October is National Book Month, a time to celebrate the value of reading, writing, and literature. Books change lives, and that’s all thanks to the dedicated authors who put their time and effort into crafting affecting narratives. If you’ve ever dreamed of joining the ranks of your favorite writers and becoming an admired storyteller, now is the time to set your goals in action. In this week’s edition of Three to Read, we’re spotlighting books that will help you realize your literary ambitions through practical craft tips, motivating success stories, and invaluable insights into the writing process. Without further ado, let’s get into the recommendations!
HOT PICK
You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory by Ruta Sepetys
SYNOPSIS:
In You: The Story, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys lets readers in on the secrets to powerful storytelling. According to Sepetys, strong writing is derived from our life experiences. Thus, to be a proficient author, you must learn to look inward, unearth your most personal memories, and discover the insights you have to offer the world through your stories. By sharing amusing and sincere anecdotes about her own creative life, along with useful writing exercises and prompts, Sepetys gives aspiring writers everything they need to tell a story worth reading.
WHY:
Known for heartfelt and riveting historical fiction novels like Ashes in the Snow and Between Shades of Gray, decorated author Ruta Sepetys understands how to tell a compelling story. Her level of achievement might seem out of reach to many novice writers. However, in You: The Story, Sepetys assures readers they already have everything they need to be an acclaimed author: life experience. With constructive writing practices and heaps of encouragement, Sepetys’s nonfiction debut sets writers off on the path to literary success.
COFFEE SHOP READ
The Art of You: The Essential Guidebook for Reclaiming Your Creativity by James McCrae
SYNOPSIS:
In The Art of You, author, poet, and creativity coach James McCrae instructs readers on how to cultivate imagination. Each and every one of us possesses a unique creativity, whether we know it or not. To master the creative process, we simply need to unlock the magic within ourselves and watch our artistry flow. McCrae’s book helps writers do just that with his signature framework based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang. An essential guide to artistic expression, The Art of You empowers readers to reclaim their creative voice and inspire others to do the same.
WHY:
Wielding our sacred creativity is the true path to fulfillment and connection. That’s the message James McCrae imparts in The Art of You, a roadmap to independent thinking and artistic actualization. Regardless of whether you’re a poet, essayist, novelist, illustrator, or something else entirely, every storyteller can benefit from getting more in tune with their emotions, imagination, and purpose. If you’re ready to share your creative vision with the world, this book is for you.
DARK HORSE
The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by Adam Moss
SYNOPSIS:
In The Work of Art, former editor of New York magazine Adam Moss demystifies the hidden effort that goes into creating iconic works of art. All the greatest movies, novels, paintings, and songs were once a mere thought in an artist’s head. This book documents the process of developing an idea into a finished piece of art, detailing every second thought, crisis, and breakthrough along the way. Through interviews with accomplished creatives like Stephen Sondheim, Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola, Louise Glück, and so many others, Moss unveils the lifecycle of transcendent works of art.
WHY:
Adam Moss’s The Work of Art is a treasure trove of coffee shop napkins, packed notebook pages, and half-baked sketches — the earliest tools of an artist inspired. Deeply illuminating and endlessly captivating, this book is a work of art in itself. Moreover, it’s proof to those who doubt their creative capabilities that the road to brilliance isn’t as straight and smooth as some make it seem. For anyone who has ever wanted to peek behind the curtain of their favorite artist’s creative process, this book offers the insights you’re craving.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to join us next week for more curated recommendations.
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Browse these books and more reads handpicked by the Bookstr team on our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop!
