Ami asked Lily King:

Through a stroke of luck, I read Euphoria right before reading Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things. And when I describe the book to friends I say it's a mixture of that and Ann Patchett's State of Wonder. Did these titles--or any others--inspire you while you were writing or revising?

Lily King I had already written several drafts before State of Wonder, and it was in edits when The Signature of All Things came out. Of course my first reaction was fear that these authors, two of my favorites, would think I'd stolen from them! I was in shock that they both had chosen such tropical and scientific settings too! But then I was just so happy to read them and enjoy them, and feel relieved at how very different all three books are. I think my greatest pole star for this novel was Old Filth by Jane Gardam. She gave me the courage to tell the story from Bankson's point of view. I love that book and have read it at least 3 times and recommend it to anyone who will listen.

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