Lifestyle: Annie Fay Blog

Winter Reading

1/13/2019

As an artist and writer, I get inspired by reading. Reading is a simple form of escapism: with the flip of a page or the scan of a paragraph you can transport yourself to faraway cities or towering mountain ranges. I am a voracious reader and am always looking for new novels to add to my constantly expanding collection. Over the past couple of months I have read many books and wanted to share some of my favorites with you this week!!

If you’d like to see other books I have blogged about in the past you can view those posts here, here, and here.

Hippie by Paulo Coelho

“Hippie” is a slightly auto-biographical account of Coelho's life during the 1960s. The story follows Paulo as he travels from Amsterdam to Nepal on a magic bus. The story is mostly told from Paulo’s perspective, but the supporting characters provide a lot of depth. While the main focus of the novel is on getting from one destination to the next, the journey taught me a lot about love, introspection, and the importance of finding purpose.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

This book was a lot more intense than I had anticipated after reading the summary. “An Absolutely Remarkable Thing” was a fast-paced, action-filled novel that touched on a lot of hard hitting truths our world currently faces. When 64 unusual sculptures pop up in every major city on Earth, the protagonist (April May) becomes famous overnight for filming a YouTube video. What happens from then on is insane.

Fashion Forecasts by Yumi Sakugawa

Fashion Forecasts was a concept, turned into a zine, turned into a book. In Sakugawa’s signature illustration style she predicts outlandish fashion trends.

Keep it Real by Lee Gutkind

I read this book for one of my classes at The New School and it is essentially a guidebook for researching and writing Creative Nonfiction. Each chapter is very succinct and it’s useful for gaining fast information on everything from acknowledgement of sources to writers’ responsibilities to their subjects.

After The End Of Art by Arthur C. Danto

I also read this book for school and found it incredibly interesting. Danto argues that art ended in the 1960s when Andy Warhol created the Brillo Box. His argument is built around the idea that once art could be anything, and anyone could be an artist, “art” had come to a philosophical end. In the beginning of the course, the majority of students disagreed with Danto, but weeks later it became easy to understand and respect his point of view.

A Sloth’s Guide To Mindfulness by Ton Mak

This illustrated meditation guide is so aesthetically pleasing that just flipping through it is relaxing!! This book is a great reminder to breathe, admire the world, and slow down.

The Pleasure Of My Company by Steve Martin

Steve Martin has a quirky and exuberant voice. This story is full of unique idiosyncrasies and the characters are well developed and feel real. I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

Pocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom by Hardie Grant

I love this mini book of wisdom full of quotes from Frida Kahlo. I keep this on my desk in my studio.

Fashion Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner

This picture book goes through the alphabet using the names of various famous designers and influential people from the industry. From Anna Wintour to Zuhair Murad, the minimalist graphics in this book are great.

The Little Book of Life Hacks by Yumi Sakugawa

Yumi Sakugawa is one of my favorite illustrators. I’ve talked about some of her other work previously on my blog. My favorite book of hers is “Your Illustrated Guide To Becoming One With The Universe” which is all about self-discovery, meditation, and connecting with the world. In Sakugawa’s “The Little Book of Life Hacks” she offers advice on everything from DIY hair treatments to body language signals. All of these hacks are beautifully illustrated.

Make sure to comment down below any great books you’ve read recently!!

Happy reading babes.

© Annie Fay Meitchik. All Rights Reserved. All content on anniefay.com is my own or credit is given when applicable, please do not use any of my images before contacting me above or @ anniefaymeitchik@gmail.com.

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Spring Reading 2

5/13/2018

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As an artist and writer, I find lots of inspiration through reading. Reading is a simple form of escapism: with the flip of a page or the scan of a paragraph you can transport yourself to faraway cities or towering mountain ranges. I am a voracious reader and am always looking for new novels to add to my constantly expanding collection. Over the past couple of months I have read about 30 books and wanted to share some of my favorites with you this week!!

If you’d like to see other books I have blogged about in the past you can view those posts here and here.

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

Yumi Sakugawa is one of my favorite authors. She takes intrinsic meditation concepts and makes them simple, accessible, and beautiful by juxtaposing concise prose and breathtaking illustrations. “There Is No Right Way to Meditate” is a book everyone should have in their household to refer to on good days, and not-so-good days, to find inner peace and an opportunity to breathe ((even if you only have time to read a few pages)). I also highly recommend her other book, “Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe.”

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Ruiz utilizes Toltec Wisdom to empower the reader to live their best life. This books beauty comes from its simplicity. The four agreements ((1. Be impeccable with your word, 2. Don’t take anything personally, 3. Don’t make assumptions, and 4. Always do your best)) are incredibly straightforward and almost innate ideologies. Don Miguel Ruiz provides anecdotes and examples that allow the reader to truly accept and own these agreements. I highly recommend this book and think it is a truly transformative read.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The concept for this book is incredibly charming: an elderly man in France has a bookshop on a boat. Yet, it isn’t just any bookshop. He aims to prescribe books, like medicine, but to treat feelings; intangible feelings like birthday morning blues or nostalgia for childhood. This is a love story, an adventure, and a book that depicts the power of storytelling.

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I adore Fitzgerald’s use of language. I honestly never even care what story I am reading of his because I am more concerned with his diction and ability to turn words into such vivid images. This story is as beautiful as it is complicated and sad. I highlighted so much of my copy because I just love his use of words so much.

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

I absolutely LOVE reading anything that has to do with rock and roll subculture in the 1960s and 70s so I could not wait to read “Sticky Fingers” by Joe Hagan, the first biography on Jann Wenner, the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine. This book is dense. It is full of facts and incredibly cool information on people like Annie Leibovitz, Andy Warhol, and Mick Jagger. I’d equate it to reading a history book on Rolling Stone...and if you’re into that sort of thing than this book is phenomenal.

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This quick read goes nicely with the blog post I wrote this week on releasing yourself from a creative funk. Kurtz offers simple advice on how to engage your creative side, how to manage projects, and how to manage yourself when you’re feeling inspired, uninspired, or aren’t quite sure where to start during the in-between times.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Again-LOVE Fitzgerald. This book is beautiful and the jaded protagonist reaches a point of disillusionment through his boarding school experience, time at Princeton, and the tumultuous romances which follow. Fitzgerald’s writing is impeccable and so heavily intertwined with his personal life. Highly recommend reading this story and all of his other work.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

“The Mysterious Benedict Society” was by far my favorite series as a child, so I was delighted to discover that Trenton Lee Stewart had a new novel out when I was searching for books to read for my Children’s Literature courses at UCSD. As 10 year-old-me would have wanted, I had very high expectations for this story - and I was not let down in the slightest. Even as a young adult, I still am blown away by Stewart’s ability to write novels that keep you turning the pages even after 1 in the morning. The story is full of twists, turns, and adventures. The protagonist, Reuben, is incredibly 3-dimensional and feels just as real as the characters I loved as a child. The story revolves around Reuben who discovers a mysterious watch...and honestly you’ll just have to read this book to see where the story goes from there.

Make sure to comment down below any great books you’ve read recently!!

Happy reading babes.

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Summer Reading

7/9/2017

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Reading is a simple form of escapism: with the flip of a page or the scan of a paragraph you can transport yourself to faraway cities or towering mountain ranges. I’ve been traveling through time and space, reading this past week all about San Francisco in the 50s, Buddhism, existentialism, and more - if you’re looking for a new book to enjoy keep on reading this post!!

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

“The Dharma Bums” is a fantastic novel about love, life, adventure, and spirituality through the perspective of a bhikkhu in San Francisco. Through intense hiking excursions, introspection, and friendship; the main characters learn about themselves and the world around them. Kerouac is known for his whimsical and detailed descriptions of nature, which is what drew me to this book.

The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac

Again, Kerouac's descriptive way of writing had me hooked!! This novel centers around the breakup of main characters, Leo and Mardou, but more than that the stories narrative is used to delve into bigger topics: racial divides, economics, and 1950s Americana subculture in San Francisco.

On Booze by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“On Booze” is essentially a timeline of anecdotes experienced by Fitzgerald primarily in the 1920s. It’s a super quick read and if you enjoy some of his other work ((my personal favorite is The Diamond As Big As The Ritz)) you should check this out!!

Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

I am currently reading “Naked Lunch” by William S. Burroughs and enjoy the structure of books where you can jump around and read them in no particular order.

If you’re currently reading an AMAZING book make sure to comment down below so I can check it out!!

Happy reading.

Love,

A

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<<Previous

Winter Reading

Hippie by Paulo Coelho

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Fashion Forecasts by Yumi Sakugawa

Keep it Real by Lee Gutkind

After The End Of Art by Arthur C. Danto

A Sloth’s Guide To Mindfulness by Ton Mak

The Pleasure Of My Company by Steve Martin

Pocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom by Hardie Grant

Fashion Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner

The Little Book of Life Hacks by Yumi Sakugawa

Spring Reading 2

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

Summer Reading

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac

On Booze by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

Archives

Categories

Winter Reading

Hippie by Paulo Coelho

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Fashion Forecasts by Yumi Sakugawa

Keep it Real by Lee Gutkind

After The End Of Art by Arthur C. Danto

A Sloth’s Guide To Mindfulness by Ton Mak

The Pleasure Of My Company by Steve Martin

Pocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom by Hardie Grant

Fashion Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner

The Little Book of Life Hacks by Yumi Sakugawa

Spring Reading 2

​There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

Tender Is The Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sticky Fingers by Joe Hagan

Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

Summer Reading

The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac

On Booze by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs

Archives

Categories

There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa