Books
How The Interestings Changed Sara Bareilles’ Creative Path
A concise look at how Meg Wolitzer’s novel became a creative and emotional catalyst for the singer-songwriter
Direct Answer
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer provided Sara Bareilles with both an emotional framework and a creative prompt: the novel helped her process a period of loss and directly inspired her to adapt the book as a stage musical.
Why the book mattered to Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles says that when she first encountered Meg Wolitzer’s novel The Interestings, it opened a creative doorway she hadn’t expected. The story’s exploration of friendship, talent, memory and mortality resonated with her during a tough five-year stretch marked by the deaths of close friends. That mix of grief and tenderness became a lens through which she approached new work.
How the novel shifted her artistic approach
Reading Wolitzer’s characters and the novel’s emotional architecture encouraged Bareilles to try modes of storytelling she’d not used since Waitress. The book supplied a narrative and tonal blueprint she could translate into theatrical music and dramatic scenes, helping her move from standalone songs to an extended musical arc.
Creative and personal effects in plain terms
- Emotional processing: The Interestings acted as a tool to reckon with loss and to examine how joy and sorrow coexist.
- Artistic direction: The novel prompted her to pursue a stage adaptation and opened new stylistic possibilities for her songwriting.
- Perspective on identity: Themes of nostalgia, talent and ordinary greatness helped her reflect on personal growth and public life.
Notable quote
“Great love and great loss are just braided together.” — Sara Bareilles
Context and sources
Bareilles discussed this influence in a guest conversation on the Books That Changed My Life YouTube channel. The idea of literature acting as a turning point in an artist’s life is also explored in pieces like the Gavin Rossdale / Moon Palace feature and a similar Susan Lucci conversation on grief and renewal.
How this translated into new work
Practically, Wolitzer’s novel gave Bareilles a narrative spine to adapt into a stage musical. She approached the material with an eye to expressing complex inner lives through songs and scenes, and that adaptation process dovetailed with her own period of emotional reckoning.
Frequently asked questions
What book did Sara Bareilles discuss?
Sara Bareilles spoke about Meg Wolitzer’s novel The Interestings.
Did the book change her career direction?
Yes. The novel motivated her to develop a stage musical adaptation and influenced the emotional tone of her subsequent songwriting.
What is the name of her album linked to these themes?
The album that explores loss and change is titled Good Grief.
Where to watch or read more
- Full interview appearance: Books That Changed My Life (YouTube)
- Author and composer sites: Sara Bareilles official site
- Read the novel: The Interestings (purchase link)
Conclusion
Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings functioned as both a creative prompt and an emotional companion for Sara Bareilles. It helped her translate personal grief into theatrical storytelling and steered her back toward musical theatre composition.
About the guest
Sara Bareilles is a singer, songwriter, actress and Broadway composer. Known for her pop hits and her Tony-nominated work on Waitress, she has continued to write, record and pursue theatre projects.
Related reading on futuretechtrends.co.uk: Unapologetically Rock: Margaret Cho on I’m With the Band; Beautifully Healed: Susan Lucci’s Find Your Glow Comeback.
