Wallflower at the Orgy - Nora Ephron

In her collection of essays, Nora Ephron explores a variety of subjects - including fascinating interviews and self-reflection. Not only is Ephron’s work in Wallflower at the Orgy informative and doused in wisdom, entertainment is pretty much guaranteed. My preferred work of hers is autobiographical. There is a rawness to it. Without fear of sounding strange or receiving judgment, her words have the capability to deliver great comfort and ease to its audience.

Too Late - Colleen Hoover

The work of Colleen Hoover almost always assures that I will conclude it in one sitting. Her writing is incredibly vivid and feels like watching a film. Experiencing every emotion possible, I could not put down her latest novel, Too Late. This story follows an undercover investigative operation to take down a harmful drug dealer - mixed with love and tragedy. Colleen Hoover is best known for the way she portrays heart-breaking and healing romance. However, I believe this thrilling type of love story is what Hoover excels in. Too Late incorporates a satisfactory balance of suspense and twists to catch your breath, along with utterly poetic romanticism.

The Act of Living - Frank Tallis

The Act of Living portrays psychological approaches to daily life amongst social conformities and anxieties. Exploring art forms and their applications to the modern world, Frank Tallis covers a spectrum of topics - including our role in humanity, narcissism and negative self-talk. In one of the chapters, he remarks the following: “You are not your thoughts.” This concept that thoughts are not the captain of the direction in which we steer in life, I found intriguing and comforting.

In The Margins - Elena Ferrante

When discussing love, many people own assumptions related to romance and companionship. Though, I find a deep love in something, not someone. Writing gives me purpose and I adore it. Therefore, I decided to read Elena Ferrante’s In the Margins as it unveils a human’s connection to the written word.

Ferrante discusses her troubles with writing and the doubts we encounter with ourselves as writers. At one moment, she tells the way the most vital parts of a story are told in the rawest forms. She writes, “Thus, the novel of love begins to satisfy me when it becomes the novel of being out of love.” Proceeding with, “Beautiful writing becomes beautiful when it loses its harmony and has the desperate power of the ugly.” When listening to an audiobook, sometimes a line will stop me in my tracks and I must listen to it again - and again. This is a time as such.

Self-Reliance - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In his essay, Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson unravels the map to finding personal power. What I enjoyed about this piece was the philosophical advice to run on independence as fuel - while incorporating human desires, such as a partner. Emerson eloquently describes the beginning of an individual’s journey to self-reliance in his statement, “Discontent is the want of self-reliance.”

Men Without Women - Haruki Murakami

Murakami. What a beautiful language this man possesses. Men Without Women being the first of his work I have had the privilege to read, I can say for certainty that it will not be the last. A short story collection that revolves around aspects of love, loneliness and sex. In his story, ‘An Independent Organ’, there were moments where I held my breath. Based only on the pure beauty and raw devastation of the words. The following is an extract from the story that caused a moment as such.

“Because to me she is someone special. A ‘complete presence,’ I guess you could call it. All of her qualities are tightly bound into one core. You can’t separate each individual quality to measure and analyze it, to say it’s better or worse than the same quality in someone else. It’s what’s in her core that attracts me so strongly. Like a powerful magnet. It’s beyond logic.”

Murakami. What a beautiful language.

Enough - Shauna M. Ahern 

This book states to be a collection of essays. However, I interpreted it far more as a memoir. I guess they are the same thing, for a life is a series of experiences leading to the next. In Enough, Shauna M. Ahern takes the reader on a journey through the traumas of her childhood, how they impacted her future and finding her freedom. Due to the destructive honesty revealed in her story-telling, I found this a dark and, at times, difficult listen. It felt like a necessary act for the author, as a way to heal. Towards the end of the book, there is more light portrayed in the lessons - which I found myself craving throughout. Nonetheless, it is hopeful.

A Field Guide to Getting Lost - Rebecca Solnit

The way that Rebecca Solnit combines anecdotes of physical loss, of direction or people, with the psychological emotion of feeling lost in A Field Guide to Getting Lost is fascinating. Combining an analysis of historical philosophies with personal recollections in a poetic rhythm of storytelling. I highlighted many of these stunningly written sentences, here is my favourite:

“God makes a covenant that “I will not measure you out any more distress than you need to write your books. Do you want any less than that?””

This Is Me Letting You Go - Heidi Priebe

Sometimes I read a book and I do not understand how I happened to have stumbled upon it myself without somebody else insisting that I read it. This is one of those books. This Is Me Letting You Go encapsulates essays that express romantic relationships - finding them, being amongst them and losing them. Only a few articles in, I was the one insisting that somebody else purchase this book. My sister. She has been experiencing loss and heartache and I wanted to embed each word of this book into her mind and soul. It is hopefully. Honest and raw. It does not paint the desirable and happy woman as emotionless and unromantic. But, guides the way that she can love wholly and incautiously - while navigating the way back to herself should she have lost it.

Imagine looking into a crystal ball representing the rest of your life, Heidi Priebe said. Now imagine that that crystal ball reveals you will never find “the one”. She asks, how would you live your life differently? Should you not live each day in the hopes of finding the person you believe to spend the rest of those days with since their arrival, you live for yourself. Wear what you want, go where you want. She puts, “The principle of two halves making a whole restrains us from becoming our own better half.” I treasure that.

Home - Whitney Hanson

Poetry is so incredibly personal. In a way that I do not believe one can truly review it. Though, this poetry collection did not connect with me as I hoped it would. There is a simplicity to Whitney Hanson’s work in Home that feels raw - almost in the most literal way. It portrays a childlike essence that I, unfortunately, did not enjoy.

How to Fake It in Hollywood - Ava Wilder

After a spell of disappointing books and films, I needed something easy and entertaining to turn things around and get me back on track. How to Fake It in Hollywood appeared to be the perfect candidate for the role. Despite wanting a light-hearted read within the romantic-comedy genre, I have realised that when art is not mentally stimulating to me, I just do not enjoy it. I have never been one to begin a book and not finish it. However, I am learning to accept my wants and occupy my time with what will allow me to feel fulfilled and satisfied. So, after reading a third of the book, I unfolded the corner of the page and set it down.

Sex and Cupcakes - Rachel Kramer-Bussel

Exploring a collection of essays produced by sex writer and cupcake blogger, Rachel Kramer-Brussel, Sex and Cupcakes covers all areas of an ever-still taboo topic. Discussing political issues, such as abortion laws, as well as expressing the emotional side of personal desire and sexual appetite. I must admit, I was tempted to skip the moments that featured passages from Rachel’s erotica fiction. Personally, it is not for me. However, the experiences and explanations that led her to write those stories were fascinating.

The Inseparables - Simone de Beauvoir

A stunning execution of a tragic story. Expressing themes of desire and intensity of friendship - as well as religion and the weight of sin. This novella was written by French author, Simone de Beauvoir, but was never published. I found The Inseparables devastatingly rich and beautiful.

Journal of a Solitude - May Sarton

In Journal of a Solitude, I understood the way a writer’s journal is the rawest form of their work. The longing we own to read the words of poets and writers that most do not intend to publish is not based on their technique and mastery of literature understanding. But, on the way that they view the world. This is what I find, anyway.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo-Reum

There are books that make you want to clutch your heart and exhale, “Ugh!” Simply due to the sheer soul of it. I read Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop with absolute adoration. Highlighting the conversation of career, and the significance of it to sustain a good life. Dialogue proved rather heavy in this novel, and I enjoyed that very much so. As, conversation is the way I desire to receive intimacy within human relationships. When a book explores philosophies through this, I accept a close connection.