Woman does NOT live by a nifty wardrobe alone! And you’ve got to step away from the screen sometimes and read… (well yes, reading on an e-reader is still a screen, but I don’t count those…)
This is the time of year when a lot of us need gift ideas, or just a good read to curl up with in the cold weather. (you in the Southern Hemisphere need a book for a warm-weather vacation, no?)
And I’ve got LOTS of books stacked up around Chez Janice & Belovedest. Oh my…
First – the book your best girlfriend that you’ve never met wrote to keep you focused on being happy, and on being your very best. Fiona gives us all permission to talk to (and listen to!) the woman inside of us who has style and whimsy and exceptionally good taste:
And of course, let’s not forget the ever-elegant Tish Jett. Tish was one of the bloggers that really got me “into” blogging; when she was writing her first book, she let me put guest posts on her blog ALL THE TIME. Yes, it was helpful to her, I hope, but it also got me a lot of exposure and helped me find many of the lovely readers of The Vivienne Files who have meant so much to me… Her new book is beautiful – the sheer quality of this object is delightful. Beautiful paper, beautiful graphics and illustrations, and of course it’s a really good book!
If you would like to know more about minimal living, there’s nobody better to read than Courtney Carver. She’s the lovely woman who came up with Project 333, and when you read her writing, you can see the benefits of a more streamlined material existence, as well as that of a less cluttered social life. She reminds us that the best things in life are indeed not thing things that need a storage container!
The most amazing book I’ve read about minimalism might be “Goodbye, Things” by Fumio Sasaki. The people featured in this book have edited the material aspects of their lives as far as can reasonably be achieved. It’s not a style of living that we can all emulate, but it’s fascinating to see how very simply live can be lived if that’s your first priority.
If all of the celebrations around the end of World War One have you curious about how that whole mess got started, Barbara Tuchman wrote the definitive book about the lead-up to the war… She’s a lucid writer who makes the story riveting. You’re rooting for everyone to get things settled and NOT go to war, even when you know full well how the story ends:
Speaking of wars, there are some in the history of the US about which I know shockingly little – the Mexican War, and the Spanish American War have both been gaping, glaring holes in my education. Michael Beschloss to the rescue, with a book that tells the stories of presidents during wartime in a way that is as far from dry history as possible – this is a page-turner!
On a completely different subject, if you’re recently become interested in soccer, or know someone who has, Ruud Gullit’s book is a must-read in order to better understand what in the world’s going on during a match that keeps everybody so riveted. Originally titled “How to Watch Football,” it’s been re-titled for the US market…
If you’re interested in reading something unlike any book you’ve ever read (unless you’re Buddhist), The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a fascinating look at how death can be approached by people who believe in reincarnation. You might not make it all the way through, and some of this might be confusing as heck, but there are passages in this that are beautiful and give me great encouragement and comfort:
There are so many books that I could discuss here – I could easily write a blog entirely about books (if I had no need for sleep…)! But I’m wrestling with a small stomach virus, so I’m going to stop here and let you all pick up the conversation. I know you’ve read something wonderful just recently – share it with us all!
love,
Janice
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A book that I continue to enjoy for the pure visual fun and pleasure of it is “Dancers among us” by Jordan Matter
Barbara Tuchman is fantastic. Francophiles should also check out her book, “A Distant Mirror” about 14th century France.
That was my first grown up reading, back when I was 12 years old! (My parents are both historians and it was in my home library). Tuchman passed away many years ago and she was not beloved by the academia, but for those of us with lower standars (or less constraints) hers is a delightful style. I’m wonderfully surprised to see her books mentioned in this list!
Love “A Distant Mirror” used parts of it in art history classes
I’m sorry to hear you have the flu too. As for books, I am getting ready for Christmas with Christmas mysteries. Just received “The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries,” https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mysteries-Vintage-Crime-Lizard/dp/0345802985/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1542189651&sr=1-3&keywords=Christmas+mysteries Here’s hoping we recuperate!
Decluttering at the Speed of Life!
My pick for readers of the Vivienne Files is The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson. The central character is a schoolteacher in an English village before and during World War I. It’s a beautifully written portrayal of the wide ranging effects of war on individuals and their communities. Simonson’s treatment of women characters and their life situations is eye-opening and certainly made me glad I am a 21st-century woman. And it’s just a great read. Highly recommended, and the audiobook is excellent.
And I must add – if anyone out there has not read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, do not deny yourself this pleasure! It is a beautiful story of integrity, friendship, decency, love, and history. It is my Book of the Millennium!
Yes, Gentleman in Moscow! One of the best novels I’ve read (and reread) in a long time!
I so enjoyed a Gentleman In Moscow! One of the best I have read this year.
Thanks for the introduction to Imor Towles. I was in need of a new author so chose to start by reading Rules of Civility which I am enjoying greatly and will follow it up with A gentleman from Moscow. Always a pleasure to discover a new source of literature. ☺
I’ve read some wonderful books over the past few months so it is difficult to pick just a few.
.The Weight of Ink – a huge book but couldn’t put it down. The story of two women, living 400 years apart and how their stories come together.
.The Gravity of Birds – the story of two sisters and the artist who has such an impact on both their lives.
.Red Joan – about a British spy for the Russians who is discovered when in her 90’s – based on a true story
.A Gentleman in Moscow – fascinating look at Russia and the effects of the Revolution on individual lives – through the eyes of a Count sentenced to house arrest in the Hotel Metropol
.For a light but delightful read The Darling Dahlias series – about a garden club group who also solve mysteries but the twist is – they take place in small town Alabama during the Depression of the 1930’s. An insight into their lives and how they and others coped – along with some good mysteries.
Enjoy – and feel better soon Janice.
The Weight Of Ink, hands down, is at the top of the list of all time favourite books I’ve read. Compelling characters, and just when you think yulouve got it figured out, the author throws a curve ball to keep things interesting. I want to read it again, and I just finished it!
A wonderful book for those of us who love France is “Paris to the Past: Traveling through French History by Train” by Ina Caro. She writes about a series of one day train trips from Paris to outlying historical sites. It’s a historical travelogue written by someone who truly loves this country. Great ideas for exploring outside of Paris.
Soulful Simplicity made me happy. I still quote from that book ? And speaking of Veterans Day, I’m reading Hue 1968 by Mark Bowden. Love this post and you! ?
The Lost Art of Dress by history professor\dressmaker Laura Przyszyzewski is the amazing story of the brilliant t women who founded the profession of home economics and made life-changing impact on rural and urban women, and the economy, esp. In the first half of the 20th ceentury. Fascinating insights to timeless fashion and fashion’s intersection with sociology, economics,, psychology, and media.
I love Anne Lamott and just finished her latest – Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. I find her books very soothing, especially when everything in the world seems so crazy!
An absolute must read is Ron Chernow’s bio, “Grant”. Besides realizing that everything you thought you knew about the man was wrong, you will understand the Civil War better than watching Ken Burns, understand how endemic racism is in U.S. culture, and see how voter intimidation and corrupt elections are a Southern tradition for over 150 years. You’ll also get a chance to spend time with a fascinating person, see how people can be flawed but still do good, and enjoy reading about a couple who were very much in love. Obama was right in recommending this book.
What? No mention of the hot off the presses book by your fellow Chicagoan? I can’t wait to read “Becoming” by Michelle OBama. I hope it has lots of photos. In color. That woman kills it in color.
Recently saw Liane Moriarty on her book tour for “Nine Perfect Strangers” – you may remember her other book, “Big Little Lies” and she is involved in the sequel to the HBO series coming.
For Vivienne Readers, especially on the WW1 kick, I recommend The Alice Network historical fiction based on true women’s spy network back and forth across the front in France.
loving your recommendations! Thank you!
I recommend reading “Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys. It follows a small group of refugees towards the end of WW2. It is a beautifully written story based on true events. The characters stayed in my thoughts long after I finished reading it. It made me feel very fortunate to have the life that I live and a passport with the freedom to travel.
What is the title of the first recommendation? Fiona? thanks
30 More Chic Days by Fiona Ferris…
Thank you everyone for this fabbo reading list. I see a wonderful (Southern Hemisphere) summer of reading ahead.
For novels set in contemporary America, I enjoy anything by Anna Quindlen. Kent Harfur is another favourite US author. And for writing set in my own beautiful part of the world, Tasmania (Australia), a debut novel called Flames by Robbie Arnott. It is the best fiction I’ve read about our special landscape and people’s relationships with it, and with each other.
The Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear.
And the Kate Shackleton series by Frances Brody.
There are so many books to choose from! Monsieur bought The Guns of August to reread. Through a Distant Mirror is a great insight into the Middle Ages. My book club is waiting for A Gentleman in Moscow. My choice for Vivienne file readers would be Composing a Life or Composing a Further Life by Mary Catherine Bateson.
What is the title of the Michael Beschles novel? I checked Amazon, but he has written so many I was not sure about it. Get feeling better soon. You are the best; just turned my daughter on to you and she’s thrilled and shopping…smile.
Ah, the Michael Beschloss is NOT a novel – it’s a history book called The War Presidents. He’s a good story-teller, even when he’s working with non-fiction!
hugs,
Janice
I recommend anything by Tana French. Her Dublin murder squad series features interlinked characters, locations and stories in modern Dublin and her most recent The Witch Elm is a stand-alone novel (jus starting it—please don’t spoil the plot). Great fall/winter reading.
If you like a bit of magic mixed in with your murder mystery, you can’t beat the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. His love of London suffuses his writing. The sense of place is palpable. The characters are eccentrically daft (really the main character is quite clueless). I read the first of these and just plain devoured the rest of the series this year and now there is a new book out. Great time to start if you love English mystery.
Hope you feel better soon, Janice.
I read goodbye things this past year and it made me sad and bothered me. The author mentioned a colleague who had a hundred friends but the downfall was that he had to attend a hundred parties. Why would that be a bad thing?? He also mentioned giving up internet at home and he could stay late at cafes using their internet and the waitstaff would stay later since he was there. I thought that was very inconsiderate to those people who probably wanted to go home to their families. I read the book mainly in hopes of understanding the minimalist life, but it just felt so lonely and bare to me. It did help me understand myself more clearly as I contrasted my choices/thoughts with the author’s. I think minimalism looks different for different people. The author did point this out.
The book “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” sounds interesting. I’m always into fictional book, I guess I want to read something news this season. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for the book recommendations. I too am a fiction reader, but my son passed away a few months ago and I am trying to make sense of his passing. “The Tibetian Book of Living and Dying” is a beautiful book. I love that is references near death experiences. There is so much wisdom in this book. Thank you for all you do. patval