Reliable sources tell me winter is coming, but it's not here yet and I would like to talk about books. Can we try a fall reading list? Three reading polls a year does not seem excessive to me, but do feel free to complain in the comments. (And our fall television / movies poll is coming up soon too.)
So, please recommend a great book to add to our fall reading lists, and tell us what fragrance we should wear while reading it.
My recent reading:
I finally finished Ron Chernow's Washington: A Life (which I had mentioned in the summer poll) and now I'm reading his Alexander Hamilton, at about the same glacial pace. That would call for something like Roger & Gallet Eau de Cologne Extra Vieille? I also finished Robertson Davies' Fifth Business, which Angie had recommended, and of course she is right that everyone should read it. I'm working on Susan Orlean The Library Book, but Libby keeps taking it back before I finish it and then I have to put it on hold again. (I love Libby anyway, it has made my reading life so much easier.)
I read most of David Cannadine's The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy (the book as a whole is fascinating, but some chapters I mostly skimmed as they were not of interest to me). The perfect fragrance would be vintage Floris Malmaison, if you happened to have any.
On the mystery front, after finishing the Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie series over the summer, I read all of Val McDermid's DCI Karen Pirie series, and then Fred Vargas This Poison Shall Remain, Louise Penny's A Better Man (I am with Deva on this one) and the first in a new Anne Cleeves Series, The Long Call (I believe she has said that she is finished with the Shetland series).
I meant to start Kanuka's Scented ages ago, but books I had already put on hold at the library kept arriving at inconvenient times, so I didn't get to start until last week. Do buy it if you haven't already! Any decent old-school chypre will take you happily through the first section, or you can just wear Shalimar, either will put you in the right frame of mind.
Note: top image is Autumn Planet [cropped] by Ian Sane at flickr; some rights reserved.
So far Autumn is feeling more and more comfortable in Poland, giving us daily rain and temperatures that constantly are getting lower.
As you know when I went on holidays I missed Pitti so I’m a bit afraid I won’t have that many fragrances to talk about on the blog in near future.
Luckily some didn’t forget about me and courtesy of Madalina from Jul et Mad I can wear today their newest fragrance – Stairway to Heaven. It’s very soft, fluffy & clean cloud of comfort. Those who liked Chanel 1957 would probably make friends with this new release too.
I read those in the summertime but they would be great for any season I think.
Taran Matharu – Summoner series
Emilia Clare – The Dark Artifices series
So nice of Jul et Mad to send you the perfume.
I’d be interested to hear about cheery, uplifting or even completely fluffy reading choices. I have been reading the Book Retreat Mystery series, which is pretty cozy.
I really liked the Enchanted Garden mysteries by Bailey Cates. They’re cozies about a woman running an independent perfumery, and I found them really relaxing and enjoyable
Whoops! The author is Bailey Cattrell. Bailey Cates is the name she uses for a different series, sorry for the confusion
This sounds lovely! Cozy and about perfume, what could be better? Thanks for the recommendation.
I’m with you, AnnieA. Cheerful and/or fluffy is all I want these days.
I recommend the Flower Shop Mysteries by Kate Collins. A little formulaic, but laugh out loud funny.
I am going to reread When Things Fall Apart and My Cousin Rachel this fall.
Wearing Solstice Scents Island Blackstrap today…notes are coconut, dark rum, pineapple, sugar cane, simple syrup, blackstrap molasses, caramelized sugar, oak barrels, tropical flowers, splash of sea spray, vetiver, tonka…a masculine leaning gourmand to my nose.
That sounds yummy
That’s a lot of sugar! You must smell yummy.
Argh, cannot imagine how many years it must be since I read Things Fall Apart. And I never read Cousin Rachel! Is it great?
It is. Very atmospheric with ambiguous characters. I have read it a few times…once or twice as part of a book club and I never tired of discussing it. I haven’t watched any of movies…old or recent…because I don’t think they would be able to improve on the book and I don’t want to associate actors/see their faces when I read it. Get an old copy from the library and enjoy. People on amazon seem to complain about an abridged version that might have coincided with the film release in the last couple years so avoid that. I am not sure how/why it would be abridged…not terribly long.
Thanks! I have not read Rebecca in years either, would be fun to read both.
I just finished The Lost Man by Jane Harper. I thought it started s-l-o-w, but by the end, the hair was standing up on the back of my neck (and I just finished chemo so I don’t even have hair) and I was devouring it. My SOTD is In the Woods from Cult of Scent , which couldn’t be a worse match for a book set in the Australian Outback.
Nice to see you posting. I hope you’re giving chemo a bloody nose. Best wishes for excellent health!
Oh, I read that one this summer too! Very unsettling, as was her first one (or first two, now I can’t remember).
Yay for finishing chemo!!!
ScentSpirit, happy to hear you have finished chemo! I’m sure that was not easy. And I’m equally happy to hear that you are wearing perfume whether it goes with your book or not! Stay strong.
I just got The Dry by Jane Harper for car listening.
Stay strong, ScentSpirit!
I thought that one was ok but overrated.
Adding my stay strong thoughts and and positive energies your way.
Glad to see you! Hurrah for no more chemo!
Farewell to chemo! When I underwent treatment 10 years ago I developed a strong aversion to lavender. It took years for that revulsion to dissipate, but today I’m trying a sample of a lavender based scent from DSH. Wishing you complete healing for the long haul!
Glad you’ve finished chemo and that you are back posting!
Will check that book out. Congrats on finishing chemo!
Nice to see you back!
Congratulations ScentSpirit, that is a huge accomplishment. Wishing you good health and great new hair soon enough!
Thanks for the book suggestion.
Thanks everyone! My sense of smell was wonky for a while during and very shortly after chemo, but it seems pretty much back to normal now. I’m also done all my surgery and just have to do radiation for a few weeks. Right now, I feel really good and thank you all for the support!
Congratulation on finishing chemo, ScentSpirit! Great news!
I’m all for a third reading poll! I’ve read probably read a dozen books based on recommendations from NST commenters and they’ve all been great.
I love Robertson Davies. He’s such a great writer, maybe I’ll revisit his works this autumn.
I read the Maddaddam trilogy by Margaret Atwood recently, really I just tore through those books. It’s so compelling, and like all her works it really hits in the heart. Something bright green like Xinu Monstera would be good for the post civilization landscape of the first in the series, Oryx and Crake.
I finally caught up on all the Ruth Galloway novels, and I really loved that series. Ruth is such a great character, and so are all of the side characters. I particularly loved Cathbad and Judy. If anyone has any recommendations for mystery series similar to this one, I’m all ears!
?? Robertson Davies!
I have the newer Elly Griffiths gothic novel but it isn’t about Ruth Galloway and I have not read it yet. I did not like her magician series — think I did not finish the first one.
I had that same experience with that book! I did eventually finish it but it really was a slog. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t connect with that series the way I do with others. I’ll have to see if my library has her new novel and give that a try
I didn’t like the magician series either and it took me a while to figure it out. I think it was a combination of post-WWII dingy Brighton and not really liking either the magician or the detective very much.
Loved the Galloway books, but could hardly finish the first magician book…
I haven’t been reading a lot lately. Life, I guess. Did read “The Bridge Ladies” by Betsy Lerner. Anyone with a parent over 75, who is getting frailer, yet is still human with vanities and foibles, should enjoy this. Also read Dave Eggers’ “Heroes of the Frontier” with high hopes. However, I had the distinct impression that the author struggled to create a good female character. She just never seemed that feminine to me. Maybe he should have followed Melvin Udall’s advice to “think of a man and take away reason and accountability.” (Just kidding, Kanuka!) For the fist, I’d pick Chanel no 5, for the latter something smoky, maybe Patch 24? Have a good weekend, everyone!
That made me laugh…actually sounds like my dogs!
Interesting. I think the female protagonists in dystopia Silicon Valley book works. I haven’t read this one though.
I’m in Ummagumma again this morning – it’s still true love, and it went very well with the misty fog outside.
For reading material, I just finished Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen and really enjoyed it. It’s on the edge of fluffy but not quite all the way there. Am two or three chapters into Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep and it’s hilariously written, in a wry, dry way. Been a very long time since I watched the movie, but nothing in the book (so far) is reminding me of the film. I also read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore not long ago and loved it, but the next one by the same author (Robin Sloan) is leaving me cold. Oh, and I read Lost Horizon recently (from whence we get Shangri-La) – it was gripping in a weird way. I kind of hated the dry, factual way the story played out, but had to keep reading to find out where the bizarre storyline would end up. Turns out it feels like the author was trying (way too hard) to write something “thought provoking” but flailed at the end.
I really like Sarah Addison Allen, and your description of her is so correct. Right on the edge of fuzzy.
I just picked up a copy of Insel by Mina Loy. I’ve only made it through the intro so I can’t arrest to thestory yet. However my friend who works in publishing told me she loved it and thought I would too!
I finished Harvest by Jean Giono (I bet most of you can guess why I picked that one up!) and the language of the translation really was lovely. I would probably go with Epidor for it, a sensual wheaty chypre (if I remember correctly.)
I’m in Liasons Dangereuses today, from my supremely lucky thifting spree. Just gorgeous.
Epidor is a perfect fit. Adding Insel to my list
Insel is a fascinatingly odd little book. Curious how you like it.
Fall reading! Yay! I stumbled across this author by chance:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McGarrity
I’ve started with “Hard Country” which is the first book in a trilogy telling the history of a family by the name of Kearney, starting in the late 1800’s with John, an Irish immigrant. This trilogy leads up to a modern day mystery series that I’ve yet to explore.
Things I like about this book: strong authenticity and sense of place. So far, we’ve been in Texas and New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin area. There is no sparing the reader the hardship these characters experienced, nor the rampant lawlessness that was pervasive. Johns wife dies in childbirth, then John himself is killed when he loses control of a a wagon loaded with plank wood for a barn he’s building. Now we are on to Patrick, the son. Patrick has a rough start, so it’ll be interesting to see how his story progresses. Everyday life is quite perilous, and in a blink of an eye, these people are taken out of the game.
The decline of Native American cultures is not tiptoed around. There are clashes between settlers and the last stragglers of displaced tribes, scrabbling hard to maintain a way of life in the face of the juggernaut that is westward expansion. Also, the blatant racism against Hispanic people is spotlighted, and it’s jarring to see how laws and culture shoved non-white people to the back of the line. There are appearances by Buffalo Soldiers, usually called in to do the dirtiest and most dangerous military maneuvers of the time.
I admire the incredible toughness and fortitude of the good guy characters in this book, balanced with their ability to remain fair, circumspect, peace loving and giving human beings. But back them into a corner or threaten their loved ones, and they come out swinging with deadly blows! There is notable personal growth as the characters maneuver through this rough and tumble life. The bad guys are very dimensional and some of them ease over the line into good guy territory, and sometimes, back to bad guy land.
SOTD is the super comforting Kenzie Jungle l’Elephant, which I topped off from bedtime last night. I slept 14 hours and feel 100% better today. I was exhausted, then I think I had an immune response to my flu Vax yesterday, because I was so achy and just pooped out.
It’s a cold, windy, rainy day and even Princess T-Rex is loathe to go outside. They’re forecasting the dreaded “wintery mix” later in the week…! ?❄️?
I’ve heard the flu shot is a doozy this year. Glad you feel better for the weekend.
Oof – thanks for the reminder to get a flu shot. It had been on my list of things to do then went missing
It was a doozy shot!
I got the 65 and older shot. My left arm was out of commission for2 days.
Is it a special type of flu shot? I almost passed out after getting a tetanus booster, but I’ve tolerated flu shots in the past.
Hope the wintry mix isn’t too awful. Stay warm!
I have never had a problem before, and it might be that I was just exhausted from not sleeping well for a couple days prior. I’m a little stressed by the work situation here, but then I tend to worry too much, to my own detriment. The weather here has been so rainy, combined with the incessant wind, we’re hardly able to get out for fresh air. It’s sugar beet harvest season here and the farmers may lose their crop because it’s been such a wet fall. Regular, almost daily, flood warnings don’t help. ??♀️
I remember passing through Laramie, and it had that incessant wind. It’s kind of unnerving.
Hopefully you’ve caught up on your rest and have had a great day!
Fantastic recommendation Deva, Thank You.
This is a very timely poll. Because of my spinal fracture I have to stay in bed, and it’s boring, so I am reading the suggestions in this poll.
I re-read most of mystery stories by Dorothy Sayers and even found one I had not read before. It’s called The Documents in the Case and it’s an epistolary novel. Sayers considered it a failure, but I quite enjoyed it once I got used to its slow pace.
Another mystery novel I read recently is The Floating Admiral written by numerous authors – each of them added their own chapter based on their own interpretations of the clues in the previous chapters. While I do no think that the novel itself is a first-class mystery, it was very amusing to read the solutions by different authors and compare them to the actual ending.
SOTS is SL Fleurs de Citronnier.
I forgot another book I recently read – The Shoshank Redemption, a novella by Robert Moore (not to be confused with the famous novel by Stephen King). A fun read for cat lovers. Humorous and fluffy literally and figuratively. A harrowing story told by a cat. Includes pictures of cute cats.
Have you read Josephine Tey? That is who I would recommend if you have no more Sayers.
Thanks, Robin. I read some of her books and especially liked Brat Farrar. I will check which ones I did not read.
Shalimar
Apple picking
That sounds good. What types of apples do you pick?
Whatever the kids grabbed off the tree! I am not even sure of their names
I’ll need to make a reading list from this thread!
My recommendation is The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston. Nonfiction, but brisk and engaging like a good novel. It’s about the search for a “lost” city deep in the jungle of Honduras. I enjoyed reading about all the adventurers and scallawags of the 19th and 20th centuries who preceded a recent expedition. There’s a documentary, too, but for the life of me I can’t figure out where one could watch it. I’d go with Jungle l’Elephant or maybe Hothouse Flower.
SOTD is PHI. Cold has moved to my chest. Need to go to drugstore and stock up on meds. Skipping dance class and taking it easy, but have tickets to a flamenco show tonight that I absolutely won’t miss!
MissGoldsmith, you might enjoy State of Wonder by Ann Patchett as they go searching in the Amazon.
Oh, that book sounds great! Thank you!
I really like the Douglas Preston / Lincoln Child collab series featuring Agent Pendergast
Oh, me too, though they’ve tailed off in the last two or three, I thought. Kind of like Louise Penny’s series. I guess it’s hard to maintain the intrigue over a long series. You can see why Conan Doyle killed off Holmes.
I agree with you on the Pendergast series; however, once I get started with one of the books, I want to know how it ends!
I think Preston/Child are the Kings of the informational thriller. I loved all the initial novels and just could not maintain an interest in Agent Pendergast books after Cabinet of Curiosities.
It’s been on my bookshelf for ages, but finally getting around to Tracks by Louise Erdrich. It’s a novel about intertwined Native American families, some of whom live on a reservation, and some who don’t.
It’s filled with humor, which is encouraging me to seek out the other titles in the series.
My library book club’s feature for November is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, about a troubled family seeking a new life living off the grid in Alaska. Sounds harrowing but I may give it a whirl.
Highly recommend all her books! She is one of my favorite authors and her prose can read like poetry. A couple of my favorites are:
-The Plague of Doves
-The Roundhouse
-The Master Butcher’s Singing Club
-The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.
There are many readers who think she is Nobel Prize material for literature.
Yes, she’s very deserving of worldwide recognition.
The Great Alone was good.
I read Before We Were Yours right after that. It was wonderful.
I liked The Great Alone. She writes well, and I love stories about Alaska.
That also sounds fantastic I have downloaded the set already, Thank You!
I think my husband would truly enjoy The Great Alone also.
Erdrich is one of my favorite authors and I have read all her books! I think she is underrated too!
Happy Weekend Fragrant Friends! I am reading the Cara Black/ Aimee Leduc detective series, mostly because Paris so Chanel No. 5 of course.
Robin–I liked the Hamilton bio more than the Washington bio, but I liked the musical version best of all, if you can get tickets in Philly you should go….
So beautiful outside today—got to run in my Chergui…..
One problem is that they cover a fair amount of similar ground. You would think that would make me go through Hamilton faster, but no
Next I need to find a good bio of Thomas Jefferson, maybe American Sphinx but I am open to suggestion.
I just finished The Library Book, and it took me about as long as it’s taking you, Robin. I have made a commitment (apparently not a very strong one) to start reading more print books again, as I have done for most of my life (before audio books became a thing). I’ve apparently trained myself, though, to listen to audio books while I do other, less mindful tasks (yeah, because multitasking has been the ridiculous watchword of our culture for the past decade), and now I am finding that when I read print books, I feel a little restless, like I should be doing something. What fresh hell is this? Have I ruined myself forever? Let’s hope I can get back into the reading groove.
In any event, I loved The Library Book. Susan Orlean echoed so many of the sentiments I have felt throughout my life about libraries. Invaluable repositories of knowledge, magical spaces where time stops and incredible worlds appear, safe environments for anybody and everybody. Highly recommended.
Next up, The Weirdness, by Jeremy Bushnell. I am trending toward the whimsical in my entertainment, and this appeared somewhere on a top ten “charming” book list.
That sounds great – I haven’t heard of this book. But just wanted to stop in and say that I grew up in a very small town in eastern Washington (state) and our small public library was my refuge. This was back in the days of the card catalog and encyclopedias, etc. It had its own wonderful smell that said safe, comfortable and yet exciting to me. I read non-stop and in high school had a very enjoyable part-time job with our smart and funny librarian. I wanted to grow up and be her, but I went a different way. I wasn’t a true librarian who wanted to share knowledge, information and enjoyment with the world, I just loved reading and being there!
Yes! A refuge is exactly right, from the often insecure circumstances of childhood. And, honestly, adulthood too. I always feel safe when I walk into a library.
Yes, what IS this fresh he’ll we have done to ourselves?!? I have to listen to audiobooks for this exact reason! I also listen while walking each morning and driving for work. I make it through a lot of audiobooks.
But relaxation and doing one thing (or nothing) for some brief time? Sadly, those days seem gone.
I have been cleaning out and packing for my move.
The story Angela shared with us a week or so ago that had the wonderful line…use things, love people has really stuck in my mind. I had my dads original copy of the Catcher in the Rye and some of my moms WWII victory garden cookbooks that I have bern lugging around forever on the shelf.
I don’t need them. Just the memory of them.
Plus I tried on every pair of what seems like a zillion pair of black pants I own and have most of them ready to donate on Monday.
When I was a kid I could read for hours and hours. It was my favorite thing to do. I want that back.
oh yes, my sister and I can read for hours and hours.
Same here. I hope someday it will come back. I used to read for hours and hours, now I get restless while reading a book. Sad.
Also, Orlean’s book is on my list to listen to. I loved “The Orchid Thief”.
Puredistance White, courtesy of a superstar NSTer. Which lead to ordering the travel size….
Anyhow, I LOVE to read. I like humor, have read all of David Sedaris and Laurie Notaro. Simple to read. I’ll explore some recs here.
I’m a big David Sedaris fan as well! I discovered him and Sarah Vowell at the same time so I always link them in my mind.
Oh I will check her out!
?
?
I love David Sedaris, so much so that I almost peed in my pants while reading Me Talk Pretty One Day AND I missed my train stop on the way home on the coldest day of the year (it was February) many moons ago.
that is my favorite book out of everything he has written.
I started Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments (sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale!) a few days ago and I’m completely immersed in it. Trying to read slowly to make it last…
I’ve just read through some scenes of childbirth, torture, etc. so I don’t know, a scent with notes of blood…? Secretions Magnifique?
I will read that some day when I am in a better frame of mind.
Yes, I can’t read anything that disturbing right now, real life is disturbing enough.
I’m with u there, although I do love Margaret Atwood!
I am so enjoying all the love Margaret Atwood is getting! I like all her books but the Robber Bride is my favorite.
I bought Michael Edwards Perfume Legends 2 . I have read the first edition but never owned it so splurged …about $200. It is well worth it . I find something very comforting about Edwards very methodical, careful and illuminating writing. He digs deep into his subject and draws out every hidden gem, creating and building each perfume history layer by layer so you get a full impression of the history of the house, the context for the perfume, the inspiration and source of the notes, the creative process , the design…The writing could be dense ( in other hands) but I think his love and high regard for perfumery lifts the book, taking it beyond straight out reference. The new additions are great…create lemmings! I like re-reading books, I get so much joy from immersing myself in books I am familiar with…I think that is a joy associated with “text” and I loved PL2 even more than the original BUT i probably wouldn’t need to own both.
Looking forward to: Olive Kitteridge, Again..hope that’s the title.
Wearing yesterday’s Katy Perry Indi…not likely to make Perfume Legends 3 but better than most $20 perfumes in the local chemist. It is more interesting than I exoected
I am so glad you brought that up…can you tell how much is changed other than the new perfumes he added? That is, given that I already splurged on I, do I need II?
My reply is way down below…
Oh now I need PII!
I’m still in the very tiniest bit of my FM Iris Poudre from last night. Such a gorgeous fragrance.
I’ve mostly been reading Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat from Samin Nosrat this past summer. Need to tee up some more books, so thanks for the poll, Robin!
Was it good?
If you like essayists that are in the food genre, have you tried Ruth Reichl’s books? They are all wonderful but “Comfort Me with Apples” tops my list. I also really loved “Blood, Butter and Bones” by a different author. Chef writers are often so good!
It’s a great book, but is more on the technical side of cooking, although she does include some personal stories, too. I am still enjoying it. It’s just not one that you can just sit down and read straight through. I have read one book by Ruth Reichl (Garlic and Sapphires: the Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise) and loved it; thanks for the reminder to find more of her books and for the other rec, too!
I loved her show. Is the book interesting if I am not going to cook any of it?
Well, as a cook, I like the book better than the show – more info on why/how. If you like reading about food, then yes, but it is more technical.
That book is languishing on my shelf! I need to pull it and read it.
I’ve got three very different books on my bedside table. I had just started The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu (the history of Timbuktu and the rescue of its manuscripts when jihadists invaded), when I bought Scented, which I’m really enjoying. Next on the list is science fiction, Revenger by the UK writer Alastair Reynolds.
Perfume-wise, Timbuktu has been such a by-word for far-off and mysterious, and it’s in a desert area, so I think Amouage’s Ubar would be appropriate. Admittedly, it’s a different part of the continent, but Ubar is named after a lost city in the desert.
I’m with Robyn on something classic to go with Scented, but Kanuka refers to so many perfumes and smells that you could wear something different for every page
For a novel featuring space travel, definitely nothing natural or fruity. Apparently moon dust spells like gunpowder, and space is metallic, so maybe something from Beaufort. The Beaufort range has all been too smoky for me, but the next one is supposed to be toned down a bit.
Wow, that Timbuktu book sounds interesting! How is it?
I hadn’t got very far before I put it down for Scented, and I was enjoying it. Fascinating stuff about British explorers, whatever the rights and wrongs of empire, these people were personally courageous to the point of lunacy!
Yes, the Brits really are crazy and recklessly courageous! I read a fair amount of travel writing and have noticed this common trait.
I just downloaded a snippet of this to my kindle. Looks really interesting, thanks!
+1. Hubby will love this one in Audible for our drive to Florida!
Thanks for all the positive vibes last night for my son’s S.A.T test today. I’m not sure when he will get his score. While I was waiting for him to be done, I drove out to the Big Sephora with my daughter and tried TF Metallique. My first thought was I didn’t like it, but after we got home, it turned into a lovely vanilla. I should have asked for a sample, but the SA was a little busy. I’m liking this one alot. Sorry, I don’t have any book recomendations.
lillyjo, e-mail me pls re the Tom Ford. Beas dottttt Beverly atttt geeemailll dot com.
Good vibes for your son to have a great SAT score!
I will and thank you!
Missed your post yesterday. Wishing your son the best. I am sure he will get a great score.
Thank you. I’m really hoping for an improvement from the first score. He’s been studying all summer.
I’m wearing Jovoy La Liturgie des Heures this morning. I love reading lists–I always find something interesting I wouldn’t ordinarily consider. I recently finished John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport “Prey” series, all 28 or 29 books. They are formulaic, but good for airplane trips, commuting, and waiting rooms. For more interesting reading, try “The Only Plane in the Sky,” an integration of 9/11 events from the standpoint of some interesting people–the head of the FAA, Condoleeza Rice, the Port Authority of NY. I also read “Hotbox,” like “Kitchen Confidential” but about catering. “Inland” by Tea Albrecht was excellent and I am still telling everyone about “Educated” by Tara Westover and “The Unwinding of the Miracle” by Julie Yip-Williams. Just for fun, S.L. Huang’s “Zero Sum Game” is about a math prodigy that can calculate trajectories and acceleration quickly enough to dodge bullets. Ms. Huang has a degree in math from M.I.T. so I figure the underlying concepts must be correct and she just created a protagonist to put them into action. In the pipeline are “Wanderers” by Chuck Weddig and a re-reading of “A Walk in the Woods,” by Bill Bryson, because it always makes me laugh out loud.
Walk in the Woods was an absolute delight! I love Bill Bryson.
Would also recommend A Short History of Nearly Everything by BB if you haven’t already read it.
Seconding this recommendation.
I adored it, and like all old Bill Bryson. His newer books are too cranky for me. I am likewise too cranky for me but in a different way than Bill Bryson.
Yes, there was a decided shift into crankyness in his “little dribbling” book. I haven’t read anything more recent than that from him.
If you like travel authors, and/or if you have a wee bit o the Irish in you, I also recommend Pete McCarthy, who has sadly passed away. A British comedian, “McCarthy’s Bar,” and “The Road to McCarthy” are both very entertaining and to me, hilarious books that examine the widespread exodus of people off that green and rocky island. It was a sad day when he stepped off the planet. Selfishly, I was really looking forward to more books…
“Island” meaning Ireland…
Thanks Deva, will look for that!
Paul Theroux got crankier in his later books too, but then so would I if I did that much traveling in unpleasant conditions.
I’m also reading the Prey series! Night Prey is currently on my iPad.
I’m reading Tea Obreht’s Inland right now! Really enjoying it. I find myself wondering how her background as a Yugoslavian influences her take on Territorial Arizona. Love the setting.
I think I read another one of Tea’s: The Tiger’s Wife, long ago. Inland one sounds fascinating. I love setting.Thanks !!
I am torn about what frag to wear with this prose. It’s set in the desert during a drought. One could wear something reminiscent of water, Palo Verde trees, creosote bushes, camels (a big part of the story!), mineral earth, or brilliant light. Desert flowers are very sweet smelling.
How about Grandiflora Queen of the Night if you have it?
I had to go read some reviews of Queen of the Night. What a brilliant suggestion, AngelaB! I’ll have to get a sample . . . .
“The Only Plane in the Sky” brought back memories for me. I remember watching the events on TV on that day. I found the follow-up oral histories about what later happened to the people who lived through the day very interesting. I didn’t know much about what damage had happened at the Pentagon that day. The recollections from people who had been on Air Force One with the president that day also had information I hadn’t known about. That was a sad book, but very thought-provoking.
Rather than recommend a specific book, I’m going to recommend an app: Libby.
This app is much, much easier to use than Overdrive and allows you to check out ebooks and audiobooks from your local library straight from your phone or iPad.
I recently got Hoopla which does the same, I can even check out some video to view on my iPad. The world of ebooks is new to me, do you know if the apps do different things?
They are different. I need to check out Hoopla too!
Hoopla has a much smaller collection, because it has an unlimited number of copies of the media it has. Libby has a limited number of copies, just like it works with physical copies, so there are holds and wait times— but a much larger selection. So it’s a trade off. Both do great things!
Libby is great! I also recommend Hoopla if your library has it. It’s got a very nice catalogue and the app is so easy to use
Libby is fantastic, especially since I keep cards at 3 libraries and now I can coordinate easily. Overdrive was a PITA.
In addition to Hoopla, check out Kanopy to see if your library participates. All sorts of indie movies & whatnot. Kevin told me about it.
Overdrive WAS a pita!
I keep cards at two libraries but have only added one to Libby. How do you manage with two?
I have 3, and there is a little icon in the right hand that lets you switch between them. When you click on that icon it allows you to enter a new library card, so presumably you can have as many as you want.
Then when you go to your “shelf”, everything you have checked out or on hold is in the same place.
The drawback: you can’t search all your libraries at once, or see which has the shortest hold time. For those things, you have to keep switching between libraries. But it’s still easier and faster than Overdrive ever was.
Oh! Thank you so much for taking the time to explain! I will try it!
Libby is a huge improvement over Overdrive, but it is still buggy. I have a lot of trouble using it to play audiobooks on my phone. Works great on my SurfacePro, though. My main frustration is that I sometimes can’t find anything available that I want to read immediately. I put myself on waiting lists and the books come available when I’m too busy for them!
That IS true about wait times. But I personally find it a small price to pay for sooo many free audiobooks. But I will admit that happens to me a lot.
PS – I haven’t ever had issues with bugginess on my iPhone. What device do you have? I wonder if you should try uninstalling and reinstalling. Or looking for an update.
I’m using an Android phone, and I’ve tried updating the system and drivers, and uninstalling/reinstalling Libby. No change. So I just use my SurfacePro instead, but it’s not as convenient.
I wholeheartedly agree to your point about access to so many titles. I always check the library before considering Audible.
My real go-to for audio with multitasking: podcasts. The Google Podcast Player app never fails me.
I love Libby and Hoopla! Hoopla is great for the British and Australian tv shows that are just never on Hulu or Netflix! I find a surprising amount of new release books on Libby.
I am reading SO much more since I got Libby! I prefer ebooks over print books, but I’m not sure why I use Libby so much more than I used Kindle. I think it’s partly the pressure of having to return the books by a due date, and partly my lifelong ingrained sense that buying books is dumb when libraries exist.
There is a list from NPR of a reader’s poll of funniest books or books to make you laugh that I recently came across. I pretty much just read fiction but I have read some Dave Barry and David Sedaris who both made the list, as did Erma Bombeck. My mother loved Erna’s books and I haven’t read any so I checked out “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, Then What am I Doing in the Pits?” from the library today. I think anything from the 60s or 70s would be just right, maybe an Estee Lauder like Aliage. Today is a perfect fall day and I’m wearing Lubin Idole….why yes, I do smell wonderful
Oh wow, have not thought about Bombeck in ages and don’t think I ever read one! Tell us if it holds up.
yes, you do smell wonderful!
I loved reading Erma Bombeck back in the 70’s.
I remember reading that Irma Bombeck book and a couple other books of hers. I found them very funny.
Didn’t Erma Bombeck used to have a newspaper column? I know that Dave Berry did back in the day, and it was hilarous.
She did but I don’t recall much more than that. I loved Dave Barry’s column, he was soooo funny. I have a couple of his books and should reread them if I can find them.
I’m reading The Maid by Kimberly Cutter. A historical novel about Joan of Arc. It’s very very good, makes her a real person.
Wearing Ancient Resins oil and drinking a hard cider. Its rainy, windy, cold and basically blah. I’m tucked in and just enjoying my book.
Sounds like a pretty great day to me! Enjoy
Feels pretty fall-like here today, I’m enjoying the warm sun with a snap of coolness lurking in the shadows.
I’m currently reading The Library by Stuart Kells, which is about… the history of libraries. I’m enjoying it very much though it could really use illustrations. I keep having to go to the computer to look up the places and things he is describing (look up the St Gall library if you want to see what a library *should* look like!) I did read Susan Orlean’s Library book earlier this year, and found it 50/50 engaging (the library parts) and annoying (the now-lets-talk-about-ME parts)… Kells’ ‘library’ book is far more interesting, IMO.
Just finished Kanuka’s Scented, which made me want to go outside and sniff all the plants
Also just finished This Is How You Lose the Time War (SF), about two time traveling warriors who fall in love through letters.
One of the most interesting books I’ve read recently is The Boys In The Boat, about the American rowing team that competed in the 1936 Olympics.
No scent yet… sampling day perhaps? Actually what I am doing here is stalling on racking another cord or so of firewood… lol
Weird, a kindle version of the Kells book exists but none of my 3 library systems offers it! That’s silly!
Anyway, thank you, put the print version on hold.
Wow, St. Gall looks like a monk’s favorite library hangout – very cool. For an incredible university library, check out Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington: Hogwarts comes alive! It’s gorgeous inside AND outside. (I know there are lots of amazing library buildings – another one is Kansas City Missouri’s Library, with part of the exterior made to look like a wall of giant books!)
Oh and my comment about Suzzallo was also somewhat relevant to your book mention of the Boys in the Boat – UW’s team! That was a very enjoyable book.
Seattle has an “opening day” at the beginning of boating season in May with crewing races and a parade of boats that goes through the “Montlake cut” (mentioned frequently in the book) – we usually bring a picnic and go hang out to watch and I always think about the Boys in the Boat.
Oh, wow, that’s a gorgeous library!
When I was in college (Washington Univ St Louis) my favorite library was the East Asian Library — a petite delicate version of Hogwarts, perhaps. (The main library there was a hideous 60’s concrete thing… designed to suck the life out of you, I swear.)
Suzzallo was my happy place for many years (2 degrees at UW). I spent 20 years in Seattle and miss it tremendously. I now live in a place without rain or trees (outside the city).
The Kells library book sounds really interesting. I’ll have to “check it out.” Libraryporn on reddit is a collection of beautiful library images, very sumptuous. It’s not about porn IN libraries, which of course is a massive phenom.
I’m wearing Miss Balmain today and enjoying its soft oak moss and leather, probably a good one to wear when I get to Kanuka’s book!
Here are my recommendations:
1. The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life
Author: David Brooks
Especially poignant if you are in midlife or beyond, have lived the first part of your life the way you were ‘supposed’ to, experienced a life crisis, and are now trying to live your life in a more meaningful way. Filled with inspiration!
1. This Tender Land
2. Ordinary Grace
3. Also, The entire Cork O’Connor series
Author: William Kent Krueger
Kent is my favorite mystery author but he is so much more. A Minnesota writer, his books are usually set in/near the Boundary Waters and combine not only a mystery but the saga of a family you will grow to love and also, perhaps most importantly, a reverence for Native American spirituality from which I’ve learned much. The first two books I’ve listed are not part of the Cork series but are beautiful standalones you will never forget. Kent is an inspirational speaker as well as author (have seen him many times) and is currently on a book tour. I highly encourage you to attend one if you can, visit williamkentkrueger.com for book signing locations (not affiliated in any way, just a huge fan).
1. Better Off Read
2. Read on Arrival
Author: Nora Page
For lighter reading, If you love books and are a library junkie like me, you’ll enjoy this cozy mystery series featuring septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins and her bookmobile, Words on Wheels.
Delightful! and a rarity to find a female protagonist ‘of a certain age.’
You might enjoy this interview with David Brooks: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5mZWVkYnVybmVyLmNvbS9UZWRJbnRlcnZpZXc&episode=cHJ4XzE3OV9mZjlmYzc5YS0wYzExLTQzZDktYjY3MC0xOTRkNGUwMjJmYTY
Thank you! It was a great follow up to the book.
This is terrific! I am looking now. Another fabulous recommendation. My list is so long already.
Enjoy! Whether you’re in the mood for some serious inspiration, a good mystery, or just a bit of froth, it’s all here.
Hurrah! After days on end with temps above 90, it was early fall today. Celebrated with red lipstick and an extra cup of caffeine. I have to be careful with caffeine…
You can never have too many reading polls, Robin. I loved Ron Chernow’s Washington, but have yet to get to Hamilton. Someday…
I’ve mostly been reading books about economics policy, which would tread too close to the “no politics” policy of NST to mention. Also, I’m going back to school in January so spent three weeks cramming math into my head to pass placement tests. One of the classes I will be taking is Basic Anatomy and Physiology so downloaded a free textbook from openstax to get a head start.
Slogging my way through Charlotte Bronte’s Villette. (Something with lavender) (Anne is my favorite.) I’m also working my way through several detective series when I need a brain break. Next up is Poirot Investigates (L’Heure Bleue) , and I also plan to read the new Ann Cleeves. (I’m gonna say patchouli, because that goes well with the Shetland series.) Almost finished with Neal Stephenson’s Seven Eves. (Lampblack, except that it gives me a headache. Highly recommended to anyone who is up for lots of world-building and hard science fiction with a side order of cultural anthropology. ) Am planning on Quicksilver next.
I know I did not love Villette only because I never read it again after I finished
Book recommendations: Martin Walker’s mystery series about Bruno, Chief of Police, set in the French countryside. Interesting characters and stories, but read them mostly for the cooking and eating! Black Diamond is about truffle hunting and stealing. Scent for that: not sure, is there a perfume with truffles?
Nonfiction: Mary Roach books, all with single word titles such as Gulp! or Stiff, popular and funny, well-researched science writing on topics like death or digestion. The one on research on after-death experience is fascinating. Her footnotes are witty and priceless. Short chapters make for easy entertaining yet informative reading.
I’m wearing A Lab on Fire Rose Rebelle today, from Nancy the other day! Liking it!
Thanks! Put Bruno 1 & 2 on hold at the library. Mystery + food is wonderful. So is Mary Roach.
Love mystery + food!! Added to my list. The Roach rec also sounds very interesting. I’m getting lots of great ideas today!
Enjoy! ?
Trying Oeilleres (L’Objet Parfumant) and finding it quite magical.
These days most of my ‘reading’ is via audiobooks. I am almost done with ‘The Silence of the Girls’, which is the latest of my streak of greek mythologies -most of them around the Trojan war- written by female authors with a new perspective. I love them all. (Previously: Circe, Song of Achilles, the new Odyssey) before this I read ‘Housekeeping,’ which broke my heart a little..
I really enjoyed Circe. It teased my imagination a lot and conjured a very atmospheric island full of magic.
Happy Saturday Everyone! Also, this is Game 2 of my beloved Astros team! #TakeItBack
A book that I have been reading and enjoying immensely is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. The fragrance I recommend wearing while reading this biography is anything by Estee Lauder. Both women represent style, grace, and class. I was told that the former first lady was a fan of the Creed line, but in my mind, she wears something like Bronze Goddess.
Oh, and for the record, I’m ready to bring on Winter! My favorite season! Sooooo over this Summer’s heat in Texas! It has been dreadful!
I’m betting winter in Texas is like fall in Canada. ;-).
I fully agree. Come on, cool front!
I just got “Becoming” on audiobook after hearing Ms. Obama on the Two Dope Queens podcast. I’ve never listened to audiobooks before but my commute just went from 10 minutes to 45 minutes so I think it’s time to start.
That was some pitching in the Astros game last night, wasn’t it?!
Mitsouko today for the rather chilly weather. After some early football fix, took a walk up the river to watch the dogs play and have a very early dinner of lamb kebab.
Read a fair amount over the summer. Finished the latest Gabriel Allon book by Daniel Silva. Have Kanuka’s “Room” waiting to start.
I use SimplyE to access the NY Public Library. Have found it easy to use. Just went on, though, and it didn’t recognize me. I’m guessing I’m due to renew my card. Good news is there’s a branch nearby.
Now that I’m back working in NY, I have to see about getting a NY library card.
A gorgeous fall day here, crisp and sunny. Went to a tea festival then on a long walk outside. Wearing Dior Fève Délicieuse.
I finally finished Rick Bass’ book about the Yaack valley in Montana. Now I’m reading L’Hiver aux Trousses by Cédric Gras, it’s about a French guy that travels from north to south in Russia, watching fall change to winter over and over again. It felt appropriate for the season – the fall is so beautiful hear in northeast north america.
Agree with you on the northeast being beautiful in the Fall. I hope it doesn’t flip back to summer again!
The book has been revised but I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison so I can’t say how they differ…but the new edition feels ‘fresh’ to me. I didn’t skip any entries and I really love the stories behind the perfumes, especially when those stories come from the perfumers themselves e.g. Serge Lutens FdB and L’artisan Timbuktu. There are 8 new perfumes (about 50 pages). I would have hesitated to buy the new edition if I owned the original … but I am pretty sure I like it better than the original. There is something really nice about owning a substantial book and turning pages. Do you need both? Head says ‘no’, heart says ‘yes’.
Oops – that was meant as a reply to Robin re. Perfume Legends 2
Thank you so much Kanuka! Maybe I will get exceptionally lucky and find a copy on eBay for cheap. Ha.
Commando for perfume today. A friend and I saw the Downton Abbey movie, and we both liked and appreciated it. I won’t spoil things, but Violet does get some of the best lines, as someone who had watched the TV show would expect. The characters were very in character.
I realized that the king and queen in the 1920s were the same king and queen as portrayed at that time in the movie “The King’s Speech,” but it took me a while to think through the succession. I had heard of Queen Mary. I know more about George III and IV than about George V.
I’ll have to look in the “Kings and Queens of England” book we have. I believe it was published in the 1950s, but is not out of date as to Queen Elizabeth II being the current monarch. I’m old enough to remember seeing the Queen Mother on TV, Elizabeth of Glamis.
I looked through Goodreads to see what I’d been reading this year. I read Angela’s “The Lanvin Murders.” I read “A Hobbit, a Wardrobe and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18” by Joseph Loconte.
I read “Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in America” by Andrew Coe and “Chai, Chaat and Chutney: A Street Food Journey though India” by Chetna Makan.
I read “End of the Megafauna: The Fate of the World’s Hugest, Fiercest, and Strangest Animals” and other books about prehistoric mammals.
I read articles — I think they were in the Smithsonian magazine — about some of the artists who painted murals and pictures of what prehistoric creatures might have looked like, and some books about taxidermy. “Crap Taxidermy” stood on the line between funny and creepy for me.
In July, I read “How to Get Rid of a President: History’s Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable or Unfit Chief Executives.” I learned many historical facts from that. I’ll leave it at that.
I read a few short science fiction stories by John Chu, but would especially recommend “The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere.” The narrator is a scientist, and likes for things to be logical and rational, but family and love don’t tend to lend themselves to a rational approach. I can’t read the Chinese characters that the protagonist and his family use in dialogue here and there, but what Matt narrates in English gets the points across.
I read “Queer City: Gay London from the Romans to the Present Day” by Peter Ackroyd.
I read “Ramen Assassin” by Rhys Ford and other books of hers. Some of her books are contemporary, and some are fantasy. “Dim Sum Asylum” features various sorts of magic use and has butterfly-winged Fae with faceted eyes living along humans in a magical San Francisco. I think of Rhys as a Welsh name, but Ms. Ford is Asian-American and her books often feature Asian-American protagonists.
I read various books by Josh Lanyon, K.J. Charles, Jordan L. Hawk, Annabeth Albert, and A.M. Arthur.
My reading tastes are wide and span quite the variety of subjects.
Wowee. I need to keep a list!
Ah, I think I had Chop Suey on a reading list years ago and never did get it…you liked it?
I don’t know if I read the whole book of that one. The other books listed by title I definitely read. But I have that one on my Kindle, and can take a look.
Scent of Saturday bedtime: Vanira Moorea. I got some vanilla, but I think I was a little congested. I’ll try that one again.
Scent this morning: LUSH Cardamom Coffee solid with some sprays of Demeter Condensed Milk over it. I liked the mix. The Condensed Milk softened the coffee part of the Cardamom Coffee scent.
SOTD was the last of my evaporating STC decant of Hermes Eau de Mandarine Ambree. I could see getting a bottle of this someday. I love how vivid the mandarin is.
Current reading is Snow Crash by Neal Stephensen, a cyberpunk novel from 1992. It’s pretty fun and interesting. I’ve got about a third of the book to go, but I’m sure I’ll want to read more of his books. We have a few more at home already.
Another good one I recently read was The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. It’s the first in a trilogy of a fantasy series that “draws heavily on the Second Sino-Japanese war,” according to the author. It’s a page turner, but it certainly isn’t light reading. It’s very violent, as much of takes place during a war with the first third taking place in a military academy. I wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did, but the writing was very good and the story was compelling. The second in the series was published a couple months ago, but I may wait a few more months to read it so I’ll be able to space it out better with the last in the series.
And I didn’t end up going to the concert last night, but I was ok with it. My boyfriend took his coworker friend so the ticket didn’t go to waste. I knew I wasn’t well enough to have a good time. I watched The Favourite while I laid around at home. I liked it quite a bit and am glad I’ve finally seen it. It was strange but really not as strange as others I’ve seen from the director.
I’ve still not felt great today, but we went out for a late lunch of ramen. I really needed the fresh air! It felt so nice out today, 60 and sunny, so it was perfect for walking around. I was so cooped up yesterday that being outside instantly made me feel better.
Maybe you still need time to recover tomorrow ?. Ramen sounds good and you inspired my lunch venue tomorrow although I have to check my meeting schedule; I have to leave the office by 11:30 before the place gets too crowded!
I’m feeling a lot better today, so I’ll be fine to go to work tomorrow. The ramen yesterday was very good and hit the spot. I hope you can make it happen tomorrow –
Glad to hear that you are feeling better! Sorry you had to miss the concert, though.
I’m glad you’re feeling better. If you’re not up to it tomorrow, stay home.
I’m sure you were smart to stay in last night!
I still can’t decide if I liked The Favourite or not, or maybe I just can’t decide if I would be happier having never seen it. I do love Olivia Coleman though.
I‘m re-reading The Handmaid‘s Tale in preparation for The Testaments and am open-mouthed at how incredibly prescient the detail is.
Also looking forward to Zadie Smith‘s newest, Grand Union — I don‘t normally read short stories (not sure why), but anything by Zadie Smith is a treat. And the dialogue… immediately recognisable, hyper-realistic and yet also exhilarating.
Welcome back. I am doing the same thing with The Handmaid’s Tale. The Testament is already in my Kindle app.
Oops, forgot the perfume. I have no idea if this fits any of the books but I‘m nonstop wearing Alkemia‘s Miel de Sauvage et Tabac atm. It’s deep, dark, warm, enveloping and … what? a bit wicked? Not sure, but I’m addicted.
I have 3 books to reccomend: 1) The Book of Dust, first book in Phillip Pullman’s latest trilogy, the second one has just come out, and I’m waiting impatiently for my library copy.
For fans of His Dark Materials, Lyra is a baby in the first book, and in her early 20’s in the second book.
2) The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins, set in the aftermath of the slave trade, this book is a must read for fans of Wide Sargasso Sea, and Margaret Atwoods Alias Grace, i couldn’t put it down.
3) For non fiction: Bess of Hardwick by Mary S Lovell, for those interested in the Tudor period it’s a must read. Not only was it fascinating to read about such a powerful and influential woman in a mans world, but also full of little gems, such as although Elizabeth 1st never mentioned her mother Ann Boleyn during her reign, after her death it was found that a ring she always wore contained 2minatures, one of herself and the other of Ann Boleyn.
Your #3 book recommendation sounds fantastic! I will keep it in mind for the future.
I loved the Book of Dust and was planning on reading the Confessions of Frannie Langton. The nonfiction title I am reading currently is Patti Smith’s Year of the Monkey. Great recommendations!
2nd the Book of Dust, that was great fun and I have the next one on hold already too.
Not reading anything at the moment. Just haven’t found anything that has caught my fancy. Spent the whole day yesterday really cleaning out my room, especially my closet. I have 4 bags of donations and 3 bags of stuff that couldn’t be donated. Then proceeded to rearrange my bedroom to maximize space. My aunt was helping me out and I am not exactly happy with what she did to my perfume collection. She left only 10 full bottles and his the rest of them saying that I must finish the 10 bottles before I get another 10 but I have 4 full bottles in the bathroom. I was so busy yesterday, I didn’t get a chance to wear perfume. Spending the morning in no 5 edp. After my shower, I am going to wear Sarrasins and veg. I am not doing anymore cleaning and rearranging today. If she or my mom need to go out, I will do that.
Where did she put the rest of your perfume? Did she hide it?
That would drive me crazy! I really don’t *like* people telling me what to do…especially regarding my bottles of juice!
I am not exactly sure where she put it but at this point, I am livid. I am livid and frustrated that I just didn’t have a whole lot of control over anything. I couldn’t help but say that some of those perfumes are very expensive and hard to find. If most of them were inexpensive, it would be easier to accept. Vintage, Amouage, and my bell jars of Sarrasins and De Profundis don’t come cheap.
I’m livid for you! I hope this gets resolved quickly.
??? What the hay???
I don’t understand why you don’t have control over your own things. Your aunt went too far and exhibited behavior that may be symptomatic of something that may have gone awry organically. I say you demand to get them back now before she forgets where she hid them.
If someone did that to my perfumes, I would be livid too. I hope you get back the rest from her soon.
Oh no! I hope you can get those bottles soon. I don’t let anybody touch my collection. That is forbidden territory for anyone who dares to get even close to it.
Exactly correct, oh no! I know where all my bottles and samples are, let alone where my jewellry and lip balms are randomly left. If my hubby touched/moved anything, there would be he*% to pay, a very high price! And thankfully he knows that.
In my case helping out is just that, not someone making decisions about my own personal stuff. Hell would come down to earth, if by any little chance that ever happens! Hidding???? Excuse me! I am not a kid anymore!!!
Sorry I am annoyed about it!
Same in my case; helping out would be the extent; but just that even irritates me to no end.
I am super annoyed as well. If it’s my personal item, please leave it alone; I will deal with it!
That’s very uncool and very invasive. It doesn’t matter if they are vintage or inexpensive, they belong to you. I’m pi***d off on your behalf and hope you get it straightened out quickly.
Wow, I would be incredibly P.O.’ed about having my perfume messed with, too! ? That’s complete and utter ?.
Cold and windy here, but heading out nonetheless for the final day of the season to the ice cream shop. Wearing Angélique Noire.
Smelling fabulous! Enjoy your ice cream?
On the menu today we have the main dish of nonstop rain with a side of incessant wind, all topped off with a dollop of gravid grey skies. Ugh!
Doing laundry in DSH Chinchilla to get a bit of fuzzy warmth. T-Rex is looking longingly out the window, but when I open the door to let her out, she gives me the disgusted side eye and jumps back in bed.
When do you get to go go the next assignment, and where will it be?
I’m here until the last week in November, then I will head home to hopefully sell my house by the end of the year. Hoping to start another assignment in January and would love to head to New Mexico or Arizona for the winter season.
Good luck with the selling of the house. I hope it goes smoothly for you.
Summer refuses to die here in West Texas. Today I’m embracing it and wearing my new sample of DSH Perfume Un Soir d’ete Provencal. It’s a warm and delightful lavender-infused fougere. Mmmm, full bottle is in my future. I think I could wear this year round.
I’m wearing Lolita Lempicka this morning, one of my scents that never disappoints. I forgot to mention reading “Into the Planet” by Jill Heinerth, one of the few female technical cave divers in the world. Technical diving involves exotic air mixes, rebreathers, and redundant equipment and has one of the highest mortality rates of any career. Ms. Heinerth talks about being a woman in an overwhelmingly male profession and the challenges she faced. I’m a recreational scuba diver but I think anyone adventurous would enjoy reading the book.
Went back to an old love today: SL Un Bois Vanille. It seems Like a good choice as I wait along with everyone else in Houston, for a cool front that will take our temps out of the 90’s. I’m baking chocolate chip almond butter banana bread, so it’s matching well with what’s in the oven.
I most recently read the nonfiction book Hero Dogs, by Wilma Melville and Paul Lobo, about a very determined woman who gathered up strays and rescue dogs and trained them in search and rescue. Many of the dogs were abused or were returned from multiple adoptive homes. They served at 9/11, Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, to name a few. I wept more than once while reading. Harrowing in places, but inspiring.
I hope everyone is having a great Sunday afternoon! ?
chocolate chip almond butter banana bread? That must smell, and taste, incredible!
I think it’s a keeper! Hubster told me to rename the recipe, as there’s nothing “bread” about it. ?
I went to Holt Renfrew today (fancy-schmanzy Canadian department store) and couldn’t remember if Penhaligon was sold there or at Saks so I asked a SA in the fragrance department. She said, “You mean those exercise bike things?” So I guess that answered my question.
Pelotons, geez, that’s hilarious!
Lol!?
That is funny!
Uff!!!!?♀️
???
Currently reading (in bits and pieces) The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones. It’s a narrative history of that family from about 1120 to 1399. I’ve enjoyed it so far. Each chapter is almost a self-contained essay, so you can pick up later without feeling like you have missed out on something.
SOTWeekend = Samsara EdP. I’ve enjoyed saying hello to my bottle of this!