Lang Leav loves flights of fancy

With her imagination that stretches across a variety of disciplines encompassing art, poetry and books, Lang Leav’s enchanting work swings between the whimsical and woeful expressing a complexity beneath its child-like façade. She is a recipient of The Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and was later granted a coveted Churchill Fellowship. 

 Lang Leav is frequently invited to exhibit at high-profile exhibitions locally and overseas, and has since built up a loyal following of international fans. She was handpicked to show in the landmark “Playboy Redux” exhibit curated by The Warhol Museum and Playboy Enterprises. Her fashion label Akina has achieved critical and commercial success, stocked in key boutiques around Australia and later in cutting-edge Harajuku, Japan. 

She was in the country recently to promote her two of her books: Love & Misadventure (beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully conceived, Love and Misadventure will take you on a rollercoaster ride through an ill-fated love affair — from the initial butterflies to the soaring heights — through to the devastating plunge. And, in the end, the message is one of hope. The journey from love to heartbreak to finding love again is personal yet universal); and Lullabies (a sequel in which she continues to explore the intricacies of love and loss; aet to a musical theme, love’s poetic journey in this new collection begins with a “Duet” and travels through “Interlude” and “Finale” with an “Encore” popular piece from the bestselling Love & Misadventure).

We asked Leav through her Manila host, Xandra Ramos Padilla, to share her top 10 favorite books:

1. Dear Life by Alice Munro. “Dear Life is a stunning collection of short stories by Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro. Here is a quote from my favorite piece titled, ‘Amundsen’: ‘Not yet do I hear his voice for the last time. Not yet. He doesn’t have to ask the way. I wonder out loud if he has put girls on the train before. “Don’t be like that,” he says. Every turn is like a shearing-off of what’s left of my life.’”

2. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. “This is one of those books you read at a certain age and it stays with you for life. I love the character of Midori, she jumps right out of the page. Look out for the line about the strawberry shortcake.”

3. The Secret History by Donna Tartt. “The Secret History is a measured and introspective narration of a chilling tale, told with striking clarity and finesse. The opening line is so compelling and it remains that way for the entire book. A real page-turner.” 

4. The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton. “A whimsical collection of rhymes, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy also features quirky illustrations by the iconic film director. This book served as inspiration for my handcrafted book, Charlie’s Widow. It was a dream come true when a copy of my limited-edition book was presented to Tim Burton at the opening of his ‘Wonderland’ show in Melbourne.”

5. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. “The History of Love is an intricate tapestry, so beautifully woven, it comes as no surprise that Nicole Krauss is a poet, too. ‘What about you? Are you the happiest and saddest right now that you’ve ever been?’ ‘Of course I am.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because nothing makes me happier and nothing makes me sadder than you.’” 

6. Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl. “A collection of short stories told with a dark and twisted humor. The plotlines, though outrageous, are made very believable in Roald Dahl’s expert hands. Such an entertaining read.”

7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. “An unnerving story set in a dystopian future, this classic by Margaret Atwood is a must read. It’s a perfect example of how important literature is for our society, how its foresight can often serve as a warning for all humanity: ‘Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some.’”

8. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. “A gorgeous little parable depicting one of the most unique and touching love stories of all time. ‘She cast her fragrance and her radiance over me. I ought never to have run away from her... I ought to have guessed all the affection that lay behind her poor little stratagems. Flowers are so inconsistent! But I was too young to know how to love her...’”

9. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. “It’s really amazing how such a world could exist inside someone’s head. Alice in Wonderland was a major influence in my earlier work, particularly my fashion and visual art pieces.”

10. Dirty Pretty Things by Michael Faudet. “Dirty Pretty Things is a gorgeous collection of little short stories and poems about love and loss. Michael Faudet creates the most delicious and vivid imagery through his words: ‘I am hopelessly in love with a memory. An echo from another time, another place.’”

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“The Reading Club” recommends The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks available in any of the National Book Store and Powerbooks branches.

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Your comments and suggestions are welcome at mjrodis@gmail.com. Follow me on IG and Twitter as @showbizmanila.