Books Recommended by Olivia Rodrigo
Here are seven books American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has read that should be added to your reading list.
GUTS has been on repeat since the day it was released. That's right. Singer-songwriter, Olivia Rodrigo, has done it again. With her debut album, SOUR, skyrocketing off the charts, everyone was wondering if she could pull out another album under her hat that could be on par with the sister album.
GUTS, Rodrigo's sophomore album, is doing extraordinarily on the charts, earning the top spot on US iTunes on its release day. GUTS also earned 60.9 million streams on Spotify, the 10th biggest first-day album debut by female artists. Critics from the Guardian, Vogue, Pitchfork and the Financial Times have also commended the album, giving it high praise.
Not only is her singing amazing, but I am in awe of her songwriting. The lyrics she writes appear simple but they are words captured straight from the heart. She translates emotions into words so perfectly.
With that in mind, I wanted to see what were some things that the 20-year-old loved to read or had recommended before. Here are the seven books Olivia Rodrigo has recommended.
1. Helium by Rudy Francisco
In an interview with Teen Vogue on what Rodrigo did during the social distancing in 2020, Rodrigo says:
I try to read every night before I go to bed. Right now I'm reading this book of poetry by Rudy Francisco called "Helium".
Helium is the debut poetry collection by internet star, Rudy Francisco. Helium is filled with work that is simultaneously personal and political, blending love poems, self-reflection, and biting cultural critique on class, race and gender into an unforgettable whole. Ultimately, Francisco's work rises above the chaos to offer a fresh and positive perspective of shared humanity and beauty.
2. The Marvels by Brian Selznick
Back in 2017, Rodrigo posted a selfie on Twitter featuring the fictional novel written by Brian Selznick.
Set in 1766, Billy Marvel has survived a ship wreck. After the tragic accident, he finds work in London in a theatre where his family flourishes for generations, until young actor, Leontes Marvel, is banished from stage.
Almost 10 years later, Joseph Jervis finds refuge with his uncle in London. Albert Nightingale's strange, beautiful house captivates Joseph and leads him on a search for clues about the house, his family and the past.
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
Christopher John Francis Boone, a boy with autism, knows all the countries of the world and their capitals. He knows every prime number up to 7,057. He hates the colour yellow and won't eat his food if different parts of it are touching each other.
One night, his neighbour's dog is found dead in the garden.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time follows this young boy as he goes on an adventure to find out what happened to his neighbour's dog and on this journey, he discovers unexpected truths both about himself and the world.
4. The Flame by Leonard Cohen
In an Instagram photo dump posted by Rodrigo, a page of this book is featured on the cover, with her favourite line seemingly underlined in bright pink pen.
She also recommends it in an interview with Vogue, saying: "It's so incredible, and I'm in love with Leonard Cohen. He's amazing".
The Flame is the final work from Leonard Cohen. It features poems, excerpts from his private notebooks, lyrics and hand-drawn self-portraits. The Flame offers an unprecedentedly intimate look inside the life and mind of a singular artist.
A reckoning with a life lived deeply and passionately, with wit and panache, The Flame is a valedictory work.
5. Just Kids by Patti Smith
In another infamous Instagram dump, Rodrigo is eating a croissant while reading Just Kids by Patti Smith.
Patti Smith offers a never-before-seen glimpse of her remarkable relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe from the 1960s to 70s in the days of New York City and the Chelsea Hotel.
A true fable, Just Kids is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a prelude to fame.
An honest and moving story of youth and friendship, Smith brings the same unique, lyrical quality to Just Kids as she has to the rest of her formidable body of work—from her influential 1975 album Horses to her visual art and poetry.
6. Auguries of Innocence by Patti Smith
In the same interview with Vogue, Rodrigo gushes about how much she loves Patti Smith and how eager she was when she had a surprise visit from the author.
Auguries of Innocence is the first book of poetry from Patti Smith in more than a decade. It marks a major accomplishment from a poet and performer who has inscribed her vision of our world in powerful anthems, ballads and lyrics.
In this intimate and searing collection of poems, Smith joins in that great tradition of troubadours, journeymen, wordsmiths and artists who respond to the world around them in fresh and original language. Her influences are eclectic and striking: Blake, Rimbaud, Picasso, Arbus, and Johnny Appleseed. Smith is an American original; her poems are oracles for our times.
7. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Rodrigo is unabashedly a huge fan of Twilight. She's posted multiple photos of her love for the characters, and you can see the first novel on her bookshelf in the interview with Vogue!
Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn.
Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger.
Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.
I have not read any of these books, but am eager to get my hands on them. Based on the synopses alone, they all sound really intriguing.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
And I'd also love to know what's your favourite song from GUTS. I currently have making the bed and get him back! on repeat.
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