Phoebe Tonkin is a woman of many talents and passions – but you may not have known that she's also a certified book worm. As one of the stars of the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's hit novel Boy Swallows Universe, it feels fitting that Tonkin found the time to sit down with Chanel – a house she's formed a close relationship with as an ambassador – for the latest instalment of their 'In the Library' series.
Under the creative direction of Virginie Viard, Chanel has been spotlighting some of their cherished ambassadors and friends of the House via their 'In the Library' series. From Kristen Stewart to Tilda Swinton and fellow Aussie Margot Robbie, Phoebe Tonkin is the latest to join the ranks and sit down for a literary rendez-vous.
In the episode, released on Chanel's website, Tonkin speaks to her affection for female-penned books – like Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation and Anaïs Nin's Little Birds – and how her reading habits influenced her childhood and teenage years. Tonkin admits she was encouraged to be an avid reader by her parents from a young age, when "outings for me and my sister were always trips to the book store over the toy store".
She also confesses her love for "everyday stories", where "nothing spectacular happens", but where little things can change the trajectory of a life.
Tonkin says she's a "before sleep reader", but laments that it's often hard to put a good book down in order to fall asleep. She shares recommendations with her family, and says that birthday presents often entail a couple of new reads.
Phoebe Tonkin's book list
Ottessa Moshfegh, My Year of Rest and Relaxation
Ian McEwan, Atonement
Trent Dalton, Boy Swallows Universe
Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides
Sarah Krasnostein, The Trauma Cleaner
Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning, ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita
Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things
Siri Hustvedt, What I Loved
Gillian Flynn, Sharp objects
Lisa Taddeo, Three women
Anaïs Nin, Little birds
Yrsa Daley Ward, Bone
Patti Smith, Just Kids
George Orwell, Animal Farm
Read Phoebe Tonkin's full 'In the Library' feature on Chanel's website.
