Writer Ronne Troup recently transcribed and published her mother’s autobiography, Once I Was A Debutante. In a recent interview with bookscover2cover founder Sandra Fluck, Ronne explains that her connection to reading started with her mother.

She always read to us, and had books she loved around the house. Lots of them—encyclopedias and reference books and a big dictionary in among the novels and biographies she loved. I can’t imagine a home without books!

So what books and authors are included on Ronne’s reading list?

I discovered Irish storyteller Maeve Binchy (Quentin’s, Light a Penny Candle) several years ago, and because she wrote so many novels and stories she kept me busy for a long time!… I also have books by Anne Lamott that I keep and re-read, ever since I read Bird by Bird. Also Anna Quindlen, Amy Tan, and Khaled Hosseini who wrote The Kite Runner. These are authors whose books I return to, and look forward to whatever they write; also Azar Nafisi, who wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran. She’s a brave and wonderful writer. I have short story compilations that I plan to read again by diverse writers, from Hemmingway to Barbara Kingsolver (The Poisonwood Bible) and Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake). Joseph Kanon is a wonderful writer I discovered because his book Istanbul Passage had a beautiful cover that I couldn’t resist. (Sometimes you CAN judge a book by its cover!) Then I read his book The Good German, which was made into a (bad) movie; the suspense and richness of the book was completely lost in the film. I generally always prefer a book to its movie adaptation. Even Gone with the Wind seems pale compared to the book, in my opinion.

And on her philosophy about reading, Ronne notes

I’m not sure I have a philosophy about reading, except that it’s important, and meaningful, and a delightful way to spend time. I like the way a book can become part of my life, like a good friend, or a song, or a spontaneous moment that happens and you never forget. It’s corny to say, but I think books open up the world to us, and allow us to feel a part of the human race.

Read the full interview with Ronne Troup here.