April reading list

Books about art, weaving, colour theory and the desire to become

I’ve been thinking a lot about the person I want to be; partly due to an ongoing existential crisis, partly due to having my third (and last) baby. Lately, I feel as though I went to sleep at 25 and woke up at 31 with three children and a completely reconfigured life. The perceived urgency comes from knowing that once my third starts school in a couple of years, I will have to start working or decide on a path for myself- one that hopefully includes some measure of personal fulfillment apart from financial gain.

Since the person I aspire to become is a variation (improved version?) of the person I already am; a mum, a weaver, a wife, a creative person, the books are:

Usually in the reading lists, I ask the books questions. However, this month, I think I have chosen titles that are so obvious in what I would like to learn from them that it seems silly to write it down. I will clarify the two novels and short story collection at the end, which perhaps could seem out of place in this list.

On Weaving by Anni Albers

The most experimental weaving in history was born in the Bauhaus school out of sexism. Though many weavers of the Bauhaus initially wanted to apply for other programs, they were sent into the women’s section. I feel torn about this because 1. I wonder what they would have done if they were allowed to pursue carpentry, glass work or whatever else they wanted to instead of being limited by gender roles but 2. If this hadn’t been the case, many of their works wouldn’t have existed and that would be very sad. Read more here.

Interactions of Colour by Josef Albers

Josef Albers, Anni Albers’ husband, wrote one of the most influential books on colour theory in history. I’m especially curious about something I read in the MoMA website regarding his theory and work:

Breakthroughs in Albers’s own artwork resulted from encounters with Mesoamerican art and architecture during numerous visits to Mexico, “a promised land of abstract art,” as Albers wrote to his Bauhaus friend Vassily Kandinsky.

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon

Every so often I will search for books about art and the creative process and Austin Kleon shows up in every single one so I’m going to read this book of his, which seems to be the most popular one.

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

This book is also recommended again and again (and I love the cover!).

The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector

From what I have read online, this novel is an experiment in authorial intrusion where Lispector questions the role of the writer and author’s voice within the text. I wonder how her voice and identity mingle with the characters’.

The Woman Who Borrowed Memories

Tove! How I love her! After reading her letters last month, I searched to see which of her books shared the most themes with them- the life of the artist, living on an island, pondering the meaning of love, friendship, art with her funny, curious voice- and this one popped up.

Forbidden Notebook by Alba de Céspedes

I had never heard of this book or author until I read Martha’s yearly roundup, where she wrote:

Are you a mother having an identity crisis? Wonder if women can ever truly outrun the gendered dynamic of the household. Have desires that you are too scared to even write down. Feel like your life is only in servitude to what you’ve been told to do. Believe in the spiritual power of journalling.

I’m intrigued!

What are you reading about this month? Can you think of any other books on becoming? The first one that comes to mind when I read that word is Michelle Obama’s, which honestly wasn’t a bad biography as far as these things go. I found her insights into gender roles within the home to be very realistic and normal given their unusual situation.

Happy April!