“I don’t belong to any category”
Frida Kahlo
Friends!
Yesterday (July 6) was Frida Kahlo’s birthday, making now the perfect time to celebrate the iconic Mexican artist, revolutionary, and fellow Cancer. It’s also an ideal time to review the book, What Would Frida Do?: A Guide to Living Boldly, by Arianna Davis, because I’m less than 15 pages from the end of it as I write this 🙂
Jason gifted me this book for my 40th birthday last year. It wasn’t even on my reading wishlist, or on my radar for that matter, so I was pleasantly surprised to receive it.
Now, a week before my 41st birthday, I’m (nearly) finished reading it and can confidently state that this book is a must-read for every Frida fan.
Onto the review!
Book Review: What Would Frida Do?
What Would Frida Do? is not just a biography of Frida Kahlo or a timeline of her career. However, the book does contain several “sidebars” that neatly summarize various facets of the artist’s personal and professional life. It’s a brilliant, insightful, and thoroughly relatable portrait of a deeply complex and passionate woman, painted with words instead of colors.
Davis introduces Frida from her own unique perspective, describing her experience visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum and getting swept up in Fridamania. She paints a comprehensive story of Frida’s tumultuous life in 10 chapters, each one devoted to a specific aspect:
Confidence
Pain
Creativity
Style
Love
Heartbreak
Sex
Identity
Friendship
Viva la Vida
Each section includes quotes and insights from Frida’s diaries and letters she wrote to friends and lovers, revealing an endless depth of emotional range and burning passion for life, love, Mexico, communism, and, of course, Diego (as well as numerous paramours that fill an expansive second-place in her heart). At the end of every chapter, Davis asks, “What would Frida do?” concerning a modern-day take on the particular topic discussed. It’s this unique format that gives the book a self-helpy twist.
I love it. I’m adding “visit the Frida Kahlo Museum” to my list of things to do before I die.
It’s bold, passionate, and inspiring, much like Frida herself. Highly recommend.
Kristen Stewart As a Modern Example of “What Would Frida Do?”
I couldn’t help but tie this in because it felt right.
The first time I saw Kristen Stewart’s Rolling Stone cover, I was sorting flats (what we call magazines and other large mail) into a case at the post office. I’ll never forget the way my heart fluttered as I looked down at the heavy, oversized periodical. “Oh god, Kristen Stewart, I love you so much,” I gushed as I contemplated stealing the magazine (which I would ofc never, ever do). But I hoped the old fuddy-duddy carriers at the other end of the post office heard me, and I hope they were delivering issues of Rolling Stone that day, too. Even if they weren’t, I’m sure they heard about it later.
I’m not going to lie, the first thing I felt was shock. Of course there was shock. It was Rolling fucking Stone, a massive media outlet seen by millions, and there she was, being utterly, unapologetically herself, and gay AF.
My shock quickly evolved into the kind of admiration that made me want to hold the magazine above my head and run around the post office, shoving it in everyone’s face and yelling, “Look at her!” But I didn’t need to do that bc K. Stewart doesn’t need my help shoving queer, feminist sexuality in any closet homophobe’s face. She’s doing just fine in that arena, and BRAVO to her!
This, imho, is a perfect example of a modern-day Frida living boldly. Kristen Stewart isn’t only an artist, she’s an undeniably stylish queer icon who’s loud and proud about her passions and preferences. After reading WWFD, I can’t help but wonder what kind of feather-rustling magazine covers Frida would shoot if she were still with us, today.
And that, my friends, wraps up today’s post. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, can you do me a favor and share it with a friend or three? Thank you!
I’m dying to know if anyone else thinks Kristen Stewart reminds them of Frida. Let me know by responding to this email or leaving a comment below!
As always, thanks so much for reading! To support my work, you can buy me a coffee, share this post, and become a free or paid subscriber.
XoLauren