This summer, we're presenting a selection of our artists' favorite books. From dark, to funny, to just plain strange, this summer reading list gives you a peek inside each artist's life, likes, and literary predilections.
ELEANOR GROSCHThe Road by Cormac McCarthy. "Disturbing, horrific, and somehow hauntingly beautiful." The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. "Really fun with a nice dark quality."
HENNIE HAWORTHCall the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. "Recently I've been enjoying reading a book called Call the Midwife. It's the true story of a midwife working in London's East End in the 1950's. Having just had a baby in East London, it had a particular interest for me, but it's a very popular book and was recently made into a TV show by the BBC (but the book's much better). It's really startling how much life and medicine has changed in such a short space of time."
BELLA PILAR20th Century Travel: 100 Years of Globe-Trotting Ads. "There is always a Taschen book on my list of favorites. And this is my latest fave. Travel through the history of travel ads. I am beyond inspired by the gorgeous colorful artwork filling these pages - the images, design, colors, its the total package. These colorful ads are filled with storytelling imagery that remind me how big the world is outside my little art studio. They will make you look at a train, plane, and automobile in a whole new light." 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. "Always one of my faves. Beautiful artwork to gaze over. And a fact filled blurb of info on each page. What a treat to look at the history of fashion presented this way. Each fashion illustration tells its own little story. It's fun to see the progression of style and trends (fashion and art) over 100 years all wrapped up in one little book."
RED NOSE STUDIO "Last fall, I picked up 2 kids' books that still resonate pretty strongly with me. If folks want to get in touch with their animal instincts they should give these a go." I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. "Beautifully brown and full of blank expressions, what's not to love about this story of a bear going gumshoe and tracking down his misplaced hat." In the Woods by Tana French. "And just in case folks want something to read for a couple weeks, I recommend In The Woods by Tana French. Sitting inside the head of an Irish detective as his wits deteriorate around him will make you appreciate the humor in the above two books even more."
GRAHAM ROUMIEUThe Bet by Arthur Bradford. "One of my favorites is just a short story from a McSweeny's but is probably the funniest thing I've ever read."