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updated 5:16 p.m. ET April 24, 2007
Newsweek Periscope

A Life In Books: James Patterson
Newsweek

April 30, 2007 issue - Few writers are as prolific as thriller-churner-outer James Patterson—but even fewer have appeared on "The Simpsons." With six titles coming out this year (including the third in a young-adult series), he found time to share his own most dog-eared books.

MY FIVE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS

  • "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez. The great American novel, which just happens to be from South America.
  • "Ulysses." Blame James Joyce for making me a mystery writer. I read this and stopped pretending I could ever write a serious novel.
  • "Our Lady of the Flowers" by Jean Genet. Rudely woke me from my provincial, small-town view of the world.
  • "Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth. This was where I stopped being a book snob, and started loving books to death.
  • "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. I'm keen on coming-of-age novels, probably because I'm still coming of age.
  • A Certified Important Book you haven't read: OK, you got me—I've never read "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret."

    The book you care most about having your children read: "Maximum Ride." I want young Jack to know what his dad does at the office, and, hopefully, to be proud.


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