Cara Manglapus is inspired by books she read as a child

Cara Manglapus is the granddaughter of political figure and known jazz lover, late Senator Raul Manglapus. In 2009, she graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in creative writing and traveled the world as an international correspondent for The Japan Times. She returned to Manila in 2011 to pursue a musical career.

I asked Cara to share a few of her favorite books:

“My favorite books are ones I read as a child and as a young adult, ones that I never quite let go of,” says Cara. “They are all stories that inspired me to become a writer myself, for their unique storytelling style. All books were eventually adapted to the big screen, and while some adaptations were indeed visually pleasing, they just don’t quite do the books justice.” 

Holes by Louis Sachar. “I read this book three times, as a child, as a teenager, and as a young adult, and found it more entertaining each time. This is the only book on this list with a male protagonist. The prose is simple, but I find the plot so fascinating. My imagination really gets carried away with this one, a very easy and entertaining read for any age. It was eventually turned into a film starring Sigourney Weaver and Shia LaBeouf.”

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. “This is a classic novel that fell into my hands when I turned 12. It was my first ‘big girl’ book and I remember feeling so important as I read it. Although it was written a half century before I was born, the coming-of-age story was very relatable. It helped me recognize and count my blessings, and also made me picture the kind of strong, independent woman I wanted to be when I grew up. When I have my own daughter, my copy will be passed on to her, and onto her own daughter.”

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. “Long before this was turned into a film starring Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg, I picked up this book while browsing through the shelves at Powerbooks one lazy Sunday afternoon. I was hooked as soon as I read the opening line, ‘I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.’ The narrative is told by the ghost of Susie Salmon. I love suspense and I take great pleasure in reading books written by women.”

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. “This story developed a real cult following, and I secretly read the book because I wasn’t allowed to watch the movie. The way it was written was unlike anything I had ever read before, I was intrigued by the author’s style and the strange, strange characters. It is a favorite because it is just so strange, and dark, and yet feminine and relatable. I read this to remind me that when writing stories, one doesn’t always have to start with ‘Once upon a time,’ and end with ‘happily ever after.’”

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. “Homecoming is another coming-of-age story with yet another female protagonist, Dicey, who leads her little siblings to find a home after they are abandoned by their mother in the car parked outside a grocery store. I love narratives that empower young women and that teach readers that even in the face of adversity and uncertainty, it is the persevering who come out victorious.”