Score: 4/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Dreamscape Media / Seal Press for my gifted audiobook copy of What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly by Arianna Davis.

Like so many others, I’m fascinated by Frida Kahlo, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It is filled with Frida’s history, her trials her successes and her outlook on life. The author has also provided bullet-pointed tips or lessons in each chapter, distilling Kahlo wisdom down into actionable steps you can take yourself, to live more boldly.

I actually also got this as my Book of the Month selection and I’m glad I did or I wouldn’t have known about the cute illustrated quotes inside.

While I thought Frida’s history was written so well, and was really compelling, I found the ‘self-help’ portions didn’t always mesh seamlessly. The lists were fairly basic and were a bit jarring once you were deep into reading the historical portions. I also would have loved to see some pictures of paintings mentioned or Casa Azul, but perhaps there were legal reasons why photos couldn’t be included.

Overall it was an interesting mix of non-fiction, history, biography and self-help and I really enjoyed learning more about such an amazing woman!

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Marisa Blake and comes in at just under five and a half hours. You can get your own copy via the button below, or click here to get a physical copy from an indie bookseller.

Synopsis:

A contemporary guide to life, love, and happiness inspired by the extraordinary artist Frida Kahlo.

Revered as much for her fierce spirit as she is for her art, Frida Kahlo stands today as a brazen symbol of daring creativity. She was a woman ahead of her time whose paintings have earned her generations of admirers around the globe. But perhaps her greatest work of art was her own life.

What Would Frida Do? explores the feminist icon's signature style, outspoken politics, and boldness in love and art, even in the face of pain and heartbreak. The book celebrates her larger than life persona as a woman who loved passionately and lived ambitiously, refusing to remain in her husband's shadow. Each chapter shares intimate stories from her life, revealing how she overcame obstacles by embracing her own ideals.

In this charming read, author Arianna Davis conjures Frida's brave spirit, encouraging women to persevere, to create fearlessly, and to stand by their own truths.