"I raised myself through books": TOP-5 books for spring mood from singer SOWA
Spring is a time of renewal, inspiration, and easy changes. At such moments, it's especially tempting to wrap yourself in something warm — stories that excite, inspire, and leave a mark.
Singer SOWA shares with LIGA.Lifefavorite books that influenced her worldview, helped her better understand herself, and became true guides to the emotional world. This selection includes psychology, memoirs, Ukrainian journalism, and novels that won't let you go until the last page.
Mark Goulston: "How to Communicate with Psychopaths"
According to SOWA, in today's world we have to communicate with many people, but not all of them are ready for healthy communication.
— This book is written by the best psychiatrist in the United States in 2004, 2005, and 2009. A coach who once trained FBI negotiators. The author cites real-life stories to better explain the techniques, so that the information in the book is perceived more easily and clearly.
As the author himself says: a book about how to communicate with unbearable people and at the same time maintain common sense.
He calls such people everyday psychos. Respect to the author for such informative content.
Elizabeth Gilbert: "City of Girls"
— This book made me fall in love with its genre. A novel that inspires you to capture the moments of life and live the way you want. I never liked novels, because as a child I often read books that contained various terms and reported everything with facts. So artistic sketches of nature or detailed descriptions did not hold my attention.
"City of Girls" is an incredible novel that makes you wonder if you're living the life you want to, and inspires you to capture and enjoy the moments of life.
My biggest wish after reading it is to see a film adaptation of this intriguing story.
Britney Spears: "The Woman in Me"
— It always seemed to me that Britney Spears was a singer with whom I had absolutely nothing in common, neither music, nor style, nor behavior. But it turned out that we are similar to her in many ways. I wrote out many phrases from the book that intersect with my and Britney's feelings, and here are two of them: "I wanted to hide, but at the same time, and for everyone to see me", "I was always thrown between active communication and complete isolation."
As the Ukrainian singer noted, Britney Spears went through a difficult and painful path: strict guardianship from her father, a ban on seeing her own children, and constant persecution by dozens of paparazzi, which led to nervous breakdowns.
— When you read a book, with each page, a deeper sympathy for the artist and her life that did not belong to her grows. The conclusion I made for myself from this story: never judge a person's life by its cover if you don't know their story.
Volodymyr Stanchyshyn: "Walls in my head"
Currently, the Ukrainian psychologist and psychotherapist has three books available – all of them are worth attention and, in my opinion, should be read by every person. The book "Walls in My Head" is a real find for those who seek to better understand themselves and help themselves. Each of us has anxieties and worries, and this work teaches how to live with them when it comes to anxiety disorder or depression, and most importantly – how to recognize these conditions in ourselves in time.
Taylor Jenkins Reid: "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"
As the singer admitted, the ending of this novel is truly surprising. It is a fascinating story that she read in one sitting.
— At the center of the plot is Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo, who finally dares to openly tell the whole truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. Stormy romances, unexpected plot twists, and a shocking ending — all of this fits into one book.
LIGA.Life also learned from singer SOWA how she chooses books, what she is reading now, and what stories have influenced her work.
— What book would you recommend to someone who is just starting to get interested in literature? What can inspire a beginner?
— First of all, you need to get acquainted with the Ukrainian classics. We have many artists to be proud of, and stories that will not leave you indifferent. Personally, I remember many works from my school years: "Tiger Hunters" by Ivan Bahryany, or "Intermezzo" by Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky, or "City" by Valerian Pidmohylny. I would advise readers who are just starting their literary journey to turn to these authors. As for me, I want to return to Ukrainian literature soon and read something new from the modern era.
— Is there a book that you reread several times? What is it about it that catches your attention again and again?
— I have several books, and these are the top five that I sincerely recommend to readers. For me personally, the following books are: "How to Communicate with Psychos" and the books by Volodymyr Stanchyshyn – I tend to read them again and again to remember such valuable information. As for the two novels I mentioned, I want to reread them when enough time has passed to feel as if I am reading this book with a new perspective. I sincerely envy future readers who have not yet touched these stories and will read them for the first time.
— How do you choose books to read?
— The choice of a book to read depends on my mood and the relevance of the topic for me at a certain time. Sometimes I learn about new books from friends or acquaintances, and if the book immediately interests me, I look for and buy a physical book or in online format. Of the recent discoveries for myself, "The Turning Point Year" by Brianna West, this is the book I am reading now. By the way, I have already read "This Mountain is You" by this author, a book that teaches you to hold on to your beliefs with dignity, and not to deny them.
— Were there any books that changed your life?
— Every book I read as a teenager influenced my growth and worldview. You could say I literally "educated" myself through books, and I'm very grateful for that. Many of the phrases I read from those years are still guiding principles in my life. I can barely remember which books the quotes that still pop into my mind at the right moment belong to, but the important thing is that it wasn't in vain. Before reading each book, I try to perceive it as if I know nothing, and this is the first book I've read in my life.
— Your music has a certain atmosphere. Do books influence your creative process and inspiration?
— Sometimes it's worth reading hundreds of pages of a book to remember just one sentence. That later you can say to another person at the right moment, and this phrase will change their life. This is what I learned from reading. Sometimes you read a book, and as a result it didn't seem very bright to you, only one phrase struck you. But at the right moment it pops into your memory and comes to your aid.
I think books are also a source of my inspiration for songs. After all, based on books, I form my perception and understanding of the world, and this gives rise to inner feelings, from which the lines of songs arise. I can find inspiration for my work anywhere, just like ideas, because they are everywhere, the main thing is to open up to them.