Writers Read: Liz Alterman

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Liz Alterman

Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and two cats. She spends most days repeatedly microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.

Alterman's new novel is Claire Casey's Had Enough.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Her reply:

This past month I’ve been focusing on non-fiction. I was very fortunate to receive an advance reader copy of Rebecca Bloom’s insightful When Women Get Sick: An Empowering Approach for Getting the Support You Need, which is a fantastic resource for anyone navigating the complexities of our healthcare system. Filled with practical strategies, hard-won wisdom, and eye-opening anecdotes, this is a must-read for those with an illness and anyone who supports them.

I listened to Happy to Help by Amy Wilson. As someone who has a difficult time saying “no,” I found this relatable and empowering. A trained actor, Wilson does a wonderful job bringing “characters” to life in this essay collection which also explores the way women are frequently dismissed when seeking a proper diagnosis, underscoring the need for Bloom’s When Women Get Sick.

Whenever I’m between books, I return to Ann Patchett. This month, I listened to Truth & Beauty, which offers a heartbreaking and diary-like look at Patchett’s friendship with author and poet Lucy Grealy, who wrote the critically-acclaimed memoir Autobiography of a Face. Grealy undergoes countless surgeries to restore her jaw after losing part of it to cancer as a child. Without intending to, I've been immersed in stories that illuminate how truly flawed our healthcare system is. (Again, see Bloom's book.) As devastating as Truth & Beauty is, it also brims with love and a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how two writers approach their craft very differently.

I recommend all of these.