Priscilla Ahn
Priscilla Ahn is a singer, songwriter and mom to two little boys. Priscilla has released several albums, as well as composed and performed music for the Studio Ghibli film When Marnie Was There. She has toured internationally and played to audiences in Japan, China, Korea and the US.
If you could recommend 3 books to anyone, what would they be?
Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl
I would recommend this book to anyone who might feel devastatingly overwhelmed by the injustices of the world and unfortunate life circumstances.
Frankl was a young, budding psychiatrist when he was imprisoned in concentration camps during the Holocaust. Even in one of the most horrifying of circumstances he was able to find meaning in his life, therefore finding liberation in mind and spirit. It's what gave him, not only the will to keep living, but also to live a life of dignity and purpose.
I read this book recently, during the middle of the pandemic, at a time when I was really questioning who I was and what I wanted to contribute to the world in my lifetime. It helped me rediscover the power of music and gave me new motivation in my creative and personal life.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
On the heels of Man's Search For Meaning, I read Atomic Habits. As a procrastinator and one who is usually too afraid to commit to projects or even attempt new creative endeavors, this book has changed my approach to so much of that. It was great to learn some simple life hacks that worked immediately, as well as develop new approaches to tackling long term goals. For anyone who needs a little guidance or a refresh on how to be more productive, this is a good one to check out!
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
I think this is one of the first books I've read of Sedaris' and every time I turn back to it, his stories make me laugh out loud. I can always use a nice belly laugh to get me through a hard day.
(Also, separately, I just wanted to include Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind - written and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki -- one of my favorite reads ever. I'm not a manga-head, but this manga novel is so epic, beautiful, touching, inspiring. I remember crying twice while reading it. If I could morph into a fictional character of my choosing it would be Nausicaa all the way. P.S. this is such a great read for right now, with everything that's unfolding on our planet and our climate.)
What are you reading now?
Dune by Frank Herbert
I've been reading the Dune series (by Frank Herbert). Yes, it was half inspired by the movie that's coming out soon, but despite the movie, I am now a HUGE fan of the books and am going deep with it! I'm fascinated by its commentary on the habitual nature of human beings and how we view time, space, our planet, our governments, etc. It's very smart and also a fun, riveting read.
What is your favourite bookstore or library?
Whenever I tour through Portland I always make time to stop at Powell's. I always find some rare gems there.
Flying Books in Tokyo is owned by a very close friend of mine and is THE place to go for rare, vintage art books and poetry.
And finally, my most recent favorite go-to for children's books is Collage Collage in Vancouver. They have a small, but very diverse collection of gorgeous children's books that feature diversity, inclusiveness, imagination and messages of self-worth. Every book I've purchased from them for my kids feels like a treasure.
