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By the Book

Amanda Knox: By the Book

The author of “Waiting to Be Heard” says that reading Marilynne Robinson’s “Housekeeping” in prison helped, because it explores themes of loneliness and alienation.

Which authors do you most admire?

Vladimir Nabokov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Jonathan Safran Foer, David Foster Wallace. . . . I like authors who experiment with narrative and delve into very specific conditions within their characters in order to expose universal truths about humanity. After reading, I like to feel that I’ve experienced, learned, identified, been challenged and been provided with insight.

When and where do you like to read?

I have two comfy chairs at home that I fall into when I’m reading, but I probably read most when I’m in transit. I always carry a book with me to read on the bus, and I tend to arrive everywhere early. 

What was the best book you read while a student in Perugia, Italy?

Since I was in Italy for just a month as a student, the only book I was able to finish before I was arrested was a new volume of modern Italian poetry — the title of which I don’t remember. What I started to read and most enjoyed while I was a student was an Italian edition of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” I was trying to teach myself Italian outside of the classroom by referring to the familiar. That’s exactly what I ended up doing when I first entered prison, this time with an Italian version of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” that I got from the tiny prison library.

What was your reading life in prison?

A friend jokingly told me once that I was doing in prison what he wished he could do in his own life — take time off from everything (school, work, responsibility) to read and read and read. Reading started out for me as a means of passing the time and learning the language. Reading became a means of escape, and then a means of identifying and affirming who I was in the face of the prison’s oppressive environment. I looked to books to stimulate my mind and create a daily sense of purpose.

Was there a particular book that helped get you through the experience?

Different books helped me through different periods in different ways. For instance, over time the prison grew more and more overpopulated, and at a certain point, I was struggling to cope with a cellmate who became increasingly confrontational and violent. “The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams, was a humorous distraction from the tension. 

Other books, like Marilynne Robinson’s “Housekeeping,” were helpful because they explored themes, like loneliness and alienation, that I was having to learn to cope with myself.

Have you kept up with your Italian? Do you continue to read in the language?

I have a few close friends with whom I can practice speaking Italian, but I mostly maintain fluency through reading. At the moment I’ve returned to Boccaccio’s “Decameron,” which is satisfyingly challenging and fun.

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Amanda KnoxCredit...Illustration by Jillian Tamaki

Are there any Italian writers you especially like?

Umberto Eco. He’s meticulous, thoughtful, innovative, tending toward the epic while also humanizing. I love his lists — and I can always trust him to help me increase my Italian vocabulary.

What’s the first book you read when you got back home?

“A Confederacy of Dunces,” by John Kennedy Toole, which was recommended by my boyfriend, James. 

What kinds of stories are you drawn to? Are there any you steer clear of?

I like fiction better than nonfiction, but beyond that it’s easier to define the kinds of stories I steer clear of rather than those I’m drawn to. For me, the qualifying factors of a good story — captivating narrative, challenging, insightful perspective and credible, complicated characters — can come in many forms. I avoid romances and most thrillers, because thoughtfulness is often sacrificed for the sake of sentimentality or “action.”

What were your favorite books as a child? Do you have a favorite character or hero from those books? 

As a kid I was drawn to fairy tales — Mother Goose, the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen. Also, fantasy series, like “Harry Potter” and “Redwall.” Then again, I read almost everything my mom put in front of me, and then I raided her bookshelves. I liked strong, adventurous female characters (“Xena” was a favorite TV show) but also quiet, introverted underdogs who learned to step up.

If you could require the president to read one book, what would it be?

“A Prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving. While a little more idealistic than I personally feel capable of aspiring to, the philosophy of this book strikes me as pertinent for a person in power. The hero is physically small and yet larger-than-life. He makes a difference in the lives of those around him and, ultimately, sacrifices his life for the sake of a greater good. It’s a beautifully written, inspiring story.

What was the best thing about writing a book? 

Transforming my thoughts and memories into a tangible narrative. This gave me as much a sense of relief as a sense of accomplishment. Writing helped me process the experience. Also, I really enjoyed working with and learning from my collaborator, Linda Kulman. I’ve adopted many of her writing strategies. This was a raw, emotional process, and I felt safe sharing the most painful memories with her. 

The hardest thing about writing a book?

In reliving what I went through I was surprised to discover suppressed feelings of intense anger and grief. They were feelings that I couldn’t allow myself to experience while confronting adversities of imprisonment, trial, conviction and dehumanizing helplessness. When I sat down to write, though, I suddenly found myself in a position to really reflect — be outraged and sad — much more so than I anticipated I would be if I were to regain my freedom. I frequently had to stop writing and take a walk or curl up into a ball for a while until the panic and/or grief subsided and I could work again.

Would you like to write another book, and if so, what would you like to write about?

I would very much like to write another book and put to work what I’ve learned. The pet project I have in mind is a novel inspired by and exploring my Oma (grandmother) and Opa’s (grandfather’s) history — certain drastic choices they made in the course of their lives together. I look forward to sitting down and listening to my Oma to get a sense of the time period she grew up in, and at the same time to have that stimulate my imagination for a story that I see revolving thematically around identity and sacrifice.

What do you plan to read next?

“How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone,” by Sasa Stanisic. Also, “Zorba the Greek,” by Nikos Kazantzakis. I have so many books at home that I can’t wait to read, and yet I couldn’t help but pull these down from my friends’ and family’s bookshelves.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Page 9 of the Sunday Book Review with the headline: By the Book: Amanda Knox. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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