Uzma Jalaluddin’s 5 nostalgic reads: the books that shaped the reader and writer she is today

I’ve been entranced by Jane Austen for most of my life, but the beauty of “Persuasion” is the way it forces characters to take a meditative look at their past. Nostalgia is having a moment right now, so in honour of our collective fondness for reflecting on our past selves, here are a few books that shaped the reader, and writer, I am today.

1. Anne of the Island, by L.M. Montgomery

This classic Canadiana is the third in Montgomery’s famous series — which I realized only after I had finished reading! I was 11 or 12 years old, home sick with the flu, when I reached for this book, purchased from the Malvern Public Library book sale. As I read, I was transported to Anne’s exciting life at university; my heart beat swiftly as her friendship with the dreamy Gilbert Blythe turned into something more. Yes, Gilbert was my original book boyfriend. No, I will not be taking any followup questions. I went on to read the entire “Anne of Green Gables” series, as well as everything else Lucy Maud wrote.

2. Our Man Weston, by Gordon Korman

Korman has written over 100 books for teens and children, from comedies to spy thrillers to historical adventure. When I first discovered his books, I was a grade schooler myself. This was another library book sale find (I love you, Toronto Public Library, take all my money!) and it was the first book that made me laugh out loud. The farcical plot, which featured two identical twins working at a hotel one summer, had me in stitches. I went on to read most of Korman’s earlier works, including the Macdonald Hall series, as well as his books aimed at teens, but it was “Our Man Weston” that first sparked my interest in humorous writing.

3. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume

With the release of the recent film adaptation of Blume’s bestseller “Are You There, God? It’s me, Margaret,” Judy Blume is having a well-deserved revival. But many decades ago, my Grade 4 teacher read this hilarious story about Peter, his incorrigible little brother Fudge and their family in New York to the entire class. We loved hearing about the adventures of a fellow fourth grader; the sibling strife was relatable. The sequel, “Superfudge,” was also excellent.

4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

I found this book in my high school library and I was instantly intrigued by the title. By then, I was a certified book lover and read widely in a variety of genres, but this was my first taste of comic fantasy/sci fi. I didn’t know “Hitchhikers” was a cult classic, but the non-stop jokes, ridiculous stakes (Earth demolished to make way for a new hyperspace bypass? Aliens who tortured prisoners by reading them bad poetry?) kept me entertained over the course of the entire trilogy of four books. I’ll never recall the number “42” without thinking of Adams and the mysteries of existence.

5. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

The queen of crime and empress of the golden era of detective fiction held me captive all throughout high school. I consumed Agatha Christie mystery novels like they were candy, one after another, but “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” remains my favourite. For one, the ending shocked and surprised me, in the best possible way. The book also demonstrated that when a master plotter breaks all the rules, they end up redefining the genre. In my opinion, this book remains Christie’s definitive work … but I would recommend easing into her canon. It shouldn’t be too hard — she wrote over 75 novels and short-story collections.

SHARE: