The Ultimate Booklist for Swifties
The Ultimate Booklist for Swifties
By AP Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift's bookshelf must be impressive. Not only do her lyrics cover a wide range of human emotion, but she constantly makes references to all sorts of literary classics. Check out these books to better understand her music and become as well read as our very own Miss Americana, and then check out our podcast, AP Taylor Swift, wherever you listen to podcasts.
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The Great Gatsby: The Only Authorized Edition
F. Scott Fitzgerald
$8.99 $8.36In "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things," Taylor is "feeling so Gatsby for that whole year." Is that a good or bad thing though? Check out the novel and decide for yourself! Follow up your reading time by listening to "E17: Show and Tell - The Great Gatsby" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Alice in Wonderland: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
$5.95"We found Wonderland" conjures up many versions of Wonderland, but have you ever read the original? Check out the story that started it all and then listen to AP Taylor Swift's Wonderland themed podcast episode - "We got lost in it - Songs inspired by Alice in Wonderland."
Rebecca (Revised)
Daphne Du Maurier
$16.74"I know my love should be celebrated / But you tolerate it." This devastating song could easily have been written about Rebecca. If you are in the mood for a sad book to go with a sad song, check out this incredible novel and then listen to "E6: Show and Tell - Toxic Relationships" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Lady Chatterley's Lover
D. H. Lawrence and Coralie Bickford-Smith
$20.00 $18.60"Are we out of the woods yet?" Taylor often explores the dichotomy of nature vs. civilization, particularly in "Out of the Woods." If you find this comparison interesting, consider this D.H. Lawrence classic and then check out"E7: Show and Tell - Ecocriticism" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Essential Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
$15.99"I've come to far to watch some namedropping sleaze / Tell me what are my words worth." In "the lakes," Taylor directly puts herself in conversation with the lakes poets and specifically calls out Wordsworth. Check out the other side of the conversation by reading some of Wordsworth's poetry and then listen to "E8: Deep Dive - the lakes" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Mrs Dalloway
Virginia Woolf
$8.79"I polish plates until they gleam and glisten." The gender roles of the broken love in "tolerate it" is a theme that Virginia Woolf explores in many of her novels as well, particularly in Mrs. Dalloway. Check out this novel and then tune in to "E5: Show and Tell - Toxic Relationships" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
1984: 75th Anniversary
George Orwell
$9.99 $9.29"Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince" is an unapologetically political song. It explores wildly imbalanced power dynamics and the role that love plays in that environment. We wouldn't be shocked if Taylor was inspired by this classic when working on this song. "E11: Show and Tell - Marxist Theory" - can also help you explore this layered song.
The Odyssey
Homer
$18.95 $17.62"The planets and the fates and all the stars aligned." Ah fate. It's a powerful thing, and it's a key force in Taylor Swift's "Mastermind." See how powerful fate really is in this female-translated version of the classic epic poem, The Odyssey. Then check out "E20: Deep Dive - Mastermind" to learn more!
The Prince Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli
$6.99"I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian / 'Cause I care." Taylor is not joking around with this reference. If you want to dive into the harsh political philosophy that Taylor is referencing, this book is for you! You can also listen to "E20: Deep Dive - Mastermind" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend
Karen Blumenthal
$19.99 $18.59"Getaway Car" is not only a classic Taylor Swift song, but also references the legend of Bonnie and Clyde. Check out the true story behind this crime-spree couple and see how that impacts the way you listen to "Getaway Car." For more, tune in to "E14: Deep Dive -Getaway Car" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged
Robert Frost
$26.99 $25.10In "'tis the damn season," Taylor tells us that "the road not taken looks real good now." Did you know that she is directly quoting Robert Frost here? No denying that Taylor is a poet herself, so check out the work of one of her inspirations! Then check out "E16: Deep Dive - 'tis the damn season" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
Great Expectations: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) (Anniversary)
Charles Dickens and Tom Haugomat
$18.00 $16.74"Still sitting in a corner I haunt" captures the feeling of being stuck that we get in "right where you left me." If you want to talk about feeling stuck after a break-up, Miss Havisham's story in Great Expectations is an extreme version of that. Also check out "E24: Deep Dive - right where you left me" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne
$8.00 $7.44"...I was a scarlet letter." Taylor references The Scarlett Letter in both "Love Story" and "The New Romantics." Check out the original novel that inspired this reference!
Book Lovers
Emily Henry
$17.00 $15.81In "'tis the damn season," Taylor reclaims the Hallmark Christmas movie narrative by having our heroine return to LA instead of staying in the small town. If you love a good twist on a common trope, check out this delightfully cheesy novel from Emily Henry, and then see what else we had to say in "E16: Deep Dive - 'tis the damn season" on the AP Taylor Swift podcast.
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
$19.00 $17.67Feeling isolated, outside of things is a theme Taylor visits often (hello "The Outside" and "You're on Your Kid"). This hauntingly beautiful novel follows two powerful individuals who are unknowingly pawns in a much larger game. They yearn to be understood while navigating the harsh competition they are forced into. If you love to listen to some of Taylor's more sad yet beautiful songs, I'm willing to bet you'll love this one!
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
$19.00 $17.67The reptuation album as a whole hits on some more violent imagery ("knew he was a killer first time I saw him") and more sweet romance ("all at once, you are the one, I have been waiting, waiting"). The running theme through the album is intensity and passion. The same can be said for the Throne of Glass series. The first book here sets the scene for an epic tale of magic, love, heartbreak, and yes, violence.
Set on You
Amy Lea
$17.00 $15.81Being in the public eye is a theme Taylor has addressed more and more as her career has progressed. "I've been under scrutiny / You handle it beautifully." This sweet and funny love story addresses the challenges of showing up authentically in the public sphere, even if you aren't always 100% confident.
Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set: Books 1-7
J. K. Rowling
$100.00 $93.00Listing all of the ways we connect Taylor's music to Harry Potter would take way more characters than we have here. Suffice to say, we are true millennials who see the world through the lens of this wizarding world. Check out almost any episode of AP Taylor Swift (but especially "E15: Show and Tell - Holidays"), and you'll get a Harry Potter reference or two!