Category: Books


Feb
2017

What I Read: Historical Fiction

categories: Books

A while back, a reader asked me for some recommendations for historical fiction, and in the process of answering her query, I remembered that one of my favourite series growing up — Maurice Druon’s The Accursed Kings novels — had recently been re-released in a new English edition. Since I have only ever read them in a non-English translation (from the original French), I decided to splurge and get the whole 7 volume series … and then proceeded to binge-read my way through them. By way of brief background, the series focuses on Phillip IV (“The Fair”), one of the last Capetian kings of France, his (ill-omened) descendants on both sides of the Channel (who kicked off the Hundred Year War between France and England), and a large cast of supporting characters including Mahaut and Robert of Artois, the novels’ most compelling if least redeemable figures. The latter two were, incidentally, embroiled in one of the most famous and lengthy legal disputes of the 14th century, which plays a not unimportant part in the novels’ plot.

The books are filled with drama — adultery! poisonings! trials! political machinations! — and are a fun, fast-paced read. Keep in mind that they were written in the 1950s, and reflect the mores of the author’s times (particularly in regard to characterizations of women). At the same time, Druon has been consistently praised for his historical accuracy (although these books are most definitely historical fiction). He includes extensive notes at the end of each book, which provide additional details about the background to all of the events and characters described. I would love to see a BBC adaptation of the series … if only because I always welcome the opportunity to ogle good-looking Brits on my screen.

Speaking of which, episodes 2 and 3 of Victoria did not disappoint. Is anyone else watching this on PBS? What do we think of Albert? I am a Rufus Sewell/Lord M fangirl forever, but I must admit that I warmed up to the “clockwork prince” more than I thought I would and I feel a pressing need to discuss my complicated feelings with someone. Anyone. Bueller? At times like these, I really miss Television Without Pity, sigh. [Also? I just started watching The Young Pope and I think you should too. And then we should chat.]

OK, on to some of the lighter reading I did online in the last week. The Fashion Law continues to be my go-to for thought-provoking fashion industry-related articles. This one definitely leans to the more serious side, and considers the impact of re-shoring clothes production on the democratization of fashion. The human and environmental impact of fast fashion has been discussed a lot in recent years, but this is the flip side of that discussion; with the growth of that side of the industry, access to fashion (and in particular, trends) is no longer reserved to the middle and upper classes only. Nobody likes to think of children and women being abused in the name of inexpensive clothes … but people also like their $20 jeans and $30 dresses.

This Reddit thread discusses the increasingly popular (trendy?) idea that “the most successful people wear the same thing every day” — what does that mean for people who love fashion and variety? The discussion touches on some really interesting concepts, including the impact of gender (fashion is still considered a “frivolous” female hobby). In past posts, I have talked about the difference that routinizing my life has made in terms of my efficiency/productivity, so I can see the merit in the idea of simplifying. However, I would suggest there is an alternative available to people who (like me) want increased efficiency without sacrificing personal style. I didn’t give up my varied closet; I just started to plan my outfits ahead of time, and made that planning itself an item on my (weekend) “to do” list. With that said, that does not address the discussion around the impact of gender stereotypes, which to me is equal parts fascinating (from an abstract, sociological perspective) and frustrating (from a real world perspective).

I’ve been mulling the idea of adopting a form of the 5 Piece (French) wardrobe, and I found this article helpful in better understanding what a “basic” piece means in the context of that system. My closet has consisted of at least 50% statement pieces in recent years, but I am slowly moving towards a more basics-heavy wardrobe. My current approach is to develop that as a “core” of my closet, with a smaller (constantly rotating) capsule of statement pieces. I don’t have anything more concrete to write yet, because I want to think this project through as a whole (life)style change as opposed to a gimmicky thing, but I think the idea might have legs. We’ll see.

Lastly, just a few words on something that may or may not be on your mind, but has been on mine a bit lately: the issue of what you can expect to see (and not to see) addressed in my posts here. This is not a political blog, nor a platform for me to discuss my views on social issues. Even assuming that there was an appetite on your part to read my thoughts on such matters, I am not sure I would be prepared to engage it. That is not to say that I do not have opinions (and strong ones, at that). In the current political climate, particularly south of the border, it would be impossible not to. I do not want my decision to keep the discourse on this blog to its usual, apolitical topics to be misconstrued as indifference to the very significant events that are unfolding here and abroad. My intent is for this blog to remain what it has always been; a fun distraction from the real world’s very real problems. I hope you guys are cool with that.


Jan
2017

What I Read: All the Mysteries

categories: Books, Life, Trifles

Well, not all of them, not yet anyway. Thanks to Sherry, I recently discovered the Phryne Fisher series, and quickly read my way through the first 3 books. I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about the protagonist, although I appreciate that she’s not your typical 1920s detective. (Weirdly enough, Phryne’s spending habits stress me out. I am perpetually worried that her seemingly endless supply of funds will run out. As I said, weird.) I unreservedly love the author’s attention to detail (especially for clothes, swoon) and ability to recreate the atmosphere of the era and location (Melbourne, Australia). I’m a bit miffed that the books are rather pricey; I like buying my favourite mystery novels, as I tend to re-read them periodically, but the series is some 20 plus novels strong and counting, and at $15+ a pop I don’t fancy my odds of collecting the whole lot. I haven’t been to the public library in years — it may be time for a visit.

On a related note, if you love the fashion described in the books as much as I do, I suggest checking out this Reddit sub for some Phryne #styleinspo.

For Christmas, one of the gifts I bought my husband was a copy of the Atlas Obscura, which struck me as the sort of thing he would enjoy; he is forever looking up obscure factoids on Wikipedia, and emerging from some unlikely rabbit hole hours later, way past his bedtime (ahem). To be honest, though, it also looked like the kind of book I would enjoy reading as well, and indeed I have been dipping in and out of it over the last few weeks. It’s similar to an encyclopedia, except with more photos. Would definitely recommend for the adventurer-at-heart in your life.

Branching out a bit from the usual here, but I would be remiss if I did not tell you to watch the new Victoria series on PBS (Sunday nights). I have been waiting for this show to come to our side of the Pond for months, and so far it has not disappointed. If you’re a stickler for historical accuracy, you may be disappointed; but if you love watching gorgeous people wearing gorgeous clothes on gorgeous sets, then you will be hooked. The cast is led by Jenna Coleman, whom you may recognize from Doctor Who (which I have not watched since Rose and the Tenth Doctor parted ways) and who is fantastic as teenage “Vicky”, and Rufus Sewell, who is always fantastic and whom you may recognize from my occasional drooling posts. Sewell plays Lord Melbourne, who was a sort of (much older) father figure to the young queen at the beginning of her reign, prior to her marriage to the “dreamboat” Albert. By rights, this should make the Vicbourne “ship” a tough sail except that I am *totally* on-board, no questions asked — and that is even after Lord M rocked some truly unfortunate looking high-waisted trousers in the premiere episode. Albert who? I have an enormous soft spot for RS as Aurelio Zen — another, too short-lived “must watch” series — but Lord M might be one of my favourite roles of his to date. His chemistry with Jenna Coleman is strong enough to make me sit through the palace servants’ Downton Abbey knockoff storyline without too much grumbling.

[Fun historical fact: Lord M was married to Caroline Lamb, who had an infamous fling with Lord Byron. The spouses apparently reconciled after the scandal, only to separate again later. He never remarried. He also didn’t look as dashing as Rufus Sewell but then again, nobody does. The man would have chemistry with a phone book, and I volunteer to play the part of said phonebook in any future screen adaptation.]

On to some interesting articles … this Refinery29 post took a look at the (typically negative) way in which women with fertility issues are portrayed in pop culture — The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, anyone? Personally, I think it’s just a part and parcel of the problematic way that women in general are depicted — female characters are frequently either negative stereotypes, Mary Sue improbabilities, or completely lacking in agency. And I say that as a white woman, who at least gets to see characters who look like her, no matter how unsatisfactory their personalities and actions. Invisibility in the media is still, in 2017, a thing that women of colour have to deal with, sadly. On that note, I am really excited to go see Hidden Figures.

On a style-related noted, The Fashion Law recently featured a good article on counterfeit couture. Knock-off designer bags are a well-known issue in the industry and among consumers, but few people realize how pervasive counterfeiting is; everything can and is being knocked-off, from clothes, to all kinds of accessories, to perfume and make-up — and with the off-shoring of so much luxury manufacturing, the counterfeits are becoming harder and harder to distinguish from the real deal. One thing that the article did not touch upon was the dark side of the counterfeit business; I know that, in the past at least, the trade in knock-off bags was linked to gang activity, which added a whole other level of ethical/moral issues to the discussion. I’m not sure if the same is true nowadays, and particularly in respect of high end counterfeits, and I’d be interested to read more on that topic.


Jan
2017

What I Read: Growth & Progress

categories: Books, Reading

I mentioned in my last What I Read post that I’d been exploring the literature on Enneagram typology, and one of the best things to come from that has been my discovery of Constructive Living by David Reynolds. It’s a very short book, and as straightforward as they come, but it’s full of actionable prompts for personal growth based on/inspired by a form of therapy originating in Japan (with strong roots in Zen Buddhism). I found it through an Enneagram-focused blog, which recommended it as a must-read for Type 4s, but I think the takeaways would be relevant to a broader range of people. [Note/Warning: there were a couple of references to homosexuality that I found questionable, which may be due to the fact the book was originally written in the early 80s.]

For fellow parents, I would recommend All Joy, No Fun by Jennifer Senior. It is not — I repeat, it is NOT — a parenting book. You won’t necessarily learn new techniques for dealing with colicky babies or boundaries-pushing toddlers, but you will probably recognize yourself on every page … and laugh or cry depending on the chapter. It’s a book about parenthood: what it means, and what it does to us. After I finished it, I decided that it was going to be the only book I would ever give parents-to-be from now on; and then I changed my mind. I think it’s best appreciated by people who are (already or still) in the thick of it (whether with babies, toddlers, or older kids). One of the most important tools I had as a parent-to-be (maybe the only one, haha!) was my blind optimism. This book is for people on the other side of that optimism, who are probably wondering: now what? Or, perhaps, what next? It reassures parents that their struggles are universal and, most importantly, that they are doing just fine.

Moving on to some good internet reads. The Fashion Law concluded its series on the anti-laws of luxury marketing — you can read Part iii here. They also featured an interesting article about the “politics” of the (U.S.) First Lady’s wardrobe.

This older HuffPost article has a click-baity title (She Divorced Me Because I Left Dishes by the Sink — dun, dun, dun) but is an excellent reminder about the importance of expressing the love and gratitude we feel for our partners in ways that are meaningful to them, not necessarily to us. My husband and I don’t fight very often, but when we do it’s almost always over really dumb, minor sh*t involving household chores. I think the writer’s point that you don’t have to understand *why* something (you think is irrelevant and/or illogical) is important to your spouse; you just have to understand that it’s a question of feeling valued and respected for them, and pick your battles accordingly.

Lastly, I’m stealing this post from Xin’s news round-up because I found it really interesting as well: Refinery29 rounded up a bunch of people and asked them to share their most expensive purchase of 2016. I found the answers fascinating in the variety of both the items bought and the stories/rationalizations behind the purchases. I love reading people’s stories about money, and I often wish it wasn’t such a taboo subject in our society. For what it’s worth, my family’s most expensive purchase of 2016 was a king-size bed frame for our master bedroom (approx. $1,700, paid for with a cash-back credit card, with the total balance cleared each month). Feel free to share your stories in the comments if you’re feeling up to it.