Judging A Book By Their Reader: Performative Book Recommendations

“Performative Reading” was a phrase that sparked conversations, all because of a billionaire breakup. When Grimes and Elon Musk separated in 2022, Grimes attempted to regain her ‘cool girl’ image by dressing up in cosplay, reading The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, and calling the paparazzi on herself. Her intentions were transparent. She was using the work for its cultural recognition, signaling her intellectual split from Elon.  

Other celebrities have followed suit, using book stylists to curate the perfect personal library for any event. The trend had permeated celebrity culture so extensively that in Vogue’s satirical video, “Inside Hailey Bieber’s Saint Laurent Bag,” Bieber jokes by bringing out two books by Nietzsche and Kant. 

Eventually, performative reading had trickled down to the average, online, young person, who showcased their books alongside lifestyle content, as a way to signal their intellectuality. Performative reading ultimately encapsulates the newfound obsession with algorithmically awarded attention; therefore, the only solution is to read books you grapple with internally, regardless of external validation. So, whether you are looking for a good book or a good-looking book, the following four books have it all: 

For the friend who has a monogrammed pencil case, oddly niche Pinterest boards, and reads books exclusively for the cover:

Bunny by Mona Awad was named one of the Best Books of 2019 by TIME, Vogue, Electric Literature, and The New York Public Library. If you have walked into any dainty coffee shop in the West Village or have TikTok, you will probably recognize the cover. The book details the journey of graduate student Samantha Mackey in her highly exclusive Master of Fine Arts program, consisting of a group of odd, wealthy classmates. In her creative writing workshop, she is drawn into a clique that calls each other "bunny." The novel is the perfect blend of pastel aesthetics and a dark underbelly of gothic gore. Overall, this novel is an excellent gateway to magical surrealism, all while blending incredibly timed comic commentary on competitive higher academia. Think of it as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland meets The Secret History, except all the characters are brilliant, well-dressed women. The novel already has its own cult following, making it the perfect book to discuss while unexpectedly sitting in a local coffee shop with the most sugary drink possible. 

For the friend who is on the hunt for the perfect matcha, remixes house music, and wears a carabiner on their belt loop, even in black tie attire: 

While T.H. White’s The Once and Future King was published in 1958, its observations of the human condition are still just as poignant. It is a retelling of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, loosely based on the events in Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. However, what makes White’s adaptation so sensational is its internal exploration of the three main characters: Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. While many iterations offer events without justification, White ensures the reader understands the complex motivations and beliefs of each character, creating a clear illustration of the rise and fall of the Round Table and, subsequently, morality. This book is perfect for readers who want to read about complex themes and philosophies through clear, succinct language. For the best reading experience, I would recommend reading this novel stretched out on a picnic blanket on a sunny day. 

For the friend who is obsessed with history, reads Marauders fanfiction all night, and loves drinking black tea in the mornings: 

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang is part of a three-book series  that follows a fictional account of shamans, set during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It takes the perspective of Rin, a young woman determined to ace the top military academy’s entrance exam to escape an arranged marriage. During her time, she is tormented by Nezha. He is beautiful, wealthy, and popular. As the line between training and war blurs, Rin and Nezha form an unexpected and intense bond, evolving over the course of the three novels. The Poppy War is an enthralling account of the brutality of war and the trauma’s effects on young soldiers. Though it is not a romance, it is the perfect book for those seeking an elevated fantasy series that explores the dynamic between two deeply flawed individuals. Unfortunately, I would not recommend reading this in public because you may start crying. Therefore, the best place to read it would be in your childhood bedroom, surrounded by stuffed animals. But, if your friend still wants performative points, just tell them to post online. 

For the friend who likes to read obnoxiously large books in public, reads The Wall Street Journal every morning, and already has their internship lined up for next summer:

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is nothing short of the best realist novel ever written. In addition to being one of the top novels of all time, it is also the top novel that people say they are going to read, only to leave it on their shelf, staring at them. My recommendation: go to a local estate sale and look at the bookshelf, and you will likely see it. The novel focuses on characters Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, and Natasha Rostova, and their intertwined journeys to find purpose. The characters’ stories play out against the backdrop of the effects of the Napoleonic Wars in Russia. Each chapter is either dubbed a “war” chapter or a “peace” chapter, until the two slowly blend together, discussing the long-standing effects of war on civilization. Each character is distinct and dynamic, pulling you in until the very end. Obviously, the second greatest highlight of reading War and Peace is the spectacle of reading a book larger than your head on public transit. 

Regardless of whether you are reading for the aesthetic, attention, or admiration, reading performatively is better than not reading at all.