We’ve seen Harry Styles evolve into more than just a member of One Direction. Being a singer, Met Gala chairman, and actor, we know Harry has an eye for art. With the recent release of his single “As It Was”, we are reminded of how intertwined his art and soul are. While we (impatiently) wait for his new album Harry’s House, we have taken a look at another art form Harry seems to enjoy: books.
We don’t judge books by their covers, but we can learn a lot about people based on what they read and recommend. In a Rolling Stones interview, Harry admitted that he wasn’t into reading until he dated a bookish person. Since then, we have gotten more book sightings and interviews where he has shared his favorites. From his list, we have gathered five works that Harry has mentioned that incorporate music, self-help, and love.
5. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Back in 2019, Harry told Rolling Stone that he spent his 25th birthday reading this novel at a cafe in Tokyo. The book is split into three parts, all centered around a young man named Toru Okada. What begins as a search for his wife’s cat turns into an unthinkable journey where he questions everything he thought he knew. It features a strange array of characters in a story that’s steeped in magical realism, much like Harry’s “Adore You” music video.
4. Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield
In an i-D interview with Timothée Chalamet, Harry recommended this book along with Norwegian Wood, saying that it’s “really beautiful.” As a staff writer and critic at Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield’s memoir explores his relationship with his late wife and the mixtapes they created. They cover the smallest details of domestic life, to the moments of grief after her death. Seeing that music is so deeply embedded into Harry’s very existence, we can see why he would find it beautiful and worth reading.
3. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
In the same Rolling Stones article mentioned earlier, Harry goes on to gush about Murakami, saying that his friend gave him a copy of this novel. He says, “It was the first book, maybe ever, where all I wanted to do all day was read this…I sat and drank tea and read for five hours.” In this work, Toru and Naoko are brought together by the death of a friend. Through music and the bond they have with each other, they both figure out how to grieve and continue living. With a story as colorful and emotional as this, it’s no wonder Harry got through it so quickly!
2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Rumor has it that Harry was seen leaving a bookstore with several copies of this book along with Joan Didion’s The White Album. Many know Kondo from her Netflix series where she assists people in decluttering their homes. In her book, she explains her methods of determining what to keep, including the act of touching an object and considering whether it “sparks joy”. It seems Harry, and perhaps a few more of his friends, are tidying up their houses and minds.
1. My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
Although we haven’t seen Harry carrying a copy of this book, he is actually set to star in the book’s movie adaptation premiering in 2022! Harry plays a young Tom, a policeman, who gets into a relationship with a woman named Marion. All is pleasant between them until Tom falls for Patrick, a museum curator. With homosexuality being illegal, the three young adults attempt to juggle a relationship that could likely end in disaster for all of them. We can’t wait to see how Harry will portray Tom!
Bookish Harry is probably one of our favorite Harrys. Whether it be to better himself or just to pass the time, we can see that these reads hold much value to him. We can’t wait to hear his new album (and hopefully see him with more books soon!).
Want more celeb book recommendations? Click here to see our article on BTS’ SUGA’s list!