My Secret Mentor: Michiko Kakutani

Vogue

Michiko Kakutani sits surrounded by her love for literature. 

As someone who loves to read and prides herself on the vast amount of books she has read over the years, it is only fitting that I also spend the majority of my time reading book reviews. I use these reviews as guidance when choosing my next literary adventure, however, I am adamant that regardless of what the review says, I still allow myself to form my own opinion. 

To choose a new book, I often turn to The New York Times book list as not only is it carefully curated, but it has also proved to be very trustworthy time and time again. Next, I tend to read a review of the book, which I typically also find in the New York Times. Over the years, I noticed that more often than not I chose the same critic to read.

Michiko Kakutani. 

Kakutani was the former chief book critic for The New York Times and is a massively influential individual in American literary criticism. Shortly after joining The Times in 1979, Kakutani became a chief book critic only four short years later. In 1998, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, “...for her passionate, intelligent writing on books and contemporary literature.  This highly esteemed recognition propelled her to become not only a pivotal voice for the literary community but also held a strong influence on the reputation and success of numerous novels. 

Vogue Magazine

Kakutani poses for a magazine profile

on her career. 

I greatly admire Kakutani’s style as not only does she provide readers with insightful reviews, but also her intelligence, quick wit and sharp intellect lend to riveting articles that capture her audience’s interest. At times, she has used the voice of infamous characters to form the structure of her reviews; a style I greatly admire because it takes the monotony out of a simple book review and transforms it into a work of creative genius. 

Vanity Fair called her, “the most powerful book critic in the English-speaking world.”

Kakutani is a perfect example of an individual who holds great influence over my writing. After reading her reviews for many years, I have begun to transform my writing into a mere semblance of her artistry. As someone who wants to form her career around her passion for literature, I frequently turn to Kakutani to inspire my writing, provide me with direction and ideas, and influence my next book purchase. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…