American author John Green has reflected on his early reading experiences, recalling his enjoyment of series such as 'The Baby-Sitters Club' and 'Sweet Valley High' in the 1980s. He noted that despite these books being perceived as 'for girls' during that period, he 'devoured them'.
Green also cited Gary Paulsen’s 'The Island' as a favourite book from his youth, appreciating its themes of survival and perseverance. As a teenager, reading Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye', 'Sula', and 'Song of Solomon' in quick succession was a transformative experience, making literature feel 'vital and present' and showing him that books could 'transform' him.
The novelist Kurt Vonnegut played a significant role in shaping Green's values and beliefs as a young person, with his 'fundamental humanism' continuing to inspire him. Michael Chabon’s 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' made Green want to become a writer, due to its queer main characters and 'vibrant sense of contemporary youth'.
Green revisited J.D. Salinger’s 'The Catcher in the Rye' in adulthood, finding the 'sadness' and 'vulnerability' of Holden Caulfield clearer than when he first read it in high school. He has also recently reread Lily King’s 'Heart the Lover', enjoying it more the second time. Currently, Green is reading 'How to Build a Universe' by Dr Katie Mack, a book about astrophysics.