Writers recommend books for Obama

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- "Pride and Prejudice" and "Animal Farm" were among the books recommended for President Barack Obama's reading list by writers at a Washington gala.

Politico asked five writers at the Pen/Faulkner Award for Fiction gala at the Folger Shakespeare Library to recommend books for Obama to read, and Jane Hamilton, author of "The Book of Ruth," recommended Jane Austin's "Price and Prejudice."

"I think about him not having time to read too many novels and I feel for him. It's a way to rejuvenate," Hamilton said.

Audrey Niffenegger, author of "The Time Traveler's Wife," suggested Obama could benefit from reading "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, but she conceded that "he has probably read it already. He's smart."

ZZ Packer, who wrote "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere," suggested the president read "The Known World" by Edward P. Jones and "A Mercy" by Toni Morrison while daughters Sasha and Malia Obama read "Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh and "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor.

Manuel Munoz, author of "The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue," suggested "Their Dogs Came with Them" by Helena Maria Viramontes.

"Because I'm from Arizona and I would love to see something more positive and forthcoming on (immigration bill) SB1070," Munoz said.

Maxine Hong Kingston recommended her own "The Fifth Book of Peace."

"The president should read 'The Fifth Book of Peace,' about pacifist soldiers. I talk about myself going to jail in D.C. against the war in Iraq," Kingston said.