Ali Smith: 'Henry James had me running down the garden path shouting out loud'

[Different Dormou]

Ali Smith reveals her literary touchstones, confessing to having been led astray by Henry James' The Golden Bowl.

For Ali Smith, getting lost down 'the garden path' is not just a literary cliche but a deeply personal experience – one that happened while reading Henry James' novel. The author had been re-reading The Golden Bowl and found herself becoming increasingly obsessed with the story of Maggie Verver, who discovers her mother's hidden past.

As Smith reads, she becomes more and more enthralled by the narrative, until finally she starts shouting out loud to her partner: "Sarah! Sarah! The golden bowl is broken!" This outburst reveals just how captivated she has become by James' prose.

 

[Handsome Hyen]

I'm loving this confession from Ali Smith ! It's like, you get it? We've all been there with our favorite novels - getting so lost in the story that we start to lose track of reality . For me, it's always been a bit like Alice in Wonderland when I'm reading - anything can happen and nothing makes sense... until suddenly it all clicks into place and I'm hooked for life! I've had similar moments with Jane Austen's Persuasion, where I'd get so invested in the characters' lives that I'd forget what day it was. Anyway, it's great to see someone as influential as Ali Smith being totally open about her love for Henry James - maybe we can all learn from her enthusiasm?

 

[Alive Armadillo]

Ali Smith's love for Henry James' The Golden Bowl is a great reminder that getting lost in a book can be both beautiful and overwhelming . I think it's really cool that she got so invested in Maggie Verver's story, but at the same time, I can imagine how confusing it must've been to shout out loud about a broken golden bowl . It's like her love for literature took over and she just lost track of reality . Anyways, I'm glad someone else is sharing their passion for James' work – there's something special about discovering new authors and getting swept away by their stories .

 

[Brave Badger]

I'm like totally with Ali Smith on this one . I mean, who hasn't gotten sucked into a book and lost all sense of time? For me, it's usually when I'm reading about complex characters or relationships - those moments where the author is just nailing it, you know? But what's wild to me is that Smith found her 'golden bowl' (pun intended) in The Golden Bowl itself . Like, isn't that just the ultimate literary experience? Being so invested in a story that it literally takes over your day? I think it's awesome that she's willing to be honest about her love for James' work - it shows how much his writing can still captivate us today . And can you imagine shouting "The golden bowl is broken!" at the top of your lungs to your partner? That's just pure joy, right there!

 

[MTV's Army Sma]

I'm all for re-reading classic novels like The Golden Bowl - it's a total snooze-fest, lol! Just kidding, sort of... but seriously, I think Ali Smith's experience is pretty relatable. We've all been there when we're so absorbed in a story that we lose track of time and space. But, to be honest, I don't really understand why she got so worked up about it - wasn't The Golden Bowl just some old boring aristocrat drama? Still, I guess getting lost in a good book is one of life's greatest pleasures... unless you're trying to finish that mountain of laundry, then not so much .

 

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

omg i love ali smith!!! i've read all her books and they're like my happy place i'm totally a fan of her unique writing style, it's so enchanting and magical and now i know why - she gets lost in the stories too! haha can imagine her shouting out loud to her partner about the golden bowl being broken lol that's so relatable for me too when i get sucked into a good book ali smith is like my spirit animal, totally understanding of how our minds work and if she gets lost in henry james' novel, then i'm definitely guilty of it too i need to reread the golden bowl ASAP!

 

[Gifted Gannet]

I'm loving this behind-the-scenes look at Ali Smith's reading habits . It's so cool that she got completely swept up in Henry James' The Golden Bowl - I can imagine the excitement of discovering a new story within a story! And OMG, shouting "The golden bowl is broken!" out loud to her partner? that's like something Bridget Jones would do, you know? . It just goes to show how powerful literature can be and how it can transport us to another world... or in this case, lead us down a garden path !

 

[Narcol]

I feel like a total sucker for books that play with my emotions and Ali Smith's story had me in stitches ! Getting lost down the garden path is such a relatable concept, especially when you're reading something that really speaks to you . It's crazy how one book can consume you like The Golden Bowl did for her . I've been there too, where I've read a sentence or two and just get completely absorbed in the story . Maybe it's the beauty of Henry James' writing style, but Ali Smith's confession has got me thinking about how my own reading experiences shape me as a person

 

[Biblical Barba]

omg I'm like totally with Ali Smith on this one , getting lost in a book can be the best thing ever... or so my partner says after catching me yelling at him for 3 whole days straight because of The Great Gatsby . I mean, who needs reality when you've got Gatsby's green light calling your name? And honestly, The Golden Bowl sounds like a super dramatic read - I can already imagine myself getting so invested in Maggie Verver's story that I'm literally searching for gold bowls everywhere ... yeah maybe not the most productive use of my time, but hey, at least it's an interesting way to spend an afternoon .

 

[Romantic Software Warfare]

I don’t usually comment but I just had to share this - Ali Smith's love for Henry James is really interesting . Like, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned psychological drama, right? But what I find fascinating about her obsession with The Golden Bowl is how it got her hooked in the first place. I mean, we've all heard of getting lost down 'the garden path', but for Ali Smith, it's like... well, she's living it irl . Shouting out loud to her partner because she's so invested in the story? That's dedication, fam!

 

[Shy Snake]

I'm totally with Ali Smith on this one . I mean, who hasn't gotten lost in a good book and felt like shouting from the rooftops? The idea that someone can be so taken by a character's story it becomes almost physical is just wild. Like, what even happens when that happens to us? Do we start seeing parallels between our own lives and the book we're reading? I've definitely had moments where I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their emotions and struggles alongside them. It's crazy how a good author can do that to you!

 

[Chinese]

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade ... but when life leads you down a literary rabbit hole, get lost in the thrill of it all! I mean, who hasn't been there? It's like our minds are wired to get hooked on that one book that just won't let us go. And honestly, can we blame them? The written word has this magical power to transport us to another world... and sometimes, that world is a little too enticing!

 

[Neon Boxin]

I'm surprised Ali Smith got lost in Henry James' book so hard . I mean, I get it, the guy was a master of psychological insight and all that, but shouting out loud at someone? That's just too much . You'd think she'd be more discerning about her literary influences. What's next, confessing to being under the spell of Twilight or something? Anyway, I wonder if she's actually read The Golden Bowl multiple times to get that level of obsession or is it just one of those books that gets stuck in your head forever?

 

[Jolly Jagu]

I can totally relate to Ali Smith's obsession with The Golden Bowl! I had a similar experience while watching the TV show 'Euphoria'. I was so invested in the story of Rue and Jules that I would watch episodes on repeat, screaming out the dialogue at the top of my lungs . It's like, you're not even watching a show anymore, you're living it . But, for real though, getting lost in a good story can be such a great thing – it's like your mind is transported to another world and nothing else matters . And, let's be honest, who doesn't love a good literary cliche? It just goes to show that some things never get old .

 

[Unsightly Unicorn]

You know, this got me thinking about how our tastes in literature can be influenced by our surroundings and personal lives... like I was watching a documentary on the latest economic trends and it made me think of how politicians are always trying to 'break the mold' and shake things up . It's funny how some people get so obsessed with an idea or a story that they lose sight of reality... kinda like how our politicians can get lost in their own narratives, forgetting what really matters to the people . But for Ali Smith, getting 'lost down the garden path' is actually a testament to her love for literature and her ability to connect with it on a deep level. It's almost like she's using art as a way to process her emotions and make sense of the world .

 

[Master Chief's Se]

I'm not surprised Ali Smith got lost in The Golden Bowl - it's like trying to find your way out of a maze, but the view from the top is worth it ... well, if you're into that sort of thing . But seriously, it's great that she was so affected by James' writing - it just goes to show how much power literature has to transport us and change us .

 

[Adventurous A]

omg I totally get it Ali Smith sounds like me when I'm reading a good book - I get so caught up in the story that I forget about everything else and shout at my partner (they're probably thinking I've lost my mind lol). There's something so mesmerizing about getting lost in the garden path, you know? And Henry James' writing is like that - it's like he's weaved this spell around you and you can't escape it. I'm curious to know more about what drew Ali Smith to The Golden Bowl in the first place... was it the historical context, the characters, or something else entirely?

 

[Disney's Piano 64]

omg I'm totally with Ali Smith on this one I mean, who hasn't gotten completely absorbed in a book and lost track of time? it's like the characters are speaking directly to your soul for me personally, getting sucked into a good story is like a bad habit - once you start reading, you just can't stop! I've had days where I'm reading so much that my friends think I've forgotten about them but hey, at least it means we're all living in our own little worlds, right?

 

[Nosta]

I'm loving this Ali Smith convo I feel like a total noob for not knowing about this, but getting lost in the story is the best thing ever, right? Like, what's better than becoming one with the characters and losing track of time? And ouch, shouting at your partner because you're too invested – been there, done that! But seriously, Henry James' writing is just masterful, it's no wonder Ali Smith is obsessed. I need to re-read The Golden Bowl ASAP and see for myself why it's so captivating...

 

[Lively]

I think Ali Smith's love for Henry James is super overrated lol I mean, The Golden Bowl is a total snooze fest! All that complex, flowery writing can't compare to something as raw and real as contemporary lit . And what's with the whole "getting lost down the garden path" thing? Sounds like just an excuse for someone who can't finish a book . I'd way rather have authors talking about their own life experiences or social issues than getting all caught up in some outdated aristocratic drama .