Barbara Kingsolver Reveals Her 5 Favorite Books—Including One Ann Patchett Gave Her
The ‘Demon Copperhead’ author shares the books that kept her up, broke her heart and sealed a friendship
Key Takeaways
- Kingsolver says ‘Independent People’ was a gift from Ann Patchett.
- Her picks include ‘Room,’ ‘Cold Mountain,’ ‘Intermezzo’ and other bestsellers.
- These books offer plenty to read while waiting for Kingsolver’s new novel.
Waiting for Barbara Kingsolver’s next book can feel like waiting for your favorite show to drop a new season—except her seasons come around once every few years. Good news: Partita, her first novel since the Pulitzer Prize-winning Demon Copperhead, is only weeks away (mark your calendar for October 6!). But while we count down the days, check out this list of books that have stuck with the author, including one so gripping she says it kept her up all night, and another gifted to her by pal Ann Patchett. Keep scrolling for Barbara’s picks—your next favorite book might be on this list.
‘Room’ by Emma Donoghue
If you love locked room thrillers, don’t miss this New York Times bestselling novel from 2010. To 5-year-old Jack, the Room is all he’s ever known. It’s where he was born, where he and his Ma eat, play and learn during the day. At night he’s shut in the wardrobe where he’s meant to be asleep while Old Nick visits. For Jack’s Ma, the Room in a prison where she’s been held captive for seven years. She’s tried to make the best of it for her and her son, but when Jack starts to ask questions she knows that she cannot keep what happened to her a secret for much longer. A page-turning tale that will leave readers shocked.
What Barbara says: “Room by Emma Donoghue kept me up all night. I spent a year resisting recommendations that I read it, because I thought the subject would be too awful. Then I opened it, and didn’t stop reading till the end.”
What readers are saying: “Emma Donoghue’s Room made me feel queasy, claustrophobic and like the walls were closing in on me. Yet, as I stood by helplessly watching a young boy and his mother live out their daily lives, I could not put it down! Besides the heartbreaking and terrifying story that Room depicts, it is also a tender portrayal of the mother/child relationship and celebrates the deep bond, dependence and fierce protectiveness that exist between Jack and his mother.”
‘Independent People’ by Halldór Laxness
This 1955 Nobel Prize-winning novel is set in 20th century Iceland and follows Bjartur of Summerhouses, a sheep farmer who is determined to raise his sheep without any expectations. His daughter, on the other hand, wants to live her life without the pressure of her father. What follows is a moving family saga that brings the magical world of Iceland to life.
What Barbara says: “Independent People by Halldór Laxness sealed a friendship. It was given to me by Ann Patchett, who has magical powers as a book-giver. Laxness is the Icelandic Nobel Laureate you’ve never read, and this book is definitely not for everybody. But it was so right for me. She knew.”
What readers are saying: “I realized this is not just a travel book. Even in translation, this is astounding literature! I do have to stop, occasionally, to look up words I’ve never encountered before, but the sweep of beautifully crafted line after line has enthralled me.”
‘Cold Mountain’ by Charles Frazier
Charles Frazier’s debut novel made history when it spent 61 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 1997. It then went on to win the National Book Award and was made into an Oscar-nominated movie starring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Set in 1864, the novel follows a Confederate soldier named Inman who decides to walk across the Blue Ridge Mountains to his hometown to be with the woman he loves. Along the way he encounters slaves, bounty hunters, witches and more—all of which will test him in ways he never thought possible. A timeless tale of strength, bravery and the risks people take to be with the ones they love.
What Barbara says: “The ending of Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier broke my heart, and I haven’t quite forgiven him for it. I’d read it again—it’s that beautiful—but maybe reinvent the last chapter for myself.”
What readers are saying: “It is rare for me to find a book that has such beautiful phrasing, powerful use of words and stunning descriptions of the landscapes (both natural and human). Charles Frazier is a wonderful writer and Cold Mountain is a superb book for readers who truly love language, richly-rendered characters and enjoy probing nature’s mysterious power over our lives.”
‘A Family Matter’ by Claire Lynch
This moving dual-timeline family saga, which was also a Read With Jenna pick in 2025, is filled with drama and mystery. In 1982, Dawn dedicated her life to becoming a good wife and mother to her daughter. Flash forward to 2022 when Heron receives devastating news from his doctor, which he’s determined to hide from his only child, Maggie. But his health isn’t the only thing Heron is hiding from Maggie, and as time goes on he realizes that he can only leave his daughter in the dark for so long. Soon secrets come to light and Heron’s shocking connection to Dawn comes to light.
What Barbara says: “This quietly heart-scorching novel took me one day to read, and I’ll be thinking about it forever. If you think these are dark times for civil rights… This book’s understated brilliance is to remind you that light-years of progress have happened in our lifetimes. And why we can’t go back.”
What readers are saying: “This was a wonderful read, full of heart-break and love. The characters are down-to-earth and fleshed-out. Their situations are very real. I loved how the author introduces the reader to each character, letting you realize how these relationships are connected and where they are headed.”
‘Intermezzo’ by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s newest novel, published in 2024, centers on estranged brothers Peter and Ivan, who are thrust back into each other’s lives after their father’s death. Peter is a charismatic but troubled lawyer who is struggling to decide who he loves, and Ivan is an awkward and reluctant chess champion who is in a passionate relationship with a woman named Margret. As the brothers’ parallel lives intertwine, they grapple with old resentments, complicated relationships and more.
What Barbara says: “This is my favorite book so far from the great Sally Rooney: a sweetly offbeat love story that also cuts to the quick. It’s not a new release, and I read it a while ago.”
What readers are saying: “What a book Sally Rooney wrote! Intermezzo is so incredible so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I even dream about the sentences in the book. I love all the characters she builds. You feel your heart is tightened and aching for all of them. The preciousness of love, tenderness, forgiveness. I simply can’t put the book down, but I don’t want to finish it too quickly. It’s just marvelous.”
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