Jacqueline Crooks on Toni Morrison and the Books That Shaped Her 2026

Jacqueline Crooks reveals how Toni Morrison's voice made her want to find her own, a testament to the power of literature to shape identity and craft. In this exclusive interview, Crooks shares the books that influenced her from childhood to adulthood, offering readers a glimpse into her creative process and the literary giants who paved the way.

Early Reading Memories and Survival Imagination

Crooks' earliest reading memory is receiving The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley at age eight, after moving from her grandmother's care to live with her mother and stepfather. The story's themes of leaving one world and adapting to another resonated deeply, helping her develop what she calls her 'survival imagination'—the ability to envision life beyond her circumstances.

This formative experience taught her that books could give shape to unnamed feelings, a lesson she carries into her own writing. She explains, 'It gave shape to unnamed feelings and developed my survival imagination: imagining beyond my circumstances.'

Favourite Book: David Copperfield and Empathy

Crooks cites David Copperfield by Charles Dickens as her favourite book growing up. She followed David's journey from exclusion to belonging, learning empathy and the importance of relationships that sustain versus those that must be left behind. Dickens' ability to vivify characters made her grow alongside them, a technique she admires and emulates.

The Book That Changed Her as a Teenager

At 12 or 13, Crooks read Wuthering Heights and was fascinated by Heathcliff's enigmatic, brooding nature. Emily Brontë taught her that landscape is character; the moors become a living force mirroring the emotional lives of Cathy and Heathcliff. This shaped her writing style, drawing her to unknowable characters and psychologically alive places.

Shakespeare's The Tempest and Displacement

In her 40s, a writing tutor suggested she read The Tempest while working on her story collection The Ice Migration. The island setting and themes of displacement and longing for return resonated profoundly, making her realize Shakespeare could speak to her life. This encounter expanded her understanding of classic literature's relevance to contemporary experiences.

Toni Morrison: The Author Who Made Her a Writer

Crooks cannot pinpoint which Toni Morrison novel affected her most—The Bluest Eye, Tar Baby, or Jazz—but all left an indelible mark. Morrison's worlds are 'familiar, dreamlike, grounded yet on the edge of the unknowable.' She showed Crooks that Black lives and characters from marginalized worlds are worthy of being centered in literature. 'Her voice made me want to find my own,' Crooks says.

Returning to Wilson Harris and Cultural Inheritance

Initially, Wilson Harris's writing felt demanding, but returning to it in her 40s captivated her with its Guyanese landscapes. Harris demonstrated that landscape can carry history, memory, and imagination. This realization helped Crooks value her cultural inheritance and bring Jamaica's landscape to life in her work.

Key Takeaways from Jacqueline Crooks' Literary Journey

• Books can provide a framework for understanding personal experiences and developing resilience.
• Classic literature remains relevant when it speaks to universal themes like displacement and belonging.
• Toni Morrison's work validates the importance of centering marginalized voices in literature.
• Landscape can be a character, carrying emotional and historical weight.
• Returning to challenging texts later in life can yield new appreciation and insight.

Comparison of Influential Books

FAQ

Jacqueline Crooks' journey through literature demonstrates the profound impact books can have on a writer's development. From early childhood tales to the works of Toni Morrison, each book contributed to her unique voice. For aspiring writers, her story is a reminder that reading widely and deeply can unlock one's own creative potential.