Lily-Rose Depp's Favorite Author Has A Stunning Backlog Of Books To Devour

Lily-Rose Depp has a deep connection to the work of Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The "Nosferatu" star has mentioned the literary legend often in interviews, with a sense of awe and interest. When speaking in December 2016 with Vogue, she spoke about her education and, while she hasn't followed a traditional path, reading is a vital part of her life. "I've never thought of university as my goal. I've always just wanted to work and be independent. I didn't have any incentive to keep doing all that work. I read a lot of books, and I research stuff myself that interests me." When asked what she had recently been reading, she said Haruki Murakami's 1987 novel "Norwegian Wood." Murakami came up again when Depp spoke with Harper's Bazaar in November 2020. "I've been reading a book of short stories by Haruki Murakami, who's one of my favorite authors, called 'Men Without Women'," she said. 

Depp, primarily a model and actor, is one of many celebrities who's used her platform to promote reading. Model Kaia Gerber has a book club, with a great selection of reads, and like Depp, she prefers more obscure authors. Dua Lipa is another celebrity who's shared her favorite reads, sharing the same sentiment about reading as Depp, as she considers it an essential part of a well-lived life. 

It's no wonder that Lily-Rose Depp gravitates towards the writing of Japanese legend Haruki Murakami. The author is famous for creating unreal worlds full of darkness and strange stories. Depp herself gravitates towards darker projects, like the 2024 horror film, "Nosferatu," where she plays the character Ellen, who's haunted by a demonic love. So Depp's aesthetic appreciation of a writer as complex as Murakami makes sense.

In a 2019 interview with The New Yorker, Murakami spoke about his own work. "You need the power of concentration and endurance," he said of a writing life. "I sometimes write very unhealthy things. Weird things. Twisted things." Murakami brings this eerie power into all of his works. In addition to the two books Depp mentioned, the author has a massive backlog of publications that are well worth the read. While speaking with The New Yorker, Murakami admitted that his third book, "A Wild Sheep Chase," published in 1982, was when his literary career really began. His 1988 novel "Dance Dance Dance" combines magical realism with a darkly fantastical world, while his 2002 novel "Kafka on the Shore" resonated deeply with readers. Meanwhile, Murakami's three-volume set called "IQ84" is a dystopian story of religious cults and dual narratives. Depp is certainly onto something in her readerly appreciation of the literary worlds of torment and complexities that Murakami creates.