Lana Del Rey is a genius songwriter who is known for allusions to pop culture, literature and Hollywood. She specifically references her experiences living in Los Angeles and New York City. Her songs feel like a classic novel set in the Hollywood 1960s or a wild party. Here are some recommendations for fans who want to experience a book mirroring Lana Del Rey’s lyrical creativity!
“Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov (1955):
Obviously, Lana Del Rey’s song, “Lolita,” was inspired by the novel by Nabokov. “Lolita” is narrated by a French professor named Humbert, who becomes obsessed and preys on a 12-year-old girl, whom he nicknames “Lolita.” He refers to Lolita as a “nymphet.” This isn’t a novel about love overcoming age or an erotic novel, but a social satire about sexual abuse.
“L.A. Woman” by Eve Babitz (1982):
This semi-autobiographical novel by Eve Babitz is about a young Jim Morrison groupie and her relationship with an older family friend named Lola, who lived in 1920s Los Angeles. Reading books by Eve Babitz, it is clear that Lana Del Rey took inspiration from her work and her life. Del Rey is obsessed with Jim Morrison and the 1960s and 1970s Los Angeles social scene. This is a must-read for any fans of Lana Del Rey. A song to go with this book is “Gods & Monsters.”
“The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald (1925):
This is an obvious read, because Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” was featured in the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” (2013). This novel is well-written with embellished figurative language. There’s nothing more Lana Del Rey than parties and Gatsby yearning over Daisy.
“Valley of the Dolls” by Jacqueline Susann (1966):
This novel is about three young women in the entertainment industry. It narrates their journey to success and their battles with addiction. This novel is very Lana Del Rey because it explores Hollywood and the highs and lows of drug addiction. A song that goes along with this book is “Put Me in a Movie.”
“Just Kids” by Patti Smith (2010):
A memoir about Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe’s relationship and life during 1970s New York City. The memoir details her journey to New York City, her Chelsea Hotel days and all the people she encounters there. A song to go with this memoir would obviously be “Brooklyn Baby.”
“The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath (1963):
A feminist, semi-autobiographical novel from the 1960s that discusses the struggles of having clinical depression and mental health issues in the 1950s. The novel follows Esther Greenwood, moving from her internship days at Ladies’ Days magazine in New York, a fictional magazine based on Mademoiselle magazine’s guest editor internship, to her undergraduate days, to her spiraling out of control mental illness. Del Rey was heavily inspired by Plath’s “The Bell Jar” and her poetry. A song to go with this book is “Get Free.”
“A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams (1947):
This critically acclaimed play follows a Southern belle named Blanche DuBois’ downfall from riches to rags in New Orleans, which forces her to live with her sister and brother-in-law. Blanche and her brother-in-law, Stanley, don’t get along. Blanche looks down on him due to his lower socioeconomic status and Stanley doesn’t trust her. This play doesn’t have a dull moment as it is full of tension. A song to go with this play is “Ultraviolence.”
“The White Album” by Joan Didion (1979):
A collection of personal and analytical essays exploring American culture in the 1960s and 1970s. Didion writes about a variety of events such as the Black Panther Party, the Sharon Tate murder and drugs. A song to go with this one is “The Greatest.”
“The Spy in the House of Love” by Anaïs Nin (1954)
A semi-autobiographical novel, set in 1950s New York, follows a woman named Sabina and her sexual affairs. Like a man, she enjoys having affairs without any emotional strings attached. The novel explores if one can have affairs without consequences. A song to go with this book is “The Other Woman.”
“The Girls” by Emma Cline (2016):
Set in 1969, this novel is about a 14-year-old girl, Evie, who becomes involved with a cult inspired by Charles Manson. Evie starts hanging out with an older group of girls because it makes her feel free, and the danger excites her. A song to accompany this novel is “This is What Makes Us Girls.”
