If you love to read books, chances are you love to talk about them too. But have you ever wondered about whether your favourite celebrities or public figures love to read as well? If you might share a favourite book or preferred genre with them? Well, I sure have! So, I’m on a mission to find book lovers (book nerds, if you will!) in unexpected places. In this interview series, I’ll be talking with people you recognise but don’t necessarily associate with books — musicians, actors and actresses, athletes, and more. We will be discussing all of their current projects you want to hear about, of course, but we will also be digging into their unique reading and writing lives!
In this interview, I chat with Arianna Davis. You know her as the Digital Director of O, The Oprah Magazine where she oversees all of OprahMag.com’s editorial, social, and video content. She has previously been a senior features writer for Refinery29 and has also worked for Us Weekly. Arianna is a true book nerd, in the very best way … not only is she releasing her first book, What Would Frida Do?, but she loves to read! As you can imagine, Arianna was such a pleasure to talk with. Listen below to hear us discuss all things Frida Kahlo, her upcoming book release, and some of her favourite books from her childhood to present.
You can listen through Spotify below or on any platform where podcasts are available!
- 1:16 – Arianna discusses 2020 & how she has been coping
- 4:13 – What Arianna hopes readers will take away from her new book, What Would Frida Do?
- 7:32 – Why Frida Kahlo has remained such an inspiration to Arianna over the years
- 13:00 – How the circumstances of the time influenced Frida’s life & the artist she became
- 18:56 – Frida’s greatest creative achievement
- 24:30 – How What Would Frida Do? has become part of Arianna’s everyday life
- 29:30 – Arianna discusses her writing process & balancing this with her job/personal life
- 34:44 – What is on Frida Kahlo’s bookshelves?
- 37:27 – Books Arianna loved growing up & books she loves now
- 41:51 – 2020 books Arianna says you don’t want to miss
Books/authors mentioned:
- Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera
- The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace
- The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin
- Julia Alvarez
- Sandra Cisneros
- The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Toni Morrison
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
- All Adults Here by Emma Straub
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Where to find Arianna Davis on social media:
- Instagram: @ariannagab
- Twitter: @ariannagdavis
