The Books & Music That Inspired Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel 

Guadalupe Nettel is the author of the exceptional novel Still Born – Dua’s Monthly Read for May for the Service95 Book Club. In stark prose that hits the heart, Guadalupe explores motherhood, autonomy and the quiet burdens of choice through the lives of two women navigating their different paths when it comes to having children. Here, Guadalupe shares the books that inspired her unforgettable novel, along with a playlist to accompany your reading...

The Books That Inspired Still Born

Sad Tiger by Neige Sinno

“A brilliant and highly relevant autobiographical essay on child abuse, its causes, dynamics, consequences, and the countless barriers that isolate victims. Neige Sinno is one of the most intelligent writers I know. In this book, she analyses that experience like no one else and makes us laugh, understand and respect it – even if we have never witnessed it before.”

Mend the Living by Maylis de Kerangal

“A deeply moving novel that dissects the emotions of the parents of a teenage boy on the brink of death, while also telling the hopeful story of a 50-year-old woman whose life may be saved by an organ transplant. The book takes us on a roller coaster of emotions without making us feel blackmailed or manipulated.”

I Remain in Darkness by Annie Ernaux

“A beautiful, delicate and intelligent memoir about the mother-daughter relationship, but also about caregiving (especially at the end of life), ageing and everyday acts of love.”

The Most Foreign Country by Alejandra Pizarnik

“A book of poems by perhaps the greatest Latin American poet of the 20th century. A book that talks about loneliness and a woman’s relationship with herself.”

King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes

“A sharp, iconic essay on punk feminism, Virginie harshly criticises, with irony and humour, many of the prejudices and dynamics that continue to bind women in the 21st century on a personal, romantic, professional, and social level in the most developed countries.”

Lives Other Than My Own by Emmanuel Carrère

“A brilliant, sensitive and intelligent non-fiction novel, the first part of which recounts the author’s experience in Sri Lanka during the days following the 2004 tsunami and how witnessing the tragedy of others up close transformed his life. The second part touches on the issue of cancer in young people and how this disease can give meaning to a life, a friendship and a family.”

In Love With the World by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

“A very beautiful memoir written by a Tibetan lama who decides to leave the comfort of his monastery, where he is well-cared for, to go begging and meditating in India, like the ancient ascetics or Buddha himself. Yongey recounts that he was on the verge of dying from intoxication, and how over a couple of days, that experience completely transformed his way of seeing the world. Ultimately, it’s a book that makes us love life.”

The Playlist To Soundtrack Your Reading Of Still Born

Want to immerse yourself in the sounds of Still Born? From Natalia Lafourcade and the Pixies to David Bowie, Guadalupe’s playlist has something for everyone...

Discover more in Dua’s video interview with Guadalupe here