Which Author Would You Love to Have Dinner With?
This isn’t an easy question because my answer depends on what I’m reading at the time.
If we’re talking nonfiction and history, I would have to choose Ron Chernow. His range is remarkable, covering finance, military leaders, and American history. From Alexander Hamilton and George Washington to Ulysses S. Grant, his books are filled with fascinating details that make history come alive. I can only imagine the stories and discoveries he uncovered during his research that never made it into print. That alone would make for an incredible dinner conversation.
If we’re talking fiction, then it’s hands down Barbara Kingsolver. Her ability to tell a story and give both the places and the people such depth makes you feel as though you’re standing there watching it unfold. Her novels are deeply relatable because they focus on the lives and struggles of everyday people, particularly in Appalachia. Rather than writing about wealth, power, and big-city life, she explores family, poverty, community, and the quiet challenges that shape ordinary lives. Those are the stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.
I actually think having both Ron Chernow and Barbara Kingsolver at the same dinner table would make for an amazing evening. Some of the history Chernow writes about passes through the same regions that Kingsolver brings to life in her novels. One tells the story through historical events, the other through the people who live in their shadow. I think that conversation would be every bit as interesting as the books they’ve written.
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