A little peak into my book shelf. These are my tried and tested recommendations for artists/ art enthusiasts to read as you make your way through another month. These are books that spark joy, reignite your artistic spirit and sometimes just make you laugh and give you a much needed break. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
ART MATTERS by Neil Gaiman
There's not much that can be said about this book other than, an absolute visual treat! Neil Gaiman's take on the birth of an idea and the uncertainty of the artistic journey, along with Chris Riddell's distinctive illustrations, make this book an absolute must have for every artists's library. If you've ever hesitated creating in the face of failure, or even worse, in the anticipation of it- this book is an absolute must have! I have read it countless times, and every time I'm just as much in love. And if you didn't know this already, your ideas matter, your stories matter and your art matters!
HARUKI MURAKAMI (Author)
There's nothing I can tell you about Murakami that hasn't already been discussed a million times. Yes, he is ranked as one of the best authors to ever exist and if you've never read his work, an art block is the perfect time to start. Because more than just the experience of reading him, what I enjoy is the aftershock of imagery in your mind post reading. His use of magical realism will leave you captivated with his words long after you turn the last page. And for me that is a true mark of a good book; when you're still thinking about it weeks after. For first timers, a good place to start would be his widely acclaimed novel "Norwegian Wood." But if you are enjoying my attached illustration and 'fish raining from the sky' is the kind of thing that floats your boat, "Kafka on the shore" will also be a good start.
THE BOOK OF MOODS by Lauren Martin
I won't even call this one a self-hep book. It's more of a self-exploration book. It isn't so much about advice giving as for understanding one's own emotions, triggers and episodes of deep sadness, anger, stress, frustration, or what the author simply calls - her "moods". These are the adult-acne-traffic-delays-bad-angle-in-a-photo induced moods; triggers that take over you without your knowledge and have a hold on your emotions for much longer than you'd like. "A sharp corner that would keep cutting me until I learned my way around it". This book is relatable for every woman, witty, fast paced and insightful. I promise you will dog-ear the hell out of this one!
Peluda (By Melissa Lozada-Oliva)
In this insightful, witty and brilliantly crafted anthology, the poet ties femininity, beauty, community, self-love, family, identity, class and cultural expression together with the thread of 'peluda' which literally translates to "the hairy monster". This has quickly become one of my favourite reads, not just because I can relate my hairy-self to the author but because I relate to the honesty of the words and their need to be read, understood and accepted. A wonderful creation of language that I would recommend for all, but especially for women of colour.
Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (By Pablo Neruda)
From the collections of a poet who is considered to be one of the greatest to have ever lived, comes this beautiful serenade. There's nothing I could say about his writing that would do complete justice to the experience of reading it. You will find yourself wanting to stay with his words and let them soak you in love, desire and even despair. While all the twenty poems (and the song) are delicately woven, my favourite has always been 'So That You Will Hear Me'. I promise this book will be on your nightstand for longer than you expect.
WHO'S WRITING THIS? (Book of Essays Edited By Daniel Halpern)
Is your art the most authentic, fundamental, shameless parts of you or is it simply your imagination let loose- fiction breeding more fiction? If your stories are little parts of you, then are you just a sum of all your stories? Is the artist an image you've conjured up for yourself or is it who you've always been underneath the layers of everything you had to become for the world? I don't have the answer to theses and even if I did, my answers would be very different to yours. In this book of essays, fifty-five renowned writers come together to give their answers. What ensues is brilliant, inspiring, thought-provoking and humorous- the way existential crisis often is- funny with the subtext of dread. A must-read for those who enjoy musings of others and very often muse themselves.
99 WAYS TO TELL A STORY : EXERCISES IN STYLE (By Matt Madden)
Get ready to have your mind absolutely blown by this one-of-a-kind gem. Inspired by Raymond Queneau's "Exercises in Style," where he writes the same short tale in 99 wildly different ways, artist Matt Madden brings the challenge to the comic strip universe. He creates a very simple one-page comic in 99 different styles. This book is a must-have for visual storytellers eager to explore every nook and cranny of narrative creativity. And hey, even if you're just a comic enthusiast looking for something you've probably never experienced before, this masterpiece is calling your name! I've devoured this book countless times, and each read pulls me deeper into the art of storytelling, reminding me there's so much more left to learn.
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER FOR NEW RECOMMENDATIONS EVERY MONTH!
Comments