Summer Reading List

Article Posted on Monday, June 13th, 2011 at 9:00 am

As of yet, I have only met one other person weird enough to do this, so please don’t judge me too harshly. When I was little, I loved summer vacation but was sick & twisted enough that I couldn’t just be content to ride my bike and watch television all summer. Instead, I would make Goal Lists and one was always filled with books I wanted to read. So this summer, I thought I’d share. Some I’ve read before and just want to read again, some are brand new, and I should also probably warn you that while I abhor adult fiction, I am totally obsessed with children’s books. Here goes…

from the Top, Left to Right:
Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman
Me: Stories of My Life by Katharine Hepburn
Encyclopedia of the Exquisite by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins
The Book of Vice by Peter Sagal
The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Wil Wheaton
Painting as a Pastime by Winston Churchill
Edward Lear’s Nonsense Omnibus
The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell
The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell
I Love Her That’s Why by George Burns
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
Samantha: An American Girl by Susan S. Adler

I totally scored at Borders!

Article Posted on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at 10:26 pm

from top to bottom:
The Bucolic Plague / A Moveable Feast / A Covert Affair / Marilyn Monroe: Fragments

March’s Lit. List

Article Posted on Saturday, March 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm

Here are a few of the book that I’ve really been enjoying this month…

The Tao of Pooh & The Te of Piglet : by Benjamin Hoff

It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be : by Paul Arden

The Martha Rules : the incomparable Martha Stewart

Creative, Inc. : Meg Mateo Ilasco & Joy Deangdeelert Cho

What are you reading?

Article Posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at 3:37 pm

I know this is the international month of trashy romance novels, but I have a confession. I detest fiction! Unless it was written by Jane Austen or written for 12 year olds who aspire to be Harriet the Spy, I prefer to live my own life rather than reading about the fantastical world of someone who doesn’t exist. However, I’m not cold-hearted altogether–I freely admit there is one thing I really *love* on this earth (besides Husband & Dexter, of course) and that is FOOD! And, I really *love* these 2 books that center around food so for February’s *Lovely* Lit List, I thought I’d share. Each has their own little taste of romance but, being autobiographical, each story is more about substance and a woman finding her ultimate life partner rather than the nonsensical happenstances found in a Candace Bushnell novel.

My Life in France
by Julia Child
I found this book completely magical. I am, like so many others a huge fan of Julia Child (& her yummy cream-filled soup recipes) and this book was like being transported to a different time. Plus, there are several pages of pictures, and I just can’t resist the idea of sending out Valentine cards each year instead of Christmas cards. Also, if you are a hopeless romantic, the love of Julia & Paul Child is so evident it will just warm your heart!

A Homemade Life: Stories & Recipes from my Kitchen Table
by Molly Wizenberg
This book is magical in its own right. Molly Wizenberg (who you may be a fan of because of her blog, Orangette, or her podcast with Matthew Amster-Burton called Spilled Milk) does a beautiful job of interweaving stories from her life with the recipes and the people that she loves. I am not a very tender-hearted person when I read, but I have to tell you I felt such a connection when she spoke of her relationship with her father, finding the man of her dreams, and let me tell you, the stories of her time abroad were just too much! Read it. You’ll love it!

What are you reading?

Article Posted on Sunday, January 2nd, 2011 at 11:18 pm

Well ladies, it’s that time of year again–the time when we make a commitment to be the better woman. We promise to exercise just enough to gain a little more Aniston without totally losing our JLo, to act more like a Marilyn in the bedroom and a Jackie in front of our mothers, to read enough real books that we could dine with Sarah Vowell but not cut back on the tabloids too much… you know, just in case we ever do get the chance to dish with Joan Rivers.

With this in mind, I have put together a little study material a la Secrets of a Belle. Each book designed in its own unique way to shape you into the ultimate woman for the year to come. Enjoy!

Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? by Pamela Keogh
I downloaded this one onto my Kindle 1st thing, and thus far it has been my favorite book to curl up with on the couch. It’s a little repetitive but the girly biographical information and the inspiring beauty tips make it super inspiring.

The American Girl’s Handy Book by Lina & Adelia Beard
First published in 1887 and written by the founders of Girl Scouts in America, this book is totally out of date when it comes to gender roles but it is pretty awesome to skim at the beginning of a new season. It’s full of recipes, crafts, & games for Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter, and even if you aren’t planning on actually doing any of the activities in the book, I think the peak into the past totally makes it worth the read.

A Year in High Heels: The Girl’s Guide to  Everything from Jane Austen to the A List by Camilla Morton
I got this book at the beginning of this year and got totally hooked. It’s the perfect book to put in the bathroom and read whenever you take a bubble bath.

The Message
I’ve never actually read through the Bible. I’m a preacher’s kid; I know all the stories, but the Old Testament always seems to put me to sleep. This year, I’m determined to actually get through it for myself. I think with the Message translation it will be much easier. Also, as a side note, Husband suggested I mention his favorite verse: “My brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a smooth man.” Genesis 27:11

Style by Kate Spade
That’s right, the style icon herself wrote a book all about her favorite fashionistas. Do I really need to say more?

True Prep by Lisa Birnbach
This book is hilarious. That’s all there is to it. I had seen the book on several preppy blogs when it was released late last year, but I was really convinced to buy it because my *favorite* designer, Chip Kidd, designed it (and did a fantastic job if I might add!). I read it right before I go to sleep because it’s sort of mindless and I can read as much or as little as I please at a time, but it is full of really cool anecdotes about preps both throughout history & today and current preppy destinations & clothing companies. I highly recommend it!

New monthly feature: Lit. List

Article Posted on Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 11:22 am

1.) This classic is the 2nd grown-up book I ever read (after Anne of Green Gables). I read it for the 1st time when I was about 10 years old at the recommendation of my mother. She’s a particularly picky reader so when she recommends a book, it is a *must* read! Since then, Louisa May Alcott has been one of my very favorite authors, and each Christmas I’ve had to at least skim through it. I don’t read much fiction so this year I think I’m going to have to pick it up and really read it–cover to cover. I collect old copies so if you see a particularly pretty one be sure to let me know!

2.) As I’ve mentioned before, Borders is my all-time *favorite* store! I can spend hours, not to mention hundreds, there! Last year, while browsing, I came across this book and was immediately taken in by the gorgeous illustrations inside. Contrary to the pretty modern cover and the slim, thin size, the inside of the book is packed with so many old black and white illustrations it can take hours to browse properly. It’s also filled with quotes, short facts and a few stories taken from holidays of years gone by. I highly recommend setting it somewhere this holiday season where it can be browsed by guests or enjoy it yourself with a mug of hot cider.

3.) As you can probably imagine, I have a bazillion holiday books stashed away that come out each December. I’m pretty sure it makes Husband a little crazy and while I do plan on doing some weeding out this year, there are a few that must stay. Santa’s Toy Shop and Jingle Bells are 2 of those. The classic, colorful illustrations always put me in the Christmas spirit. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Little Golden Book?

4.) For my new, nerdy reading this month, I’m hoping to pick up these 2 books before we leave for Chicago. The 1st, Twain’s Feast, is by Andrew Beahrs and documents a homesick Twain’s fantasy menu from a trip to Europe in 1878 & 1879. Sick of eating in European hotels, Twain couldn’t wait to get home to butter beans and apple fritters. Sounds like my kind of guy. Speaking of which, I am also pretty interested to read Twain’s autobiography that was finally released uncensored and in it’s entirety. He has such a gift for putting the reader in a specific place & time. Plus, he exaggerates in all his writing just enough that I stay interested… I’m sure his autobiography will be no different in that regard!