Books about Creative Expression

  1. Wall and Piece

    by Banksy
    An introduction to the subversive street art of Banksy, with visual commentary on modern life.

    Banksy, Britain's now-legendary "guerilla" street artist, has painted the walls, streets, and bridges of towns and cities throughout the world. Not only did he smuggle his pieces into four of New ... (Goodreads)

  2. An Unnecessary Woman

    by Rabih Alameddine
    An aging woman's reflections on life, love, and literature.

    One of Beirut’s most celebrated voices, Rabih Alameddine follows his international bestseller, The Hakawati , with a heartrending novel that celebrates the singular life of an obsessive introvert, ... (Goodreads)

  3. Girl in a Band

    by Kim Gordon
    A memoir of a female rock musician's struggles to find her identity in the music scene.

    NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER Kim Gordon, founding member of Sonic Youth, fashion icon, and role model for a generation of women, now tells her story—a memoir of life as an artist, of music, marriage, ... (Goodreads)

  4. The Golden Mean

    by Nick Bantock
    A tale of a young artist's journey to find balance and harmony in his life, through the guidance of an enigmatic mentor.

    I received your Paris card. I waited but you did not return the 23rd. I waited until the 31st, but you did not return. What happened? Where are you? ,—Sabine Sabine's Notebook ended with a disturbing ... (Goodreads)

  5. I'll Give You the Sun

    by Jandy Nelson
    Two teens navigate struggles of family, love, art, and identity as they come of age.

    Noah and Jude Sweetwine are twins. As they enter their teen years, they grow apart. This is partly due to their sibling rivalry, as they compete for the attention of their mother, Dianna; and partly ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Pale Fire

    by Vladimir Nabokov
    A darkly comic and philosophical exploration of art, sanity, and the nature of reality.

    Shade's poem digressively describes many aspects of his life. Canto 1 includes his early encounters with death and glimpses of what he takes to be the supernatural. Canto 2 is about his family and ... (Wikipedia)

  7. Put Me in the Zoo

    by Robert Lopshire
    A playful story about a zebra who wants to be placed in the zoo.

    Spot, a polka-dot leopard who can change colors and even juggle his own spots, tries to convince two children that he is special enough to be exhibited in the zoo. ... (Goodreads)

  8. Born in Fire

    by Nora Roberts
    A romance between a fiery blacksmith and a reclusive artist that sparks a passion they never expected.

    Three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland... The eldest Concannon sister, Maggie, is a reclusive, stubborn and free-spirited glassmaker—with a heart worth winning. Margaret Mary is ... (Goodreads)

  9. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage

    by Ann Patchett
    An exploration of love, relationships, and a life well-lived.

    Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments — to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband — creating a ... (Goodreads)

  10. A Room of One's Own

    by Virginia Woolf
    Examining gender roles and societal expectations with an eye to achieving independence and creative freedom.

    A Room of One's Own is an extended essay by Virginia Woolf. First published on the 24th of October, 1929, the essay was based on a series of lectures she delivered at Newnham College and Girton ... (Goodreads)

  11. The Paris Wife

    by Paula McLain
    A woman's journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of a passionate and tumultuous relationship.

    The Paris Wife focuses on the romance, marriage and divorce of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson, who met when Hemingway was 20 years old, and Richardson 28. They marry and move ... (Wikipedia)

  12. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

    by Douglas Adams
    Quirky sci-fi adventure following a group of time travelers seeking to save the future.

    Arthur Dent , Ford Prefect , Trillian , and Zaphod Beeblebrox leave the planet Magrathea on the Heart of Gold . A Vogon ship attacks them, and Arthur's attempt to have the ship's computer make him a ... (Wikipedia)

  13. A Hat Full of Sky

    by Terry Pratchett
    A young witch must use her newfound magical powers to survive the trials of her witch apprenticeship.

    A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett is a fantasy novel about a girl who is learning her place as a witch. Early in the novel, Tiffany Aching leaves her home in the chalk country (based on England's ... (Wikipedia)

  14. Love That Dog

    by Sharon Creech
    A young boy's reluctant journey to discover his love of poetry, and his own writing talent.

    "I guess it does look like a poem when you see it typed up like that." Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, ... (Goodreads)

  15. The Secret History of Wonder Woman

    by Jill Lepore
    The story of the origins and evolution of Wonder Woman and her creator, William Moulton Marston.

    A cultural history of Wonder Woman traces the character's creation and enduring popularity, drawing on interviews and archival research to reveal the pivotal role of feminism in shaping her ... (Goodreads)

  16. Eliza and Her Monsters

    by Francesca Zappia
    A reclusive teenage girl's journey of self-discovery, as she navigates her secret online fandom.

    “A love letter to fandom, friendship, and the stories that shape us, Eliza and Her Monsters is absolutely magical.”—Marieke Nijkamp, New York Times– bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends This ... (Barnes & Noble)

  17. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype

    by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
    An exploration of the Wild Woman archetype and the ways she has been repressed throughout history.

    Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Last Painting of Sara de Vos

    by Dominic Smith
    A centuries-old mystery unfolds, as a woman's painting is tracked through its various owners.

    This is what we long for: the profound pleasure of being swept into vivid new worlds, worlds peopled by characters so intriguing and real that we can't shake them, even long after the reading's done. ... (Goodreads)

  19. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

    by Austin Kleon
    Practical guide to building an audience and recognizing success in creative endeavors.

    In his, New York Times, bestseller, Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more ... (Barnes & Noble)

  20. I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend

    by Martin Short
    Autobiographical account of comedic actor Martin Short's journey through show business.

    In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz-obsessed kid from Canada transformed himself into one of Hollywood's favorite funnymen, known to his ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life

    by Shakti Gawain
    Learn to manifest your dreams and desires through creative visualizations.

    As introduced by Shakti Gawain to more than seven million readers worldwide, creative visualization is the art of using mental imagery and affirmation to produce positive changes in your life. ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Bluebeard

    by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    A woman's exploration of her husband's dark past, uncovering secrets and shocking truths.

    At the opening of the book, the narrator, Rabo Karabekian , apologizes to the arriving guests: "I promised you an autobiography, but something went wrong in the kitchen..." He describes himself as a ... (Wikipedia)

  23. The Disconnected

    by Oğuz Atay
    Explorations of the inner self and the everyday life of a group of university students.

    Türk edebiyatının en önemli eserlerinden biri olan Tutunamayanlar'ı Berna Moran, "hem söyledikleri hem de söyleyiş biçimiyle bir başkaldırı" olarak niteler. Moran'a göre "Oğuz Atay'ın mizah gücü, ... (Goodreads)

  24. Illuminations

    by Arthur Rimbaud
    Collection of prose and poetry exploring the depths of the human experience.

    The prose poems of the great French Symbolist, Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891), have acquired enormous prestige among readers everywhere and have been a revolutionary influence on poetry in the twentieth ... (Goodreads)

  25. Drama

    by Raina Telgemeier
    A young girl discovers her passion for theatre while navigating her own personal journey.

    PLACES, EVERYONE! Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon Over Mississippi , she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Friday Night Knitting Club

    by Kate Jacobs
    A group of women come together to support one another and find strength in friendship.

    Once a week, an eclectic group of women comes together at a New York City yarn shop to work on their latest projects - and share the stories of their lives... At the center of Walker and Daughter is ... (Goodreads)

  27. Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk

    by Legs McNeil
    An exploration of the punk rock movement through interviews with its pioneers and participants.

    A, Time Out, and, Daily News, Top Ten Book of the Year upon its initial release,, Please Kill Me, is the first oral history of the most nihilist of all pop movements. Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Agony and the Ecstasy

    by Irving Stone
    An epic tale of Michelangelo's life and art, the struggles and triumphs of his creative genius.

    Celebrating the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo’s David, New American Library releases a special edition of Irving Stone’s classic biographical novel—in which both the artist and the man are ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Wasteland, Prufrock and Other Poems

    by T.S. Eliot
    A poetic exploration of loneliness and despair in the modern world.

    This volume brings together three of T. S. Eliot's powerful collections into one. It includes such classic poems as "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," "Portrait of a Lady," "Preludes," ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Apocalypse Suite

    by Gerard Way
    A dark, mysterious exploration of a post-apocalyptic world, told through comics and music.

    The first issue, "The Day the Eiffel Tower Went Berserk", was released on September 19, 2007. The inside front cover features notes made by Sir Reginald Hargreeves on his seven adopted children, ... (Wikipedia)

  31. Dirty Red

    by Tarryn Fisher
    A manipulative woman named Leah Smithson tries to win back her ex-husband Caleb, who is now married to her former best friend.

    Dear Opportunist, You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you ... (Goodreads)

  32. The Promise

    by Gene Luen Yang
    Aang, the last Airbender, awakens from a hundred-year sleep to find the world at war. He must master all four elements to save the world.

    The Avatar's adventures continue right where the TV series left off, in this beautiful, oversized hardcover of The Promise, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko! Aang ... (Goodreads)

  33. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World

    by Gary Vaynerchuk
    A guide to creating effective social media content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement.

    New York Times bestselling author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk shares hard-won advice on how to connect with customers and beat the competition. A mash-up of the best elements of Crush It! ... (Barnes & Noble)

  34. Challenger Deep

    by Neal Shusterman
    A young man's struggle with mental illness, as he navigates a surrealistic landscape.

    National Book Award * Golden Kite Award Winner * Six Starred Reviews A captivating novel about mental illness that lingers long beyond the last page,, Challenger Deep, is a heartfelt tour de force ... (Barnes & Noble)

  35. The Medium is the Massage

    by Marshall McLuhan
    Examining how media shapes and influences society.

    The Medium is the Massage is Marshall McLuhan's most condensed, and perhaps most effective, presentation of his ideas. Using a layout style that was later copied by Wired , McLuhan and ... (Goodreads)

  36. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

    by Chelsea Handler
    A comical look at life and relationships, as seen through the eyes of Chelsea Handler.

    The hilarious new book from the star of Chelsea Lately and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. Get ready for big laughs as Chelsea Handler lets loose ... (Goodreads)

  37. Look at the Birdie: Unpublished Short Fiction

    by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    A collection of unpublished short stories by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. that explores the human condition with his signature wit and satire.

    Look at the Birdie is a collection of fourteen previously unpublished short stories from one of the most original writers in all of American fiction. In this series of perfectly rendered vignettes, ... (Goodreads)

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