Jennifer Lawrence's Favorite Books Are The Best Cool Girl Classic Reads
If you've ever seen an interview with Jennifer Lawrence, then you know she's undeniably cool. Whether she's making fun of herself for tripping and falling at award ceremonies (something she did a lot back in the day), sharing stories about drunkenly puking and being judged by Miley Cyrus for it, or getting tipsy on Cuban rum with Stephen Colbert, Lawrence is always a good time. You can't help but want to hang out with her.
Not only is Lawrence a lot of fun, but she's well-read too. Her taste in books isn't just eclectic, but impressive. When asked by Elle in 2013 if she read a lot, Lawrence responded, "I do! Books were my first introduction to stories — why I love making movies. Now, I'm reading 'The Alchemist' and I'm in the middle of Keith Richards' memoir ... It's really great! I saw the Rolling Stones in concert when I was in Montreal filming 'X-Men,' and I just love them." While there's no word on whether or not "The Alchemist" made Lawrence's list of favorite books, she has spoken highly of other classic novels that she regards as her favs.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Back when Lawrence was filming "Hunger Games," her costar Donald Sutherland introduced her to "Anna Karenina" and she fell in love with the doomed heroine and her story. "We were talking about Walt Whitman and 'Leaves of Grass', and he mentioned this novel, which he gave me on his last day of shooting," Lawrence said. "I really wasn't expecting to like it. I thought I wouldn't want to finish an 800-page book, but then I started slowing down and reading the same chapters over and over. You fall in love with the characters; you grow up with them."
Tolstoy's novel isn't just a classic, but is considered one of the greatest books of all time. Similar to "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin, "Anna Karenina" is about a high-society woman who's dissatisfied in her marriage, so she seeks love and sex in the arms of another. Naturally, this is a no-bueno situation with a tragic ending. But what's important about these novels is that they give the female characters autonomy, allowing them to be human in their needs and wants.
In an interview with British Vogue in 2012, Lawrence said of Tolstoy's epic story, "And do you know what? I feel like a pretentious prick for saying it, but it really is my favorite book. Like that quote that goes, 'Respect fills the empty place where love should be'? If I had a Myspace, I'd do that as my ad."
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
If it wasn't for Philippa Gregory, Mary Boleyn may have completely disappeared into obscurity. After all, unlike her sister Anne Boleyn, she was never exactly a household name, especially not in the last few centuries. But Gregory changed that with the 2001 publication of "The Other Boleyn Girl," a book that details the life of the 16th-century aristocrat as well as King Henry VIII's obsession with having a male heir. (It didn't pan out as he hoped, but you can read all about that for yourself.)
Although much of the book is fictional (it's a historical novel) and Gregory takes more than a few liberties with the real-life characters, it's still a great read, especially for those who love that era and the drama of the House of Tudor. "Gregory is one of my favorite authors. I've always loved history, and she makes it ... salacious," Lawrence told Glamour in 2016. Gregory is also the author of a slew of other historical novels, many of which take place during the Tudor period.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
No matter how you slice it, J.D. Salinger is cool. Although other writers have tried, very few can capture the alienation, confusion, and innocent (often raw) perspective of adolescence. Despite his phenomenal literary voice, Salinger only wrote one full-length novel, "The Catcher in the Rye." All his other works were short stories and novellas, with his final one being published in 1965. After that, Salinger became a recluse, rarely leaving his home in Cornish, New Hampshire. He died there in 2010.
When talking to Glamour in 2016 about "Carpenters and Seymour," Lawrence said, "I'm so drawn to Salinger's view of society back then, and to his sarcasm. I read '[The] Catcher in the Rye' first, then this one. I don't think there's ever been anything like these characters in American literature."
Through his iconic character Holden Caulfield in the novel, and the trials and tribulations of the Glass family in his short stories, Salinger spoke to generations of kids who felt like they didn't quite fit in. As Lawrence pointed out, Salinger's sarcasm is something else. That, and his wit have been — and likely will always be — appealing to teenagers, making him one of the best coming-of-age writers of our time. It doesn't matter if you love or loathe his characters, once you've read them, they stay with you forever.
The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
If you've never read any Hunter S. Thompson, now is the time. As the creator of "Gonzo" journalism (a sub-genre of New Journalism), Thompson wasn't just a fantastic writer, but a very interesting character, to say the least. For example, he requested after his death that his ashes be fired from a cannon (they were) and he had zero qualms about leaving colorful voice messages about his disappointment in Specialty Electronics Nationwide, a Colorado-based company that installed his home theater (NSFW). You can say that both professionally and personally, Thompson's style is unmistakable.
"You can tell in one sentence if what you're reading is by Thompson," Lawrence said. "You read a Thompson book because of his voice. He's always getting wrecked in San Juan and reporting on cockfights. He's just hilarious."
"The Rum Diary" isn't a diary or memoir, but a novel that, like everything else Thompson wrote, was heavily based on himself and his absurd antics. It takes place in Puerto Rico and involves two essentials to Thompson's work: alcohol and violence. Yes, it's funny as heck without a doubt, but it's a dark humor that not everyone can appreciate, let alone understand.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
On the complete opposite end of the book spectrum from Hunter S. Thompson are the Harry Potter books, and Lawrence was at one time obsessed with the series. "I went through a pretty hard-core Harry Potter phase when I was little. And I was in Kentucky so I never got to meet them or see them," Lawrence told Extra in 2015. "Even now, I'm so jealous of the kids now because they have Harry Potter World. I didn't have anything. I didn't have an outlet. I just had an obsession."
When asked about her favorite YA books at the London Premier of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" two years before the Extra interview in 2013, Lawrence said, "I was so crazy about 'Harry Potter,' I read it twice. All of them twice. I didn't have a favorite, I thought they were all amazing." In other words, Lawrence is a total Potterhead.
If you weren't sure what book you should read next and you're looking for a quintessential "cool girl" read, these favorites of Jennifer Lawrence will fit the bill. She's also a fan of "The Glass Castle," a memoir by Jeannette Walls, and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver, per BookBub. Both have been made into movies, in case you want to skip the book version. But be warned: the latter is disturbing and will probably make your skin crawl.