It's June — time for the annual summer reading poll!
Please recommend a great book to add to our summer reading lists, and tell us what fragrance we should wear while reading it.
The last two books I finished are The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths (the latest in her mystery series about forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway) and Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley. For the first one, you'll need an Italian citrus — Carthusia Mediterraneo would do nicely. For Jane Austen, presumably you need a decent lavender water, perhaps from Floris?
Note: top image is Free Library @ 24th & Arthur, Eugene, Oregon [cropped] by Rick Obst at flickr; some rights reserved.
Up with the sun today, courtesy of my 4 yo. I will probably spritz on some Eau Egyptienne and run a few errands soon.
I recently finished Barbara Cleverly’s The Last Kashmiri Rose, which is the first in a mystery series set in British India – would be a great summer read for mystery fans. Now I’m reading Robertson Davies’ The Salterton Trilogy, which is sort of dated and sort of brilliant.
Anyone want to recommend a good line of candles? I don’t like the ones I bought from Pacifica, and Diptyque is too expensive – would love to hear about your favorites!
I like Voluspa candles. They are soy and have some pretty and different scents. They also come in really pretty containers, glass and decorative tins among others. Their prices are moderate compared to the high end brands. They have a website if you are interested.
I agree about Voluspa candles. I have bought a number of different scents, and enjoyed them all.
Right now, I have Moso Bamboo, which is rather Zen and calm.
And, Pink Grapefruit, which is bright and happy. Eden & Pear is realistic and juicy; mine is just about gone.
I am extremely fond of my Papier d’Armenie candle, but it isn’t like they make a range of scents — there are only 3 and they are all variations on a theme.
Other than that, I seem to end up unhappy with most candles, cheap or expensive.
I’m partial to Woodwick candles. They make a nice crackling sound while they burn. Not sure if there’s a Crate & Barrel near you, but their line of scented candles smell good and are surprisingly affordable too.
I second the Woodwicks. They can often be found at Home Goods and Burlington Coat Factory. ????
Love Robertson Davies! What a gem of a storyteller!
The Kashan rose mystery series sounds fun (and the author’s name looks like an anagram of Beverly Cleary.)
According to David Sedaris, there are 2 candles worth burning – Diptyque and Cire Trudon 😉 https://nstperfume.com/2018/06/07/you-have-to-be-really-careful-about-scented-candles/#comments
At first glance, I thought it was Beverly Cleary 🙂
Ha, me too!
I was eyeing the Cire Trudon candles but I’m not willing to pony up for them right now! Same with Diptyque – I actually have one (rose) from a gift box and I find the scent to be a bit weak also.
+1!!
Kpaint, i am reading her new book and enjoying it.
DW Home is a good cheapie line that actually has good non-cloying scents and pretty good throw, though it can vary for their different candles. My favorites so far are Warm Pipe Tobacco and Wild Nectar Honey.
I also like LAFCO when I can find them on sale and Voluspa. You may want to also check out Nest and D.L. & Co. I have some of theirs that I haven’t burned yet, but unlit they are very fragrant.
I second the warm pipe tobacco. I burned that last night 🙂
I like the D.L. & Co. candles, and I find them occasionally at my local TJ Maxx, which is where I buy my candles. They also regularly have Aquiesse in stock, which I like for both the fragrances and the heavy glass containers. I am trying to burn only soy, which is getting more difficult to find (soy blend, anyone?), but I usually can manage to find one or two whenever I shop there.
Thanks for all the candle recs! I found both the Pacifica and Diptyque ones I tried to be weakly scented (though the Diptyque ones smelled great when you stood right next to them). The Voluspa site looks very tempting.
I actually typed Cleverly and Cleary before catching myself!
I am curious as to which Pacifica candles you tried? Last night I burned the Lilac one in the living room and the Island Vanilla in the kitchen and the whole house was scented. The Pacifica candles are now discontinued and no longer for sale on the website. So maybe give them another try down the road? Because you know what happens when you get rid of something…..later on you want it back 🙂 Just a thought……
I didn’t get much scent from the sandalwood or the amber. I have a few more I haven’t tried, including one lilac (which is my favorite scent of theirs) so I’ll give that one a shot next. Didn’t realize they were discontinued! And I never get rid of anything, for better or worse . . .
I agree with you…very little throw on both the Sandalwood and Amber candles…..the Lilac and the Island Vanilla were strong as I mentioned….also, the Tibetan Mountain Temple is amazing….makes the house smell like a gingerbread house….I also enjoyed the Persian Rose ….and Wakiki Pikaki is potent as well…..not sure which ones you have but some of the more fruitier ones can also smell up a room (Hawaiian Ruby Guava and Brazilian Mango Grapefruit which I have in mini candles). I happen to like the Pacifica candles because they are soy and burn clean and cost very little in comparison to other candles.
I love Robertson Davies. “Sort of dated, sort of brilliant” is an apt description of him!
Thanks again for all the candle suggestions. I was not familiar with the Woodwick candles, and I will definitely throw one of those in ye olde Amazon cart. And I will check out Voluspa as well.
Wearing Philosykos on one arm and Caligna on the other – Philosykos wins.
I have this book that is waiting for me to read it for a couple of months now and I just can’t find the right moment to begin. The book is “The Labyrinth of Spirits” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. No idea what perfume could be worn with it but since the story plot happens in Barcelona it probably could be something warm, summery.
Today I’m in Prada Infusion de Mandarine. It’s a new LOVE LOVE LOVE ♥ ♥ ♥
I enjoyed that book, and indeed read it at the beach a few years back.
Oh, no as soon as I posted that I realized I had the wrong book — I read his Shadow of the Wind.
I’m trying to read that right now, four weeks too late for my vacation there.
You know, now that I think of it that’s probably why I read it too…Barcelona.
The Labyrinth of The Spirits is the continuation of Shadow of The Wind.
Ooh, I might have to try that Prada Infusion. I love the Amande and Vetiver (which smells more like lemons than vetiver to me.)
I highly recommend, it’s fabulous
Thanks to You three – just ordered “The Shadow of The Night” and will look for the new Prada ! I just finished The Essex Serphent – thanks to Robin & another NST’ers recommendation- what a good read.
When is our next splimeet? I always have a hard time looking up dates for meets- my problem I am sure!
So glad you liked Essex Serpent!
Next splitmeet will not be til Sept / Oct.
Anything/everything Georgette Heyer. She wrote Regency romances, really they were the RomComs of their time (i like to think). Hilarious, sweet, and totally rereadable. She also wrote detective stories and some historical stuff.
I have kindle unlimited and a good half of her books are available for free.
I love mysteries, and Faith Martin is a recent favorite author. She has a series featuring a female detective, Hilary Greene, which i am really enjoying. Again, kindle unlimited available.
Lookong forward to seeing what everyone else suggests!
Oh, right, fragrance to wear. Something British for both, probably Penhaglion or Ormond Jayne. There’s enough range in those lines to cover the various main characters.
My mom was a huge Georgette Heyer fan! She read both the mysteries and the regency romances as well. I can still remember books scattered all over the house…
I read Georgette Heyer. Thanks for Faith Martin suggestion.
I have an old Helen MacInnes book on hold from library for download. Loved her years ago so am revisiting.
Oooh, will have to check out!
Oh! Excited for this poll. I don’t have much to offer. Just finished The Keeper of Lost Things, which was mentioned by an NSTer. I enjoyed that. So this is where I come to look for next items….
SOTR: Le Jardin de Monsieur Li from a Nordies sample. Heading out in a moment to Belmont Park. The husband went ahead to get train tickets. Here’s hoping for a Triple Crown! If Justify wins, this will go down as one of the best sports weeks for me ever…. The Caps (beloved from my youth) and The Warriors. Let’s keep the winning going!!
Oh, how exciting! Have a ton of fun at Belmont!
Thanks! I’ll enjoy being there. I enjoy the track. It’s the getting there and then getting home I dislike. So many people……
Oh, have fun! I love the track, too. I used to go annually but haven’t been in ages.
Big cheers for Justify! I really hope and think it will be the Triple Crown winner. Enjoy!
Have a great time at the Belmont! Sent my parents a few years ago and they had a blast. After that long drought, the 2010s could be like the 1970s all over again for TC winners. Go, Justify!
Hajusuuri would include this train ride in her commuting woes. Large group of very loud 20 somethings drinking and talking at the top of their lungs and then just yelling. Sigh. I hope they pace themselves ????. I popped in earplugs. Some instinct made me bring them. ????
Yes I would! Are they just immature that they have to act like a pack of animals when they are together en masse?
???? infuriating sometimes, isn’t it. Where has our civility gone?
Heh. They weren’t terribly uncivil. Just very high spirits. There was a lot of that during the day. I’m sure that energy wore off by evening.
You smell great! Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is great summer choice
Yyyyaaasss! LizzieB, hope it was all worth it. All hail JUSTIFY!
+1 such heart & will!!
Wow. That was fabulous. I’m spraying on more Monsieur Li to refresh myself.
I think a tear rolled down my cheek as they went by near the finish. I kept yelling “just run baby!” through the race. Such a treat to watch a horse that just loves to run like that.
My guess is they’ll run him again in The Haskell at Monmouth. They did that with Pharoah.
Right now I’m embedded in the ~900 page A True Novel by Minae Mizumura. Almost halfway there but I’m really enjoying it. I think something grand but stately would suit the story, maybe Odalisque?
My friend who works at a bookstore also gave me a book they just received, Die, My Love, by Ariana Harwicz. It sounds really engrossing, though I have not cracked the spine. The summary makes me think original Opium would suit the themes.
Have a great weekend, all!
Have you read Minae Mizumura’s other novel Inheritance from Mother? I discovered it through a leading list Victoria (from Bois de Jasmin) posted and it’s really good.
Will have to look for this one too!
I haven’t but I did pick it up from my local Half Price! I don’t read very quickly these days though.
Love your book recommendations!
Aw, thanks!
I LOVED Inheritance from Mother. Music was more suited to the bittersweet, funny and tortured relationships than any one scent. Maybe Mito, giving hopefulness.
Happy weekend, everyone! I’m in a mix of Kumba Made Arabian Rose and a bit of Tunisian Patchouli, and getting ready for my morning walk.
Breakfast was a homemade egg McMuffin. Tea was the last of the My Morning Mate from Teavana. I will miss this tea! Does anyone have a suggestion for a substitute?
Umm, okay, I can curl up and read a cookbook like it’s a novel, so my recommendation is Whole Grain Mornings, by Megan Gordon. Lots of good breakfast ideas, things to prepare ahead of time, and she combines ingredients in a way I haven’t tried before. Also, I like her writing style – she has a sweet, down to earth voice, and weaves her personal history into the recipe comments in a low-key way. Fragrance pairing: PdN L’eau Mixte, a nice, summery citrus.
My mother has always read cookbooks that way! There was an author I used to really like (not Nora Ephron, though she does it too) that interspersed recipes in the prose. I am probably going to remember who it is about 3 weeks from now, just before I fall asleep 🙂
Dianne Mott Davidson writes mysteries like that. Her protagonist Is a caterer named Goldie.
I read a hilarious retort by the wife in a divorce case where the husband complained that she read cookbooks in bed. « Yes I did read cookery books in bed, and he might ask himself why. ». Touché!
LOL!
One of the terrible things I was apparently guilty of when my exhusband told me he wanted a divorce was I roasted chicken on Sundays.
The horror!!!
So you could have cooked chicken available for recipes during the week?!? Well, of all the nerve. ????
Wow. Who knew that could be irritating…actually cooking good food.
I love reading cookbooks cover to cover! Especially ones from a cuisine I’ve never had before. Thanks for the rec.
You’re welcome! ????
I love reading cookbooks too, far more than actually cooking. :-). I only bake, and have read Reagan Daly’s In the Sweet Kitchen many times.
Thanks for the suggestion! I just ordered a used copy on Amazon. It looks like a great reference good for baking.
I had fresh homemade scones for breakfast and bergamot lavender black tea. Yum! Cool and sunny. I’m about to make an apple pie for a picnic this evening, wearing Amouage Fate. Happy Saturday to all!
Scones!!! Did someone say scones!!!
Inviting myself over
Come on over! I have double Devon cream and apricot jam to go with. 🙂
Delicious things are happening at your house! Enjoy the picnic, how fun!
A picnic complete with homemade apple pie sounds like a perfect summer endeavor, have fun!
Great mind think alike…I bought fresh apricots and made a pie and pairing it with Limocello ice cream and Alahine 🙂
I also made a blackberry pie with fresh berries as well.
I made rhubarb streusel.
I just saw rhubarb at the grocery store today! That will be my next pie.
YUm yum Yum…I am coming over 🙂
Please do! A pie lasts forever when there are only 2 people in the house.
Rhubarb! My grandma grew it and would make a streusel. So yummy.
Your pies sound fantastic!
It was an NST post recently where a perfumer….(middle aged brain does NOT remember which one) commented that his favorite smell that transports him to childhood is an apricot pie….I was inspired…so I bought fresh apricots, sliced them, added them to a pie crust with a few sprinklings of sugar and baked….it came out absolutely delicious….then I did the same with blackberries but I haven’t tried that one yet……
Thierry Wasser!
THANK YOU ROBIN!!!!! I knew your brain was better than mine!!! I was scrolling through old posts trying to find it , unsucessfully. When I initially read that post I was inspired to make a simple pie. So, yesterday I got a frozen pie shell and eight fresh apricots. I sliced the apricots and placed them in the pie shell, topped off with a tiny sprinkling of sugar and baked for 40 minutes at 375. It was so delicious (tart and tangy) and I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing.
I found it!!!
https://www.thecut.com/2018/06/guerlain-master-perfumer-thierry-wassers-favorite-scents.html
Can you just ADOPT me??❤️❤️❤️❤️
Come on over, Angela….I will feed you and spray you silly 🙂
I just finished the novel, Circe by Madeline Miller.
Amazing!
I just loved it. It’s the story of Circe, the goddess who trapped Odysseus on her island. It’s the story of her life, and how she becomes her true self.
Sounds trite, when I write it like that, but it was lovely, from beginning to end.
Oops!
Wearing Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi would be just about perfect!
Circeis on my list to read one of these days. Glad you liked it!
I recently read it too. I thought it was beautifully written!
Freshwater is on my reading list, will be it up from the library today
Thanks to Deva for the paint color advice, we are currently painting the kids room http://m.behr.com/h5/mobile/en_US/color_details?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.behr.com%2Fconsumer%2FColorDetailView%2FPPU9-7&null&s=ct
It’s brighter and more lime
In Songes!!
Finally Songes! 🙂
I smell fab!
Oh and this for our accent wall in the bedroom http://m.behr.com/h5/mobile/en_US/color_details?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.behr.com%2Fconsumer%2FColorDetailView%2FP490-4&null&s=ct
Gorgeous!
I didn’t mention this yesterday but when I saw the color combination of chartreuse and purple yesterday that she recommended (in the photo), I really liked it a lot! It reminded me of the Queen’s outfit for the recent royal wedding–kind of a lime green with purple, unusual ad striking.
Yes! Loved the Queen’s outfit, my two favourite colours.
Just started a re-read of Robert Jordan’s EPIC ‘Wheel of Time.’ No scent yet this morning, but I think Dryad would suit the greenery described in the current story setting.
Quick question: I am going to Seattle for the first time next month, and would love to know if there are any perfume stops worth making?
Check out Essenza in the Fremont neighborhood. They have a nice range of niche, and Fremont is a fun place to hang out. Otherwise, it’s mainly the downtown department stores, like the flagship Nordstrom. There’s a small shop downtown called Parfumerie Nasreen that I’ve never been to. They seem to carry more expensive lines, and my impression is that it’s not an easy place to browse and sniff, but more of a place where you’re expected to purchase. Reviews are mixed, so I’ll let you decide. I can definitely recommend Essenza though!
Also, there’s a pretty new Le Labo store in Capitol Hill. Aesop stores are in both Fremont and Capitol Hill.
Thank you so much! I have added both Nasreen and Essenza to the list!!
One of my all time favorites for summer is The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Since I don’t really like aquatics, I would suggest EL White Linen.
Oh! I like that one too. Years ago I was part of a monthly book discussion group. We had a lively talk about The Mermaid Chair. Now I want to read it again.
THAT was a great book! She’s a phenomenal writer IMHO!
Coincidentally, I downloaded The Mermaid Chair just yesterday, via an ebook deal aggregator called Book Bub. It’s next up on my list!
If you’re looking for a strong female character, I recommend “Dalva” by one of my all time favorite authors, Jim Harrison. He passed away in 2016 I believe, while writing at his desk in the middle of the night. Fabulous poet as well. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/17/overlooked-classics-dalva-jim-harrison
I think SSS Winter Woods or Forest Walk would be ideal since much of his writing is about nature and our place in it.
I’m commando and sipping disappointingly tepid coffee.
sorry about the coffee, hope a better cup is coming your way someday soon. 😉
Just added Dalva to my reading queue at my public library, and thanks for the poem link you posted yesterday. I decided to step away from the keyboard for most of Friday, so I read it this morning. Poetry is a perfect start to the day, it tickles the brain in interesting ways.
A great American poet, a wonder with words, and if I am remembering him correctly, Stevens did most of his work after the age of 50!
You’re welcome and glad you liked it. I love Stevens…He was a master wordsmith for sure!
How about some Forest therapy?
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-forest-therapy-can-be-good-for-your-body-and-mind/
Oh, I think I may have practiced that and not realized there was a name for it. ????????
Me too. I love forests. We have a mini-forest at one end of our yard – several firs, a couple of hemlocks, a chanticleer pear, and one pine with long downward facing needle bundles that look like little green ballerina tutus and when they fall make a nice forest floor for ivy and rhodies and occasional blackberry vines. Very peaceful.
I’m moving into your back yard! ????
And you can get certified to be a professional forest therapy guide!
I read that (or a similar article recently.) Apparently I’m in the minority in that forests/the woods/open nature areas that are too remote stress me out.
I have to assume that my anxiety comes from not at all pleasant experiences in such places as a child and teenager.
Here on the news they said that being near trees is stress-reducing. You don’t have to be out in the woods to enjoy trees. I love walking in our local park every morning with the dog and that relaxes me a lot.
My fear of the Forest is accidentally stepping into a hidden hole or onto poo.
I read several books while on vacation last week, including two by Scandinavian writers I was previously unfamiliar with. My favorite of the two was A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Lovely story that explores how one never really knows what’s going on inside another person’s head. Made me fall a bit in love with the main character, a rather surly curmudgeon. If I’d been at home, I would have worn Lostmarc’h Iroaz for its austerity (because Ove wouldn’t understand the need to wear perfume … although he would, inexplicably to himself, enjoy it anyway).
This morning I’m in the last gasps of the Broken Theories I spritzed on at bedtime last night, but after I shower I need to decide on something soothing yet non-intrusive for an appointment with a new-to-me hair person. Eek.
I loved the Ove book, made me cry and laugh. I think Ove wouldn’t understand perfumes that need to smell of anything else but flowers. So I’d be wearing a tame floral with that book 🙂
Ove! Last summer I watched the movie and cried and cried some more. So perfectly human and heartbreaking. I must read the book soon.
The book gives a bit more nuance to the character, you’ll love him even more after! I saw the movie and thought it was quite well done .
His internal dialog is priceless. I haven’t seen the movie – hard to imagine the film handling all of his held-in thoughts and history.
Oh, I discovered Ove a couple of months ago! The perfect book at just the right time. I cried and laughed, too. I’ve never smelled it, but by name alone, I wonder if CDG Concrete would be a good fit?
I agree! Too bad CdG never did Corrugated Aluminum or Saab Engine. 🙂
Hahaha Saab Engine, brilliant!
Good luck at the appointment! I get a little tongue tied in those situations. ☺️
Thanks Nancy – I do too. My former stylist was great at making conversation while doing brilliant things with my hair, and I have more than a little trepidation about today’s session. But I love the salon, and they do very thorough training, so at least my hair should survive. 🙂
Your book recommendation sounds interesting! I will check it out! As to changing hairdressers, I haven’t but dread the day I have to. I’ve been going to the same one for more than half my life and that’s older than some people here.
You’ve been very lucky, hairwise. I followed one hair person through about five salon changes (over 15 years or so) and finally had to give up. After her, I went back to my favorite of the salons she had worked at and found the last one, who I adored and who recently decided to change careers.
A Man Called Ove is a wonderful book. It is harshly truthful and warm and loving at the same time. Have you read the new one Bear Town?
No, Ove was my first and so-far only Backman. Is Bear Town one you would recommend?
I haven’t read Bear Town yet. It’s about a small town and it’s junior league hockey team. I think there is talk it will be a movie. I am looking forward to reading it.
And? Need to know the outcome of the hair appointment… have put Ove on my list.
She did great! My hair grows really fast so she might not have taken quite enough length off, but the shape and texturing are just right. The length thing will become clear in about two weeks. And I like her – she’s no-nonsense in a friendly and reassuring way … if that makes sense. Overall, a positive experience.
My partner and I are currently reading a chapter of The Hobbit aloud each night in front if the fire (it’s winter at my place). Ormonde Jayne Woman would be just perfect for this! Unfortunately I don’t have any at the moment 🙁
Right now I’m on night duty skim reading an old favourite The Night Circus on breaks. No scent allowed at the hospital but I’m imagining I’ve got on some Dzing! Or perhaps some Mohur… it is a very extravagant setting and the story has a romantic heart.
Oh, my husband and I love doing the reading aloud together and it’s been too long since we’ve done it. We read The Yearling together a couple winters ago, he had never read it and I hadn’t read it since high school. It’s that long since I’ve read the Hobbit, too.
Isn’t it fun? Such a wintery activity to share. The Yearling is a perfect book for it too. I’m afraid my Gollum voice freaks the fella out a little bit though 😉 I love doing voices and accents!
My preciousssssssssss…
Hehehe 🙂
The last book I loved was The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery, a vintage gem of a time capsule with the best quirky heroine, one Valancy Stirling. I’m sure many of you have read it but for some reason, I didn’t find it until this past winter. As for perfume to wear while reading, I would suggest a vintage perfume of your choice, mine would be My Sin.
How interesting — I will check that out! I loved the Anne books, like everyone else, but hadn’t even heard of The Blue Castle.
Oh, it’s such a satisfying love story! Don’t get the Kindle version though, it leaves off the ending which is the best part! I have it on Kindle but went to the library to reread it and it was so much better. It’s a lovely story.
Very good to know, thanks!
Oooh. sounds great like an interesting.
SotD = Infusion d’Amande
My little 5 ml decant is almost empty. Soon I will pour my “backup” 8 ml mini into the spritzer bottle. Hoping Amande will show up at the discounters so I can buy a bottle with less guilt.
hey! I’m also reading Jane Austen at Home. I like it a lot, and funny thing is, I wore Lavande Royale cologne when I read the first chapter a few days ago.
Things I’ve enjoyed reading from the past few months:
Happiness is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old – this one needs Chanel No. 5 and Shalimar, in honor of the oldest olds.
The Private Lives of the Impressionists – gets a misting of La Chasse aux Papillons, the most Impressionist perfume of all.
And I’ll mention one I re-read from time to time –Perfume: The Art and Science of Scent. This is a coffee table book published by National Geographic in the late 1990s that I love so much it survived a massive book purge a few years ago. I’ll wear PW Tea Rose to go with the amazing photos and writing about how roses are processed for the perfume industry.
Have a great weekend, everyone, hope you have time to read a lot and wear even more perfume.
Book twins!
And Perfume: The Art and Science of Scent is a great book, I think I reviewed it here ages ago.
Wow! You did review it, back in 2005! 😀
You smell great. Would be thrilled to see that at discounters….
Just saw hajusuuri’s comment that Amande has made an appearance at the discounters but is sold out at the moment.
I love Infusion d’Amande. My 8 ml decant from my mini is almost gone! Only took a year to go through it (a feat, no? 😉 ) and I will most definitely replace it.
My perfume books (and some vintage cookbooks) are the only tomes that survived my pre-move book purge last year.
I hope my 8 mls of Amande will last at least a year. Fingers crossed!
Oooh, that Prada is one of my favorite workday perfumes! You smell great.
I think that’s why I like Amande so much, I feel comfortable wearing it anytime and anywhere.
It’s at the discounters but sold out ATM.
augh! I missed it! I feel like Charlie Brown missing the football, but that’s good to know. 😀
Today I’m starting The Tunnel, a dark obsessive novel by Ernesto Sabato.
I’m too lazy to get out of bed just yet but I’ll pair it with Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau d’Ambre Extreme because it seems adequate to the mood!
Is this The Tunnel that was made into a Masterpiece Mystery?
It doesn’t seem so – the story is set in Argentina. But the series sounds quite interesting too!
My sweet NST friend sent me “Castle of Water” by Dane Hucklebridge. I read it in 2 days. Just finished the new “Calypso” by David Sedaris. Some stories I had read before, and this compilation was more melancholy. For me, his best was “Me Talk Pretty One Day”. I’m going to reread that for the millionth time.
So either going with Dior Addict edp, or Madera.
I had just added Calypso to my list. Need to figure out how much of it was already in the NYer. And I do think he’s gotten much darker. Or I just see things darker, I don’t know.
Robin, I’d be delighted to send my copy of Calypso to you. I think he has gotten darker. I wanted to laugh, and just didn’t happen. Maybe that wasn’t the point of this book, idk.
Hey, book exchange? I must have some book you want!
I cannot think of anything – but yes please email me if you’d like Calypso. Beas dot Beverly attt gemail dot com.
Robin, I found David Sedaris last book rather sour and have not looked foward with eagerness to this one. There was a time when I would laugh out loud while driving and listening.
I still love his pieces in the NYer, but yeah, he is darker, and maybe I find him funnier in small bits. I really noticed it after his sister died. I’d be less funny too.
Indeed. Our family has had a tough time since losing a young member in the military in March. Mothers Day, Memorial Day all very hard. Maybe thats another reason I didnt order it.
I am so sorry apsara! It is so hard to get over that kind of loss.
Thanks Robin,
I don’t think people get over it. They will have to move through it and try to find a way to live with it. Gold Star parents.
His early stuff is quite dark – moreso than his recent output, perhaps? I wonder if it’s more accurate to look at the trajectory of his career as having a period of lightness in the Santaland Diaries-Me Talk Pretty era bookended by darker periods.
I’ve gone to readings the past 2 years when he was testing material. The 2016 “performance” was not particularly laugh-filled, but last year’s was. But I’ve never been to anything like his reading when he was working out Me Talk Pretty One Day. It was in a huge SRO university lecture hall and people were literally rolling on the floor laughing.
Kpaint, I think 2016 might be the year we saw him too. He mostly talked about travel. It was very entertaining.
I recently finished the new Angela M.Sanders book,Head Case (available as ebook,I couldn’t wait for the print edition to come out).I recommend the entire Vintage Clothing series.
Your favorite vintage perfume would go well with this book,preferably a great find found at an estate or rummage sale.I don’t have a vintage perfume that fits that description ,but am wearing Commodity Tea.
I’ve been meaning to read that, thanks for the reminder!
That will be my next summer read, I’ve loved the whole Vintage Clothing series 🙂
I just started my first book of hers. Was reading it on the train home last night, which helped me mentally escape from the crowds and noise around me. Looking forward to the whole series.
I’m a voracious murder mystery reader, and am happy to see other fans of the genre in this group. I’m taking notes on the recommendations. I second the tip on the Faith Martin novels. Somewhat similar are Robert BRYNDZA and his Ericka Foster series. I also just read the latest Arnaldur Indridason mystery which is in a new series. It’s called The Shadow Killer. It was pretty good, though I’m afraid not as good as the Erlendur series. If you’ve not tried those, I highly recommend them. Jar City is my favourite. (Set in Iceland.) I don’t think Erlendur would wear a fragrance, but when reading it, you could spray on some Agonist Nordic Noir to get in the mood! I put some on just now, in fact! I’m not reading as much lately because I’ve gotten into binge-watching shows on Amazon Prime. The latest is the English-French product, The Tunnel–quite chilling and engrossing so far after 4 episodes.
I’m another mystery freak. British authors are my fav. The Tunnel is wonderful. Agree with you, Erlandur series very good. Love deep, dark perfumes to go with the story.
Do you like Jo Nesbo too, and Henning Mankell? I love them.
I quite like Kerstin Ekman’s Blackwater. She’s a Swedish crime writer . Another is Denise Mina, a Scottish crime writer. Both these writers go beyond plot, with good characterisation and nice writing.
Also enjoy Mina. Read them all. Characters have to be well developed to get me into the feel of the story. Have to put Blackwater on my list.
Yes I’ve read most or all of Denise Mina (and of course Ian Rankin). Thanks for the Ekman tip, I haven’t heard of her. Now for some that may be more off-the-beaten-path, I REALLY recommend Peter Temple (Australian) and Deon Meyer (South African) for their fairly brutal and complex social-issue noir books.
Peter Temple died a couple of months ago which was sad. Helen Garner, an Australian essayist , has written a couple of terrific true crime books based on following court cases. This House of Grief is really worth reading – beautifully written .
Thank you all! this thread is fantastic! I now have a list of books/authors to read for the summer 🙂
The Tunnel is really good! We thoroughly enjoyed it 🙂
I have now gotten almost all the way through, just one episode left to watch. It’s been gripping. I haven’t seen the original series it was based on, or borrowed from, which I’ve heard is better. Will have to track that down.
It’s really well done, if not rather terrifying. I watched Season 1 on my own and Season 2 with my H. Both are good, but better watched with a pal IME.
I’ve been in something of a reading slump of late. I’m currently slogging my way through Michael Ondaatje’s Warlight. The first sentence is stellar: “In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals.” It should be great. And it’s been getting good reviews. But there’s far too much telling and not a lot of showing, and a certain degree of pretentiousness among some admittedly lovely prose. I am finding it to unbelievable and too odd to enjoy.
Anyhow, two books I have enjoyed are about as different in tone as you can get. Educated, by Tara Westover is a memoir about growing up in a family of isolated survivalists, her growing realization that her family is truly screwed up, and her desire for a better life through education. Her story is filled with jaw-dropping moments that are all too believable if you’ve ever had any contact with families like hers. The other book is sooooo much lighter, but well-grounded in the early history of women in Hollywood: The Girls in the Picture, by Melanie Benjamin. It’s about the friendship between two women who were powerful figures in early film, Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. Very enjoyable.
Perfumes to go with? Black March for Educated, Tabac Blond (Frances Marion) and L’Heure Bleue (Mary Pickford) for The Girls in the Picture.
He is a tough slog for me. Thank goodness The English Patient was made into a movie!
I agree with you, aspara, on Michael Ondaatje. I found The English Patient so confusing and unsatisfying, so much so, that I didn’t see the movie. But people love his writing, so I’m sure I am missing something.
Yes! L’Heure Bleue + The Girls in the Picture is a great pairing. I randomly picked up the book from my city library’s new books shelf. Loved it.
I adore Ondaatje and did not even know he had a new book — sorry to hear it’s a slog! But I will probably give it a shot anyway.
I heard Tara Westover on Fresh Air. Absolutely fascinating, but as is often the case after a one hour interview, I feel like I no longer need to read the book.
I read her book, it was good.
I loved The English Patient..and the movie too!
I’ll have to remember to take a look at The Girls in the Picture. I wrote my college thesis on women in Hollywood, and Mary Pickford was one of the women I researched.
If anyone hasn’t read NST’s own Angela M. Sanders’ series of mystery books, I highly recommend them! I finished The Lanvin Murders recently and it was a truly fun ride. I’m looking forward to continuing the series. I actually have a small sample of vintage My Sin, which is what I wore while I read it.
No perfume for me today. I’ve been out gardening and I don’t want to attract too many bees!
Second that!
The book I am waiting for is There, There by Native American author Tommy Orange- a contemporary novel set in Oakland.
I am reading a fascinating history of the early sandalwood trade in the south pacific called They Came for Sandalwood by Dorothy Shineberg. There was something of a sandalwood rush in the early 1800s which pretty much decimated the sandalwood plantations. There was a great demand for tea from China and one of the few things Australia could trade, that the Chinese wanted, was sandalwood. It’s a book written in the 1960s and although academic is great.
And, finally, the anthology I co- selected/ edited about NZ mountaineering writing was released this week. It’s a real mixed bag of alpine writing from the 1800s tp present day. We tried to include children’s voices, women mountaineers, working class guides and Maori perspectives and the book is structured like a mountain trip..walking up to the mountain, climbing and reflection. The launch is next month.
Gaynor is in town so coffee later! CdG Airborne…for no reason.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/press/otago672952.pdf
Congratulations on the book! It sounds fascinating!
Congratulations on the new book! I’ve signed up for email notification when it becomes available.
Have fun with Gaynor!
More congratulations Kanuka!!
Wow, so happy for you! Congratulations! ????????
Wonderful news about your anthology. Never heard of There, There. Let us know what you think of it. (Gertrude Stein famously said of Oakland, that “there’s no there, there.” There are huge statues (not the right word?) of the words There and There on the route to my sons’ pediatrician.)
I’m visiting my mother this weekend, and re-reading some of her Agatha Christie books. I think a classic chypre might go well with 1940s Poirot, but I didn’t bring anything like that.
I’m looking forward to meeting Kanuka for coffee later this morning, and a bit of sniffing 🙂
Have a great time! I was just thinking there are mystery series that I read so long ago that I could start over.
I think it is in Agatha Christie’s Murder Under the Sun where two of the main characters both wear Chanel No.19 and it is a bit of a clue/possible red herring.
You are right, Poirot probably would appreciate a woman in an elegant chypre!
Got my oil changed this morning and was at a loss on what to wear. I know, ridiculous, but it has to work with a normal oil change day routine plus Mexican food later. On oil change days, which happens 2x per year, I drop off the car, walk to 7-Elevan and get a Pork Roll sandwich and a coffee ( today, it was a mix of peanut butter hot chocolate and coffee). After the oil change, I stop by the memorial park where dad’s ashes are kept to visit for a little bit, then head on to a grocery. Today, I got done with all these by 11.
SOTD = Rising Phoenix Sicilian Vanilla
Non-sweet pipe tobacco vanilla in attar format.
Tomorrow, I will try one of my newest purchases, Solstice Scents Estate Vetiver. I wanted to get a proper small atomizer sample but it was out of stock. So I just went ahead and ordered a “hajusuuri sample”.
Merchandising rant – Bath & Body Works had their semi-annual sale. I happened to see new-to-me Test Lab series hand soaps in rose, Oud, Vetiver, neroli and vanilla chai. Most, if not all, B&BW stores have at least one sink (the one I went to has 2). Neither sink had the Test Lab hand soaps. When I asked an SA for testers, she said that line does not have any testers and I should just open a bottle and sniff. Eh?
I finally received my Montale Discovery Sets and they are very nicely packaged. There are 7 atomizer samples in each. At $22 per set, it would make a good present (pssst, half Christmas is less than two weeks away!).
Off to the Mexican restaurant!
enjoy the oil change…
I was expecting to be there longer but no complaints here!
Hey, I got my oil changed today too. (Also a 2x per year occasion for me, since I don’t drive very much) Twins? 😉
15,000 miles in 5 1/2 years, yep, I don’t drive much either and yet, I’m thinking of that super cute Volkswagen Bettle I saw last weekend ????
Am listening to Lisa See – The Teagirl of Humingbird Lane. I like Lisa See and have read all her books. The Autry Museum had a stellar On Gold Mountain showing I think maybe 17 years ago?
I caught it right after returning from a trip to Hong Kong and the juxtapostion of Chinese in HK and then in Los Angeles was something.
Todays scent is Berdoes Masaai Mara.
I am incrediby sad over Mr. Bourdain and Ms. Spade. Especially for their children. Last night I watched Anderson Cooper say its 30 years since his brother killed himself and he is still asking why.
I love Lisa See’s books, too. They remind me some of Amy Tan’s, which i also love. Very sad about Bourdain and Spade.
Sapphire, one of my favorite books ever is Saving Fish from Drowning.
There is a bit of that Burmah/China connection in this book.
I just listed Hummingbird as well. I’ll add Saving Fish to my list.
My heart breaks for families affected by suicide.
Wearing ELDO Jasmine and Cigarette. I’m noticing a bit more of the cigarette aspect today due to the humidity. It’s nice, definitely not reminiscent of my Mom’s lit cigarette smell.
Today we noticed that there are some little yellow finch-type birds stripping our window screens to use as nesting material. Yikes.. a bird landed on the window sill when I was in the office and saw it pulling at the screen. I then looked down the window and noticed a six inch wide by two inch high area stripped from the screen. Same in the other bedroom window on that same side. Our neighbors put up a bird feeder this year, so I think this has invited birds we’ve never seen before. We have our usual nesting pair that build on the roof. But they’ve never been after the screens. Mother nature!
Jasmin et Cigarette is the best perfume from ELDO, I had a 12 set of minis and it’s the only one I finished in the first month since receiving it. Elegant and unusual.
SOTD is Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum Parfum du Soir. I have about four books going at the moment. “The Bill of Rights” by Carol Berkin, very readable and gives a lot of insight into the thought processes of the Founding Fathers. “The Emperor of All Maladies” by Siddhartha Mukherjee about the history of cancer treatment, “Origin” by Dan Brown. And my guilty pleasure, breezing my way through Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, listening to them in my car, which is the perfume inspiration—Christian Dior Dolce Vita, because Stephanie buys some and wears it in one of the books.
I did not read the Siddhartha Mukherjee book, but he has had 2 really interesting pieces in the New Yorker this past year, one about cancer and the other about the death of his father. I did not even think to see if he’d written any full length books, so thanks!
I know the Elena Farrante Neapolitan Novels have been mentioned in past polls, but I am rereading them this summer, and I have never reread a book. I am really enjoying them., almost more than I did the first read. For some reason when I think about these novels I think about Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille, strong, loud, sweet, black licorice, a little dramatic, addictive and annoying or cloying at the same time.
I also read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I highly recommend it. While there is a lot of gaming history discussed, it is a fascinating look into our society’s possible future. There are also lots of fun 1980s references. I don’t know what you should wear reading this book, but I suspect a Comme des Garcons would fit the bill.
I work in video gaming and agree with CdG as the theme perfume choice !
Such a fun book! I loved all the 80’s references!
RP1 is my son’s favorite book! I should read it.
And I am a chronic re-reader 🙂
Your son might like Warcross by Marie Lu. It’s more gaming and coding. Where RP1 is a book for the masses, Warcross is definitely more of a YA book. Still totally fun.
I will tell him, thanks Nightingale!
I bought Ready Player One, but haven’t read it yet. Looking forward to it very much!
I’m always impressed by the amount of reading that happens here! I’ll have to go back through the comments and get some recs.
Right now I’m reading 2 books: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin in honor of Pride Month for a book club, and Joyful Wisdom by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche as recommended reading from my meditation mentor. I’m enjoying both, so far. I love James Baldwin’s writing style. The story is emotionally intense, very impactful and absorbing. The other book is a very accessible, practical application of Buddhism and the 4 noble truths.
Scents for each?
Incense for the Buddhist book (Ancient Resins is my obvious choice, or Jaisalmer). Not sure about the other. Something dark and unisex, maybe? Maybe an Italian perfume? Dunno.
James Baldwin was really of another era, it seems. A public figure who was a philosopher and intellectual. There don’t seem to be many intellectuals on the modern stage in the US anymore. Political figures, yes; people who speak to sociology and economics and history and the intersections therein, yes. But no intellectuals or philosophers that I can think of who appear in popular culture – say, engaging in discussion on Stephen Colbert or The View.
I had the same thought watching a documentary about Wm F. Buckley and Gore Vidal. Having an intellectual debate about politics in the public square would be unheard of in this era.
Hmmm. Off the top of my head I can think of Cornel West(ethics, race, politics), Judith Butler (gender identity/politics), John McWhortor(linguistics and race relations, and of course Noam Chomsky is still alive! I’ll actually add Kareem Abdul Jabbar as a celebrity who has become a new kind of philosopher/thinker.
I’m with kpaint on this one! There are a lot of people writing as “public intellectuals” but I think they get less attention from mainstream USA than was the case in the past — even the “famous” people you mentioned are not household names in 2018. If you read The Atlantic or The New Yorker, etc, you will hear the conversation, but otherwise it’s all easy to miss.
I think I read too quickly and took it as philosophers/intellectuals are a thing of the past. But, yes, they are not presented in the mainstream anymore. Maybe the advent of cable TV killed that off? Too many channels creating echo chambers? I dunno. But the era of, say, The Dick Cavett Show are definitely a thing of the past.
Cable tv, social media, etc, yeah.
I am SOOOO excited to read through everyone’s comments and reading suggestions, but have promised to have some horrible beastie writing bit finished by tonight… so am just checking in right now to lend my two cents to the summer reading lists:
First rec is a novel I am reading at the moment, so I have not yet finished it— but gosh it is a lovely bit of writing. Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage manages to be both luminous and very funny.
Second rec is the Parable of Sower by Octavia Butler. I mentioned this one on NST when I finished it earlier this year. It is sort of a science fiction/pre-apocalypse/survival story…. with strains of The Giver, The House of the Scorpion, Between the World and Me, and Mad Max all rolled into one.
Bedside pile waiting to be read: Prairie Fires (Caroline Fraser), Margaret Fuller (Megan Marshall), Memoirs of an Early Arab Feminist (Khalidi), Manhunt (James Swanson), Tower of Gold (Frances Dinkelspiel)…. and those are the ones I can see from my desk!
Now to make you extremely jealous: I got to spend a lovely afternoon yesterday with Pixel and Deva (and T-rex), chatting about perfume and life, and of course passing around samples!
What a nice afternoon!
What a wonderful afternoon! And thanks for the recommendations!
I had a great time! So nice to meet you both and put faces to names. Also, quite interesting to do “blind sniffing.” I knew my nose was wonky! Hope your writing goes smoothly.✌????
I AM jealous! 🙂 I would love to meet Pixel or Deva or T-rex!
Prairie Fires is very good. I thought I had read everything there was to say about Laura Ingalls Wilder, but Caroline Fraser proved me wrong. And I read my first Octavia Butler this year, and it certainly won’t be my last.
Good luck with the writing!
Sounds like you had a good day. Shame about the writing getting in the way of reading!
It’s been a great weekend so far. Yesterday worked in the yard, watched Justify win the Triple Crown (woo hoo!!!) and then went to an amazing crawfish boil at a friend’s house. It was a little piece of Louisiana in New Mexico! I wore CSP Amour de Cacao.
Back in the yard today doing some more landscaping. My yard is my happy place and it’s coming together beautifully. Haven’t sprayed anything yet today but I have a feeling it will be a cologne of some sort when I do.
Can’t wait to read everyone’s book recommendations. I have nothing really. Been on a classics kick lately specifically Brontë. Withering Heights and now Jane Eyre (I adore both and read them again every few years). I realized though I’ve never read any Anne Brontë so I’m thinking Agnes Grey or The Tenant of Wildfell Hall next. Please do comment if you’ve read either.
Yes, have read both, and if my experience holds for you, you will enjoy both and maybe not re-read them quite so many times as WH and JE.
Reading El Principito (The Little Prince) for Spanish practice. Its a warm day and I’m feeling it, so I’ll try splashing on some refrigerated Florida Water, which kinda sorta goes with it, for its ties to Latino culture.
What a good way to practice Spanish!
Well, I’ll admit to being a bit of a basket case what with a cross-country move looming. Our departure dates keep changing and the latest we’ve settled on is a week from tomorrow. There is a lot to do and wrap-up in the meantime. And while the impetus for the move is a job offer (my husband, not me), the agreement has been finalized (it took about 3 weeks to get there) but not formalized. So we have lots of theoretical plans to put in place (selling 2 of our cars, for instance; securing a moving van; etc.) and are ready to go, we obviously don’t want to do any of those things until documents are signed.
Hopefully I have enough anti-anxiety meds to get through the next 2 weeks. I’m just getting over a 5-day tension headache and can’t say I’ve slept particularly well of late.
Will be heading into town soon to celebrate what would have been my grandmother’s 100th birthday. She died last February, so got pretty close to 100! She had a big group of besties who got together every Sunday without fail (still do) and have been doing so for nearly 30 years. They’re closer to my age than hers and have become family friends. I’ll be joining them today to celebrate and say goodbyes. I’ll probably wear Bois des Iles or something equally tranquilizing.
Gosh, that all sounds very stressful. A move a couple of miles away stresses me out, so I can imagine what trekking to a new state would be like. I hope things go as smoothly as possible. You’ll be that much closer to NYC, though ????
That’s really sweet about celebrating your grandmother and that her friends have become your friends. Enjoy the celebration, though sounds like it’ll be bittersweet…
That’s a lot to deal with. But it’s often amazing how all the puzzle pieces fit together in a timely way. Here’s hoping for that and for no tension headaches. Very sweet that you have these friends through your grandmother. Wow. Almost 100. You’ll bless them all with such a gorgeous scent.
I feel for you – I did the cross-country move 20 years ago (for the same reason as you), and – good news! – it was surprisingly smoother than I expected. I was plenty anxious ahead of time, but none of the things I was concerned about happened. I hope it will be the same for you.
Have just finished “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” which mixes laugh out loud moments and deep sadness to quite marvellous effect. I do recommend! Third or fourth Faith Martin, Denise Mina and Val McDermid.
Such a wonderful book! You’re description is spot on.
Such a wonderful book! You’re description is spot on.
I was looking at this book recently trying to decide whether to buy it on Kindle. You’ve tipped the scales.. I’m off to amazon right now.
Is it because I endorsed it twice? 😉
Ha! I will check out your recommendations below. The name Eleanor pops up again. I had to think for some time about a perfume for Eleanor Oliphant. Eventually decided on Apres L’Ondee to evoke the emotion in the book.
For historical fiction fans I recommend Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See. Both are page turners and I learned so much about the marginalized cultures featured in both novels.
As a middle school nurse (and BFF with the school librarian) I often read YA (young adult) novels. I thoroughly enjoyed Eleanor and Parks by Rainbow Rowell. It’s such a beautiful and realistic story of friendship and first love. My favorite quote from the book “Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art and art wasn’t supposed to look nice. It was supposed to make you feel something.”
I’m at a loss for fragrance pairings but am currently quite happy enveloped in Prada Infusion de Iris.
I was just discussing Pachinko with a Korean friend of mine today. I have heard it it a wonderful book. My friend is eagerly awaiting its translation to Korean since it is her native language and is much easier for her to read than English.
The last book I read was “Into the Water” by Paula Hawkins, who also wrote “The Girl on the Train”. I kind of liked The Girl on the Train although I didn’t particularly like end ending. However, I truly disliked Into the Water even though I finished it but did not enjoy it and found it disturbing. I can remember what perfume I was reading when I read it because I only read it before going to bed and it took me several nights. But I do remember that one night I wore Byredo’s “Gypsy Water” although in fact there was no connection to the contents of the book except for having Water in the title.