Some people chase wild lives. Cookie Mueller simply walked straight into them.
Cookie Mueller was the kind of woman who made life feel like a story worth telling. A fixture of the downtown New York art scene in the 1970s and 80s, she moved easily between worlds as an actress, columnist, critic, mother, and friend to some of the most interesting artists of the era. She appeared in cult films by John Waters and was often photographed by Nan Goldin, but her sharpest talent was always writing.
Her cult classic ‘Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black’ captures that life in a series of autobiographical stories that are funny, chaotic, and unexpectedly tender. Hitchhiking through the dark, strange road trips, near disasters, deep friendships, motherhood, and the magic of the downtown art scene.
Cookie once said “Why does everybody think I’m so wild? I’m not wild. I happen to stumble onto wildness. It gets in my path.”
Reading this book feels less like opening a memoir and more like hearing the best story at the party
March’s book pick is ‘Walking through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black’ by Cookie Mueller 🐾
A truly hilarious collection of short stories & essays, written by the fearless, carefree, relentless party girl of the 60’s & 70’s. I’m not sure what this icon couldn’t do; she was an actress, model, writer, and mother in her short life.
She embodied the pursuit of dreams, with a refusal to conform even at the highest stakes. From hitchhiking through America to starring in John Waters’ transgressive films, Cookie really shows you what it’s like to live life on the edge for better or for worse.
Mueller had such a natural, charismatic, quick-witted way of writing that manages to soften the blow once you realize her life circled around a lot of dark & twisted subject matter. Nonetheless, you can really feel her LIVING every second of it, through her honest & genuine writing. Her ability to pick herself up time and time again is not only shocking but encouraging.
And in honor of women’s history month, I wanted to highlight someone that I have the utmost admiration for in regard to her attitude on life. Who was nothing but herself, and lived her insane life exactly how she wanted to. I’m not saying any of you should follow in her footsteps, but I hope this book can give you some new perspective & stay a reminder to live for yourself.
If you’re looking for a reason to laugh when you want to cry, this one’s for you xo
February calls for romance so we’re reading ‘Heart the Lover’ by Lily King
A story of full of a story full of nostalgia, first loves, & what ifs
I needed an easy, page turner to get me back into reading and this definitely did the trick xo
sharing some of the book recommendations from the @ironicallyliterate community !!
Slide 1: Mystery / Thriller
Slide 2: Memoirs
Slide 3: Romance
Slide 4: Historical Fiction
Slide 5: Easy / Light Reads
Slide 6: Classics
Slide 7: Fiction w/ Themes of Humanity & Dystopia
Slide 8: Non-Fiction
Slide 9: Fiction w/ Themes of Feminism
link to all books: /lists/2026-ironically-literate-community-book-recomendations
Happy 2026!! were back, and were reading 🤓
Apologies for the hiatus on Ironically Literate, but I’m excited to share so much more this year regarding what I’ve been reading, writing, and learning.
January thus far has reminded me why reading is so important to me. Yes, I think it’s essential for us all to practice finding comfort without a screen involved, but I’ve also realized how much it helps regulate my nervous system. My days are so much better when I start them off with a book, even if it’s just a few pages. It’s become something I rely on, grounds me, when my mind is struggling to get a grasp on the day ahead. These small differences are the habits I want to bring into 2026 and will continue to recommend.
As the month is already half way done, consider this an unofficial reading rec for January. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk was my favorite book I read this month so far. An eerie spin on a murder mystery that explores the relationship of humans and their impact on animals & nature. Forcing us to question our ethics & value of life.
Happy to have fallen back in love with reading & excited to share more xo
sun’s out, which means summer reading has started @ironicallyliterate
I tore through Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews in just three days. The prose used is just so beautifully lyrical that I found it really easy to read.
Milk Teeth explores how we learn to take up space, why we sometimes deny ourselves good things, and the slow journey toward embracing love and care.
This is the kind of book I wish I’d read when I was younger—it really speaks to the a lot of the common struggles so many girls go through growing up.
find a patch of sun, and start reading xo
South Korean protesters during the Gwangju Uprising holding a banner that reads ”북괴는 오판 말라!”, meaning ”North Korean commies, don’t ever misjudge!” The message was a defiant response to the South Korean military regime’s propaganda.
My apologies for the April hiatus... but we are back and ready to read! This month we are reading 'Human Acts' by Han Kang.
This book quite literally took my breath away. With a heavier subject at hand, I suggest reading at your own pace but personally I could not put this one down.
The story takes place during the student uprising in South Korea that began on May 18th, 1980.
A historic event that, until reading this book, I was unaware of. I think it's important to educate yourself on what is happening and has happened in the world around you, even if it doesn't directly affect your day-to-day life.
I never paid attention in history class, so I've always enjoyed learning through historical fiction. It's easier for me to digest such vast and complex topics or pivotal periods in time this way.
A visceral story, which speaks to traumas that linger, and human acts that make you question what humanity really means.
I hope you guys enjoy, as much as I did xoxo
