Reading books suggested by others is a good way to introduce new titles to any booklist. If one is a fan of the work of certain celebrities, one may also be a fan of the books that they read. At the very least, it doesn't hurt to add a celebrity book pick to one's reading list.
Book Picks by Famous Actresses
For actress Julia Roberts, The Wild Palms, by author William Faulkner, tops her book list. Roberts describes the novel as "a beautiful, tragic love story—a book that will just destroy you." The Wild Palms was published in its original state in 1939. Since then, a number of subsequent editions of the book have been circulated.
The Wild Palms combines two stories; one about forbidden love - entitled "Wild Palms", and one about a disastrous flood - entitled "Old Man". Both tales tell relational stories of a man and a woman, with chapters alternating between the two stories.
Actress Cate Blanchett's favorite book is Tender is the Night written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When given the book by her husband, Blanchett was told, "you cannot die without reading this." Two versions of the novel are currently in print. The first version, published in 1934, is written using flashback scenes. The second version, revised and released posthumously by Malcolm Cowley, is told chronologically.
Tender is the Night tells the story of a young psychologist and his wife, who is also his patient. While the story is deemed a work of fiction, the fact that Fitzgerald's own wife was committed to a hospital due to her battle with schizophrenia, is difficult to overlook when reading the novel.
Actors' Favorite Books
When asked to pick books that made a difference in his life, actor Ben Affleck chose Shah of Shahs by Ryszard Kapuscinski, among others. About the work of non-fiction, Affleck had this to say; "Although it was published almost 30 years ago, this book is enormously relevant today—and a spectacular read." Shah of Shahs was published in 1982.
This piece of historical non-fiction recalls the revolution in Iran that occurred in 1978 and the events that led up to it. Kapuscinski, tells of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rise to power as the last Shah (King) of Iran. Shah of Shahs is a non-fiction account of repression, murder, fanaticism, and revolution.
Actor, Don Cheadle, chose If He Hollers Let Him Go, by Chester Himes, as one of his favorite books. In the words of Cheadle, "[you'll] never read a book that could better make you understand what it feels like to be subjugated."
Published in 1945, If He Hollers Let Him Go, tells the story of a black man working in the naval yards of Los Angeles during World War II. The novel spans four days in the life of Bob Jones as he struggles through a life plagued with racism.
Celebrity Book Picks
Oprah Winfrey is a celebrity known for her taste in books and passion for reading. Books chosen in Oprah's Book Club and the subsequently bear the associated logo often hit the bestseller list with little effort. Oprah and a number of the celebrities she has on her show put together a list of 30 classic must-read titles.
References:
"Books That Made a Difference to Ben Affleck". O, The Oprah Magazine. 8 Aug 2008. Accessed 26 Aug 2010.
"Books That Made a Difference to Julia Roberts". O, The Oprah Magazine. 15 Feb 2001. Accessed 26 Aug 2010.
"Cate Blanchett's Bookshelf". O, The Oprah Magazine. 15 Nov 2003. Accessed 26 Aug 2010.
"Don Cheadle's Bookshelf". O, The Oprah Magazine. 1 Jan 2006. Accessed 27 Aug 2010.
Brandy Robertson - Brandy Robertson writes on a wide range of subjects including literature, religion, film and popular culture.
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