'Reading the dedication of Farseer made me cry'

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Reading the dedication of Farseer made me cry

Talking books with Shahd Thani, Writer, Poet and Founder of Untitled Chapters, a writing community for Emirati women

By As told to Maheshpreet Kaur Narula

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Published: Thu 31 Oct 2019, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Fri 8 Nov 2019, 12:03 PM

What are you reading now?
I'm currently reading Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean and The Storygrid: What Good Editors Know by Shawn Coyne.

A book that changed your life?
There are several. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg was one of the books I found at 16 and have been studying ever since. With the arrival of audiobooks, I get to listen to her recite her own books and it's emotional to hear my writing mentor's voice after all these years. I've also read The Miracle of Morning Pages by Julia Cameron, for unblocking creative stories and, for the last two years, I've been practising it. But Robin Hobb's Farseer series is closest to my heart. It's a series I have grown up with and a world I love to go back to every now and then. Hobb recently published the last instalment of that series and just reading the dedication made me cry, because she dedicated it to her main characters Fitz and the Fool. It makes you realise how deeply characters can affect the writer as well as the readers.  

A book you think is underrated?
Witches Abroad by the late Terry Pratchett, set in the Discworld, which is a hilarious retelling of fairy godmothers and witches. It's a perfect read for Halloween, especially after Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's popular Good Omens.

A memorable literary character?
My favourite character would be Kell Maresh from the Shades of Magic series by V. E. Schwab because his red coat is like the 'Room of Requirement' from Harry Potter and I love his relationship with Lila Bard.

Your favourite book quote - and why.
There is a line from Shades of Magic that says "Lila felt like a pin in Kell's world. One he was sure to snag on." It says a lot about both characters and their relationship. It's very evocative.



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