had to name one book that made you who you are today, what would it be?
At the risk of appearing predictable, the Bible was and remains the biggest influence on my thinking. I was raised reading it, memorizing passages from it and being guided by it. I still find it a source of wisdom, comfort and encouragement.
Which books might we be surprised to find on your shelves?
You might be surprised to see memoirs by Republicans such as “Decision Points,” by President George W. Bush, and “Faith of My Fathers,” by Senator John McCain.
What was the last book to make you laugh?
Janet Evanovich’s series about Stephanie Plum’s adventures in Trenton always makes me laugh.
You’re hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?
I’d choose to have one guest for a long dinner: William Shakespeare. I’m curious to see who would show up and what he really wrote.
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
I’m embarrassed to admit how many — so I won’t! But one example is Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time.” I’ve never made the time.
