(Update: I forgot to say that this is a 3 day poll! Use the comments section to talk about whatever you like on Monday, and there will be a new scent of the day poll on Tuesday.)
Welcome to our 5th annual spring reading poll! Please recommend a great book to add to our reading lists, and tell us what fragrance we should wear while reading it.
Or, do what I do and record here everything you have read since the last reading poll. And if you want more recommendations, scrolling through the literature tag will bring up all the older reading polls.
(Or, as always, just talk about something else.)
What I've read since our winter reading poll:
On the non-fiction front, I enjoyed two books that were recommended here and that I certainly never would have found otherwise: Janet Macdonald's Feeding Nelson's Navy (thanks foxbins!) and Kate Strasdin's The Dress Diary (thanks Kanuka!). I also skimmed through two books by Nick Hornby. The first, Songbook, consists of essays about songs that he cares about, and I admit I only read about the ones I cared about. I also read bits and pieces of his Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books. Then I read bits and pieces of Why Bob Dylan Matters (really? is that a question?) by Richard F. Thomas.
I did not finish a single mystery this quarter, which is unusual for me. I started Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling's latest Cormorant Strike novel, The Running Grave, but it is soooo long (960 pages!) and probably the next one will be even longer, right? Plus the HBO series is pretty good. I gave up after about 50 pages and decided to wait for the miniseries.
I did read lots of fiction, starting by finishing two I think had started by the last poll: Sigrid Nunez The Vulnerables (in general I highly recommend the author, she is wonderful and I will read whatever she writes next) and then the last of Rebecca West's Aubry trilogy, Cousin Rosamund. I read Elizabeth Taylor (that's the other Elizabeth Taylor) A View of the Harbour, Paul Theroux's Burma Sahib, Sebastian Barry's Old God's Time, Dave Eggers The Honor of Your Presence (really a short story or novella, and slight in any case). I read Yiyun Li's Kinder Than Solitude because I happened to see it in the library and I had loved her Book of Goose.
The best things I read all quarter were by the Spanish author Javier Marías, who I've been meaning to read for years, mostly because he is often mentioned in the same breath as W. G. Sebald. I started out of order with The Infatuations, then All Souls, and I'm currently almost done with Dark Back of Time. I am entranced and that will continue to be my reading project (maybe I'll re-read Sebald after that, it's been years). I don't know why but the fragrance I thought of to match Marías is Boudicca Wode, but I haven't had any in ages and will be surprised if anyone here does either...raise your hand if you have a bottle! And then go get something by Javier Marías.
Note: top image is detail from Still Life with Orange and Book, Raphaelle Peale, 1815 via Wikimedia Commons.
I’m reading so little these days! A couple of days ago I finished a graphic novel that I’ve read before, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, a harrowing, bitterly funny story about how the cartoonist dealt with the senescence of her very elderly parents. Recommended if you think you can handle that sort of thing: it gets pretty rough.
Semi-ironically, I’m at the library right now and about to leave without getting a book, but I was reaching for one at eye level and as my hand neared my face, I thought, “God I smell good!” Because it’s the last day of Chypre week and I’m in YSL Yvresse, which is purely delightful, the happiest of chypres.
How lovely to smell so good! I am off to the library shortly.
Yvresse is glorious. You do smell great!
It’s Star Wars day today. If I wasn’t going in to work this afternoon, I would probably be doing a Star Wars marathon today. I can do that tomorrow or Monday. Wearing no 5 today.
Oh my, I missed it! May the fourth be with you!
If you haven’t yet embarked on the captivating journey of “Romatasy: literature, Fourth Wing is the ideal starting point.
County of Others was a great read-transport yourself by wearing an orange blossom scent.
Other books I read this year-not worth mentioning. While there’s always a buzz around new releases, some books fail to captivate my interest. Despite the hype, certain titles lack the spark needed to draw me in, leaving me indifferent
I often read your recommendations!
Thanks. So far this year it’s been meh. But this Diana Athill I am reading now is good.
I am already reading that one as I saw your post the other day right before I went to the library! 😀
She also had a memoir too
Continuing chypres today with Private Collection, then off for a hike in the woods this afternoon.
May the force be with everyone today.
Have a lovely hike SarahN!
Hello!
Wearing Diptyque Vetyverio EDP and having Vermont Maple Ginger Tea by Celestial Seasonings. Reminds me of maple and brown sugar oatmeal. Which isn’t a bad thing:)
Hope everyone has a lovely Saturday 🌹
Hugs all around 🙂
Enjoy your day, Omega! 🪻🪺🌷
Thank you! You too! 🌼
Oh, Robyn, I love Javier Marias! One I loved is Tomorrow in the Battle Think On Me. Amazing writer. I should read more of his–or re-read the ones I already have. And I’ve never read Seabed.
As usual I have not read much because of my passion for k-dramas which has been especially strong in view of the totally addictive now-running show Queen of Tears (it concluded last weekend but is dropping two sort of epilogue/follow-up special episodes this weekend). But I’m in a Zoom book group and right now we are reading The Dubliners. We recently read Claire Kegan’s Foster, which is a novella, and there’s an excellent movie version. I plan to read more by her. We’re not dedicated to Irish literature but just happen to be on a bit of an Ireland kick now. Our next project is to read the recent translation of The Iliad by Emily Wilson, which has received lots of rave reviews. I have it but haven’t started it yet.
Not sure how I would scent The Dubliners except maybe with something that has to do with some alcohol and incense since the opening story features a dead priest in an old house, and the sisters serve the guests sherry; it has a distinct aura of creepiness and decay. There must be a By Kilian that fits but I can’t call it to mind.
He is amazing!! Tomorrow in the Battle is on my list, I’m hoping to read them all.
And Sebald is very different but if you enjoy that kind of meandering, dreamlike, truth vs fiction vs memory kind of meditation, you might like Sebald too. Although much of his is informed by WWII (his father was a Nazi) and so it is darker…I am glad I read him when I was younger and we will see if I am able to reread or if in my current snowflake-ish state of mind it is too upsetting.
I loved Dubliners…phrases from The Dead still run through my head. And loved Foster & her Small Things Like These, but that is all I have read by Keegan.
I’m going to have to try Sebald. Did you see the movie of Foster? It’s amazingly true to the book. I’ve also heard there’s a movie of Small Things with Cillian Murphy–gotta find that.
I forgot to put my SOTD: my newly purchased Hilde Soliani Orgasmo. I’m one big walking bomb of an almond croissant!
You HAVE to read Sebald. The Emigrants or Austerlitz were my favourites, or Vertigo.
Your Korean series sounds amazing. Not sure I can find it here but will look.
I did not see the movie, will find out where I can stream…
Mmmm, The Iliad sounds fantastic. I love a good classic. I’ll have to look into it!
I’m in Chanel Comete. I like it. Happy888cat gave a wonderful review impression/review earlier this week. Persolaise also has a good review over on YouTube. He called it an aldehydic powdery Iris and I would agree. It’s very pretty, very Chanel. If you like powder or Iris and/or Chanel it’s a must try imo. I *personally* did not get a Apres L’Ondee vibe, to my nose it is much more modern than that. Though admittedly I am team Chanel.😂 Do I $325 like it? Nah.
I saw comments that it was faint and/or didn’t last long. I did 2 sprays to my wrists and one behind each ear (and I don’t usually spray that close to my nose, i usually spray my belly) and it lasted from lunch til bedtime. Ymmv.
I haven’t been reading a lot lately, but I’ve got a few on the coffee table.
In non-fiction I’ve got The Great Cholesterol Myth and The Good Life: lessons from the worlds longest scientific study of happiness.
For fiction I’m starting the second Thursday night murder club mystery, The Man Who Died Twice. The first one was an easy, fairly entertaining read.
Was getting Chanel fragrance ads on The NY Times app this morning, so clicked through. $350 for 8.5 ounces of BODY OIL? Nuh-uh.
Like many of you, I suspect those prices mean that I will never replace my current Chanels when I run out.
Oof, the body oils are $350? 😬
Yes, unless I completely misread the site — which is possible, given the tiny text and generally inconsistent presentation of the items. (Bottled fragrances and body oils shown in the same grouping and same type of photo, with price listed as “from” or “starting at.”)
That explains why they really wanted me to try the body oils at the boutique! 🤣 I can’t remember which one I tried recently, it was nice though.
I suspect those prices mean I will never actually own an exclusif.🤣 I’ll stick have to stick with L’eau which is affordable for me and really does smell great and is easy to wear. Or the Les Eauxs. Or coco! Which imho is as good as many of the Exclusifs.
Oops, too many sticks. Ugh.🫣
Noting these book recommendations and thanks!
Great!😀 and you’re welcome! Have a great day.🎂
Thanks for mentioning Evil Bay as your sample source! Appreciate it.
Posting and running! Beautiful sunny but cold day today. The dogs water pail that I use outside froze solid during the night. 🥶
Wearing Korres Safron Amber Cardamom edt from a very generous NST swapper. It’s light and lovely, fleeting and stays close to the body. I can respray or change up my perfume easily with this one.
We’re starting at my campgrounds today and I’m HOPING I can be onsite by Monday. One of the perks of not being connected is that I’ll get no calls from the boss (or anyone else for that matter) and if they want something, they’re going to have to haul themselves into their truck and then drive 15-20 miles to get me. That should cut down on unnecessary communication. 😉 It may take them a long time to find me because no telling what campground I’ll be at when they come for me! There’s a LOT to love about this! 🙃
Smell well, y’all!
Forgot to mention I’ve been reading/listening a LOT but just don’t have time to create a list right now…📖
Sounds like the perfect job! It’ll be great for T-Rex, too!
It got cold here last night, too. Had to turn the heat back on!
That is a definite plus to being “off the grid!” Or maybe just grid-adjacent.
Another beautiful warm spring day.
I’m wearing generous sprays of No 5 L’Eau from a generous NSTer, it’s lovely.
I’m still just reading articles rather than books. I thought I would read during my surgery recovery but I just wanted to watch movies. I used to be a voracious reader, it was a casualty of covid, maybe the urge will return sometime.
L’eau really is lovely. My reading seems to wax and wane.
I fell hard for No. 5 L’Eau when I had a small decant. Have a cute little bottle of it now.
I have my eyes open for decent deals on the internet for a small bottle. I would wear it a lot.
L’Eau is good anytime. Smelling wonderful!
Happy Saturday, all. Today is my birthday. I’m wearing a very old friend thanks to a lovely NST member: vintage Je Reviens.
I remember watching the first Star Wars movie long ago, funny to have it connected with my bday now. However, I have always felt a connection to the Derby as it’s been on my birthday several times over the years.
This poll is perfect for me today in that what I would most like as a present is recommendations for a new book (or series) to read – I mostly read before bed, so I would love to have some that aren’t brutally violent or devastatingly sad. That said, they don’t have to be all sweetness and light. I’ll be watching the poll for recs!
Happy Birthday! 🎂
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy birthday to you!!
Happy Birthday!🎉
Happy Birthday, springpansy!
Happy birthday! I hope you find some great recommendations today, as well as other celebratory goodies.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, SP!💐💗🎂
Happy Birthday!!! 🎂
Happy birthday, you smell great and appropriate name too.
Have a wonderful birthday and a happy year and cake!!!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!
Have a very happy birthday!
Happy Birthday!🎂🎁🎉 👏🏻
Happy Birthday!
Happy Scented Birthday, springpansy! 🎊🎂🥂🎁
And thanks for the reminder about the Kentucky Derby. Completely forgot about it.
Thanks so much, everyone. Mr. SP and I have just finished making the birthday cake. It’s coffee and walnut from a book by Nigel Slater.
Happy Birthday my dear!
Happy birthday, springpansy!
Happy birthday!
Happy belated birthday!
Happy birthday springpansy!
Happy birthday week!
I’m always inspired by these reading polls, and seldom follow through on that inspiration. That said, I just borrowed The Infatuations after getting hooked by the very first sentence. The bulk of my reading is done at bedtime, and consequently is best if it’s something I’ve read before so there’s no suspense about what’s coming. Otherwise I’m awake far too late into the night! I broke that “rule” recently though with A Wrinkle In Time (inspired, I admit, by references in Ted Lasso). I’m probably the oldest person in history never to have read it before, and I loved it.
Meanwhile, my SOTM is Tam Dao, to counteract a rather fraught night of, er, digestive drama. Oy.
Oh no, I hope there is no drama today. Tam Dao is always perfect.
I am old and have never read it and don’t plan to.
Hope tummy troubles settle.
I’ve never read it.
Love A Wrinkle in Time!! Worth reading.
Hope you recover quickly and have a good night.
I hope you feel better. 🌹 Tam Dao is a good one. Whenever I hear someone mention that scent, I want to spray some on:).
I’ve never read “A Wrinkle In Time” either.
I have loved A Wrinkle in Time since I first read it in jr high. I read it again in the last few years, too. The themes and characterizations don’t age.
If you want to try another YA book sometime, try The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. It’s actually one of my all-time favorites, irrespective of genre.
I loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond when I was a kid! I should reread it.
Yes, it stands re-reading as an adult.
I remember loving that book when I was younger, but I have no memory of the actual story. Time for a reread!
Don’t forget there are 3 more books in the Wrinkle in Time series…then 4 more related books that I don’t think I read. But I did read the original quartet, and loved all of them.
Hope the digestive system is better tonight!
I read A Wrinkle in Time at 7 or 8 and it went totally over my head, and I was a voracious reader. I’ll have to give it another go.
I will raise my hand and say that I have a bottle of Boudicca Wode, and a relatively recent one, at that. It could still be had at Luckyscent until a year or two ago, but I see it’s gone now. I’ve never read Marías, though I probably should in preparation for our trip to Spain this summer. I should get out some of my Saramago books, too, for our time in Portugal.
As for reading, I haven’t done much this past quarter. I read Tori Amos’ book “Resistance,” and the new-ish Daniel Clowes graphic novel “Monica”. I’m pretty sure there’s one other book I’m missing, but it’s not on my Goodreads list. I’m also currently making my way through Kara Swisher’s “Burn Book”, and I’m reading “Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” for work. I’ve also been reading a lot of travel guides to plan our vacation. I started Craig Mod’s “Things Become Other Things” shortly after I got it for Christmas, and then I’d get a library book and have to read that to return it. The e-reader version of “A City on Mars” has come in a number of times at the library, but I haven’t had time to get to it and keep putting it back on hold.
I lovedddd Wode but never bought a bottle. I see it on fragrancenet for “free”….
Oh yay…don’t know why but it makes me happy that you have a bottle 🙂
Hello all!
Got up verrry early to study for my Calc 3 test later this afternoon. Cannot for the life of me figure out why we didn’t have a more time before exams, or why this one is on a Saturday…. Trying not to be pessimistic about this one; this class has been my nemesis! I signed up for two summer classes (non-concurrent) and three classes with two labs next semester. I wish I could add a forth but I don’t think I can do that safely.
I haven’t read toooooo much this semester/quarter; I read Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott, published in the days before the big stock market crash. A very modern portrait of an American woman, for better or worse.
I also read The Man in the Cupboard by Colin Cheong, about a man who comes up with an elaborate scheme to murder his wife. Definitely less than its parts, I mostly finished because it was only 130 pages. I didn’t love the stream-of-conscious style.
I started I Love Dollars by Zhu Wen in a bath last week, but only finished the titular story. Pretty damned funny, but not for everyone. I’m excited to pick up the rest. It reminded me of a book I read in one night last year, Running through Beijing by Xu Zechen, which I cannot recommend enough.
I’m wearing Byredo Casablanca Lily because my friend mentioned it is Greek Orthodox Easter this weekend. This is a nice scent but I don’t understand the price at all. You could get 100ml of Tubereuse Criminelle for that price.
Have a great day everyone!
Good luck today!
Thank you!
Good luck on the exam! Is that your last one for this semester? I appreciate your suggestion of the Chinese writers. I want to try them.
Actually, only my second. My last is next Sunday.
🍀
💖
Good luck on Calc 3!
Thank you! We’ll see. 😅
Have a happy weekend. What happened to your jumper, that was too short? I’ve been wondering about it.
Good luck with your exam, hope it goes well.
Thank you! I decided to pick up all the stitches on the bottom hem and work in the pattern. We’ll see how it works out! I’ll link to pictures when I finish.
Good luck with that Calc test!
Thank you!
Have I Love Dollars on its way to me from another library, yay.
Oh cool! I hope you like it. It’s a little blue so far, but I’m really enjoying it.
I hope the test went well!
In Cedrat Enivrant after 48 km bike ride.
excellent ride!!
Am listening to Burma Sahib in my car.
Am listening to Sociopath in house on audible.
Am reading In The Lake of the Woods on kindle.
Am wearing something Chanel post shower.
What I read this quarter:
A really interesting book about an art thief in France, who stole pieces worth millions of dollars from smaller regional museums in Europe. I found his psychology fascinating, as he didn’t sell anything, he kept it all in his mother’s attic. It’s titled, “The Art Thief” by Michael Finkel.
I am re-reading all Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs books. She has announced that “The Comfort of Ghosts,” due out on June 4, will be the last book of the series. There are 18. I’ve been reading about Maisie since 2003, it will be like saying goodbye to an old friend.
I can recommend “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, fiction about nurses stationed in Vietnam during the war. If you have read Lynda Van Devanter’s “Home Before Morning” some of the depictions of hospital life will be familiar but the book was well written except for a rather pat ending.
For a charming novel reminiscent of the Pentecost and Parker books but set in the Regency era, I enjoyed “The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies,” by Allison Goodman. It looks like there may be a second book, too.
I also read some books about geishas, four or five about walking the Pacific Crest Trail, some entirely unmemorable fiction, a nice book about caring for Iditarod dogs, “Four Thousand Paws,””The People’s Hospital” about Houston’s Ben Taub Hospital caring for the underserved, “The Future,” by Naomi Alderman, a frightening look into data scraping by tech companies and a fictional look at the uses to which it could be put, and I re-read the Murderbot novellas, because they are just so good.
In other news, I am sad because Bertie Wooster’s latest labs show his kidney disease has progressed to end-stage. It’s palliative care now, so I will keep him as comfortable as I can for as long as I have him. He’s a special cat. I am wearing Perris Monte Carlo Musk Extreme from the Swapmeet and I love it. Thank you Nancyleandros!
What a great list; thank you.
Very sorry about Bertie Wooster. May your remaining time together be as easy and as sweet as possible.
I’m sorry to hear about Bertie. I was going to write almost exactly what skalolazka has said above, so just saying ditto to all this.
Oh I am so sorry to read this about Bertie Wooster.
Oh no, that’s awful news about little Bertie. I’m very sorry. I have been through that, and sometimes if you can do the fluid treatments at home it helps keep them alive and more comfortable (IV fluids just under the skin). You perhaps already know about that.
I also love Maisie Dobbs! I didn’t know about the next book being the final one. I don’t blame the author though. She has taken that character a long, long way.
That’s sad news about Bertie Wooster, I’m sure you will spend quality time with him.
So sorry to hear about Baby Bertie. I know you’ll do right by him. 💔
Thank you for your book list. There are a couple on there that have caught my eye previously so it’s good to know they were excellent!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/woman-who-stole-vermeer-review/2020/11/20/32a83548-2b3f-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html
I’m really sorry to hear about Bertie, such a special cat and I know you care about him so deeply.
Another good art thief book is The Woman who Stole Vermeer. It’s about an Irish heiress and scholar who became politically motivated (IRA) and ended up carrying out the biggest art theft from a country home in Ireland ( at gunpoint, 19 paintings). Incredible, jaw-dropping story. She died recently
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/18/rose-dugdale-obituary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
I’m sorry to read about Bertie Wooster, beloved pets become such a huge part of our lives.
Thank you for those suggestions, especially Jaquline Winspear. I love to find a good series. I am sorry about Bertie Wooster and I hope you’ll have clarity about your choices for what’s best for him.
So sorry to hear about Bertie Wooster. He’s lucky you have you as his person.
Edit: “lucky TO have you…”
I’m so sorry to hear about Bertie Wooster; lease give him an extra soft pet from me.
I started reading the Winspear novels, and about halfway through I got out of order. I found it confusing and unintentionally let my reading there lapse.
I love the title “The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies”
I’ve seen it on Bas Bleu, I think, and will be putting it on my list.
So sorry to hear about Bertie Wooster.
Great list of books. I have thought a few times about picking up The Women. Since I am a retired nurse, I thought it might be something I would enjoy. However, it seems like I have read a few books about war in the last few months and not sure I want to pick up another one quite yet. Maybe I will read it at some point.
I hope Bertie Wooster’s next days are comfortable; such sad news.
Vibes for you and Bertie.
So sorry about Bertie Wooster. You have given him a great life.
Gentle hugs to Bertie Wooster. 😿
Gentle pats to Bertie Wooster.
Sending love and comfort to you and Bertie Wooster
I’m wearing vintage Perry Ellis For Men, a classic that I first smelled in the 80s. In the Aramis, Quorum, Chaps, Azzaro Pour Homme, Halston Z-14 family, it’s mossy, lemony, leathery, musky, and wonderful to wear.
I’m reading Sly Stone’s memoir, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.) Sly is one of my favorite musicians of all time – incredibly talented and influential. He’s finally clean and sober at the age of eighty, but considering the decades he battled addiction, it’s remarkable that he’s still alive. A fascinating, entertaining, and harrowing story.
And I’m re-reading Aileen Ward’s extraordinary biography of Keats , “John Keats: The Making of a Poet.” What a tragic, beautiful, and profoundly moving life.
That biography sounds great.
Those both sound like great books.
Thirding Calypso and Robyn for Dubliners, almost essential reading imho.
Apple and yogurt smoothie
Like some others I am continuing Chypre week in YSL Y, so elegant, still going strong I find and tonight it’s Laura Mercier Lumière d’ambre, I think that one is discontinued, I didn’t care for Ambre et Vanille but Ld’a is lightly spicy, airy and I agree with the comparison to Obsession on Fragrantica, the amber note is similar.
A fourth for The Dubliners …especially The Dead.
“The Dead” is my favorite short story. (And John Huston’s movie of it is wonderful.)
Have you ever watched any Terrence Davies movies, British .Distant voices, still lives is brilliant ( Peter Postlewaite) A bit reminiscent of The Dead Huston movie in colours/ tone , but later time period.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/30/distant-voices-still-lives-review-terence-davies-pete-postlethwaite-liverpool-family?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
😀 it’s fan club now.
I also read Javier Marais – his final novel Tomas Nevison. It s got the typical Marais characters with shadowy identities which I like , a spy story set in Spain. One thing that grates a little is the way the male character “ looks” at the females, approvingly or not of their physical characteristics. It’s annoying but if you can overlook it the novel is good, worth reading.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/19/tomas-nevinson-by-javier-marias-review-seductive-and-inescapably-poignant?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Steven Carroll is an Australian novelist who wrote a quartet of novels based on T.S Elliot and the women in his life ( Good night Vivienne, Goodnight – about his wife in a mental asylum). I’m reading his latest, a detective novel set in Cambridge in 1947 concerning the death of a German philosopher , killed in a hit and run. It has the atmosphere of a Graham Greene novel. Very good and short.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/this-classy-detective-novel-marries-weighty-concerns-with-playful-delight-20240422-p5flow.html
I’ve been re-reading some novels Henry James Washington Square. What a great, tragic, painful short novel . A must read if you like character led books, power struggles and how stubborn cruelty can inflict pain on family members.
Also John Fowler French Lieutenants Woman. This was a big hit novel back in the 80s and it is remarkable for its structure, alternative endings etc.
Also, I’ve mentioned it before but Paul Auster’s terrific biography of Stephen Crane. It’s wonderful because Auster is clearly a fan but also one writer unpicking another. Terrific, but best if you like Crane.
Wearing Paris and off to see Challengers. Brrr cold here.
I love reading your lists and also all the recommendations you give to me for reading.
A second for Washington Square. I am always affected by how the story unfolds even knowing the end.
And thirding Washington Square, James at his finest. Would also recommend the classic film based on it The Heiress, so well acted with a young Montgomery Cliff and Olivia de Havilland, a pretty woman who managed to make herself plain for the role.
Such a good movie!
loved that movie!
Great movie!
Isn’t it, and Ralph Richardson looking avuncular and chilling underneath.
*Clift
Oh dear, Steven Carroll is not easy to find here unless you pay a lot of money for a paperback. Library has nothing, and Amazon has only 1 of them on Kindle, The Lover’s Room.
I know I loved French Lieutenants Woman at the time but now I cannot remember a thing…all overwritten by the movie, and it looks like I no longer have a copy of the book.
Try iBooks if you have it , that’s where I got my copy
Thank you!
Should I try to seek these books out?
Tell me more
I think the reviews sum them up pretty well.
I see NYPl and all of New York State do not have his books. I will see if I can do an interlibrary loan from another state if they have it
Have been getting into audiobooks lately, especially last thing at night. Just finished “So Many Steves” with Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik, and listening with sound effects made such a difference. Also enjoyed on of the murder club titles on audiobook and hope to hear the others in the series.
In Paris-Venise, as it seems a good fit for this week.
So Many Steves looks great fun!
I don’t read as much as I used, life just seems generally busier. I’ve re-read a few older crime mysteries – PD James and Ngaio Marsh – I can re-read those repeatedly, I always forget some combination of who, how or why 🙂 .
For non-fiction, I’ve just finished The Poison Line by Cara McGoogan. It’s the history of the tainted blood products that infected so many hemophiliacs in the UK in the 1980s. It’s shocking and very relevant, inquiries are still going on, and some people are yet to get compensation.
On a brighter note, I’m continuing the CP theme with Jubilation 25.
https://www.ngaiomarsh.org/_files/ugd/210f43_f20ef26102044b68a103261c71b2954c.pdf
The interior of Marsh’s house is great. She wore perfume too! Dior I think.
Hope you got some good fabrics
Also her novel False Scent ( death by perfume!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Scent
Y’all read such wonderful-sounding things. I recently got a used copy of Lizzie Ostrom’s Perfumes and it’s been fun to read the anecdotes of each one.
Oh I always meant to get that…adding to my library search list.
SOTD is Jeffrey Dame’s discontinued Cassis, Rose and Sandalwood.
I am always amazed at the lists by the readers here. I wish I had an interest in all the genres some of you read, but I pretty much limit myself to thrillers/suspense, historical fiction, contemporary and literary fiction plus an occasional romance. If nothing else, I try to read different types of fiction by reading the monthly book club book at B & N. Even if I am not sure if I will like them, I read them anyway and find them to be a good mix. This month is Real Americans by Rachel Khong that I just started. Another very good book this year from their book club was After Annie by Anne Quindlen. This was about family and friends coping with grief after the death of a young mother.
I read many others this last quarter, but you will probably see them as bestsellers in the fiction area of your local bookstore. Happy reading everyone.
any of those books you couldn’t put down?
Yes, I couldn’t put down The Teacher by Frieda McFadden because it is a thriller with many twists and turns. Two books I know you would like because you like Beth O’Leary would be Ready or Not by Cara Bastone and Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez.
SOTD = Love by Kilian don’t be shy Extreme
Just 1.5 spritzes as I was taking a ride down to Long Beach Island for a friend’s daughter’s wedding. The theme was May the Fourth Be With You 🤩.
The day turned out to be coolish with a vacillating sunny and cloudy weather. The ceremony was moved up 15 minutes, with the actual ceremony happening out on the beach although yours truly was so cold even with a jacket that I watched it from a sheltered platform. It went well except for the priest bungling the bride’s name as “Melanie Somethingorother” and of course we all looked at each other because it was just so wrong! Cocktail hour 🍸 was fabulous and the buffet dinner was wonderful. The gifts were very tongue-in-cheek, with each guest receiving a light saber and a pretzel rod wrapped in chocolate with candy buttons depicting a light saber’s on-off switch!
A good number of us are staying at the hotel/resort and we will be having brunch tomorrow.
More to come as I have some opinions.
In the meantime, enjoy my caturday post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6kbA5vO0mS/?igsh=ZDhuY2l4ejlxZGlt
That is so wrong about the name! The pretzel light sabers are cool. Have a great brunch!
Thanks! Brunch was fabulous! There were 18 of us and I stuck to my smallish order.
I’ll be hoping you’ll find out there was some inside joke and the priest was a good friend of the bride…or…somethingorother! Your weekend sounds very fun; kitteh is adorable and I might just see if our B&BW has one!
No inside joke as I overheard several people commenting on what’s up with the priest. As to the kitteh, it is best to get to B&BW quickly because these holders tend to go quickly!
Here’s a wedding name mixup you might appreciate. Ten years ago, a couple of my friends were married and the officiant called the groom by his bride’s last name at the end of the ceremony!
Fortunately everyone thought it was rather funny.
This happened once before as well!
Today I am testing out a sample of Ella K Musc K. It smells exactly like something I already have and after an hour or so it hit me: Glossier You, which I quite like but not sure I need another like it at a multiple of the price.
I have been reading Wilding by Isabella Tree. It is about a couple who become owners of a family estate/farm in England and decide to return the land to the wild rather than farm it. The book focuses a on the loss of plant and animal species in England and how some of the losses recover once the land is allowed to return to its native state. I am a fast reader normally but this book is taking me a while since I tend to divert and look up some of the plants and animals mentioned and reread parts of it. I am really enjoying the book and it is good timing for me since I have been contemplating landscaping my large backyard. The backyard is mostly neglected and as I read the book I am considering more or less keep it wild, maybe with some “trails” allowing us to walk through.
Noting this recommendation as well. I love the idea.
very cool!
I’ve been wanting to read this. Have you read any James Rebanks? He and another farmer I follow on Instagram have done a lot of restoration / rewilding on their farms.
Never. This a new topic for me. My father was a fanatic gardener and he spent years clearing his 2 acre yard for a large garden and orchard. My father died many years ago and my mother has commented that the brush is creeping back. Looking at leaving some of my own land wild might be better for me, the environment and my bank account.
Finishing off my sample of Comète today. Very windy with rain expected.
will you buy a full bottle?
I’m on a no buy. 🙂
oye. The saddest line we ever read on NST, cazaubon.
Happy Sunday. I’m wearing Bottega Veneta for a cool, cloudy day.
Good choice:)
Wind advisory today with a bit of a cool off. Game 7 of the Golden Knights, might head to a watch party later on. It will be an outdoor one, so, the weather should be perfect for it..except maybe the wind lol. Hopefully, no flying lounge chairs lol.
Opus X Amouage
Have a lovely Sunday 🌹
How is Opus X?
I love it, it’s a deep, dark rose, woody, with a bit of warm spice and an edge of sharpness to it. I love the packaging too. A very unique rose scent. If you want, I can send you a sample from my bottle if you want to sniff:) Just hit me up at kalliela 11 at the hotmail:) 🌹
Ok! Emailed you and thank you
I have the early shift today. Yay! But I forgot to put on perfume. Boo! But my unwashed vest still smells great. It took me awhile to figure out what it was, it’s D&G Devotion.
I tried Devotion yesterday from a shop tester, lemon vanilla cake-y. Almost edible. Hope your shift was okay!
It was! I got out of there right before the busy crazy time.
Today is Orthodox Easter, so I wanted to wear something bright, happy and sunny. Houbigant Orangers en Fleurs.
I meant to mention that too today. Happy Easter Glannys!
Thank you! Just finished a piece of Easter cake made by mom. And we have pretty dyed eggs too.
Your Easter celebration looked wonderful and delicious!
Happy Easter!!!!
🐰
Happy Easter Glannys!
Happy Sunday People! Just finished breakfast and on my second cup of coffee while the dog does the dishes.
I’ve started most of these, finished some, while several are awaiting “zero connectivity” times to really dig into and finish. Usually I know by the first page if I’m going to like a book, and all these have passed the first page, first chapter testing. Many are very specific to me and my interests and probably not for interesting to most but I’m listing them anyway.
Books:
“Holmes, Marple, and Poe” by James Patterson. I’ve never read anything by this guy although I know he’s quite popular. I barely made it through the book. Don’t recommend. I was hoping for “clever” but it just delivered a crap ton of gratuitous violence. Is this what people really want in a book🤔
“The Ghost Orchid” by Jonathan Kellerman. Meh. Entirely forgettable.
Multiple books by Daniel Mason, my new to me favorite author, or should I say artisté? I read “The Winter Soldier,” “A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth,” and my favorite, “North Woods.” North Woods was just stunning, telling many, many tales from the perspective of a house built in New England before the Revolutionary War up to modern times. Some magical realism (which I love) thrown in there. It’s just a marvelous tromp through time. If you read his books in order of publication, you can see how he’s become, over time, a masterful writer.
The rest are mostly specific to me and probably wouldn’t interest anyone but I’ll throw them in anyway.
“Days Without End” by Sebastian Barry. This is on the short list of my “Zero Connectivity” times so I’ve been saving it. Briefly, it’s about a kid who leaves Ireland during the potato famine and ends up in the US, trekking west. It’s to be a combination historical fiction, Bildungsroman, and adventure.
“The Sea” by John Banville” A middle aged man returns to a l seaside holiday area he used to go to as a youth with his family. With that return comes a slow unfolding of memory. You have absolutely no idea where the story is going for quite a while. Snippets of memory bubble to the surface and the reader begins to connect the pieces slowly. Present day is interspersed with his musings and activities. He has stayed away for a reason. A very slow moving revelation so if you’re an impatient reader, skip this one.
“Normal People” by Sally Roony. Also on the short list. Premise is about how a singular relationship can change both individuals in ways they never could have imagined, and loving another so deeply your only choice is to set them free.
“Prophet Song” by Paul Lynch. A current day rather dystopian story that is quite alarming about the power of the state over the individual, which happens in a very short time with no one really imagining the outcome. No real violence, but you are aware of the mortal danger just below the surface. Another story that unfolds slowly, and very darkly. I haven’t finished it because I have to take is slowly. It’s very immersive.
“The Geologic Story of the Uinta Mountains” by Wallace Hansen. Self explanatory. It’s about rocks.
“The Rock Art of Utah” by Polly Schaafsma. Also self explanatory, extremely interesting.
“The Bassett Women” by Grace McClure. Biography of two sisters who lived during a time of rapid change in the US. It’s on my short list for when I’m without connectivity.
“Growing up with the Wild Bunch” by historian Linda Womack. Sifting fact from fiction from rumor is no easy task. An amazing story of a woman who refused to be anything other than what she was in a time of momentous change in the US. She found her spot in the world and worked tirelessly to maintain it, as well as her independence and personal freedom.
Wearing and thoroughly enjoying Pallisandre D’Or from a generous NST swapper.
Your adventures sound so fun, in Northern Utah did you say? I try and make it to Utah when I can as I love the scenery there and it’s not too far from me. PdO is a great scent:)
Utah is amazing- such an incredible variety of landscapes. My eyes are dazzled! As far as the scent goes, it’s just lovely! A generous swapper sent me manufactures spray samples of that one, Encens Japonais, Café Tabac, and Cierge de Lune. Great stuff!
Still yearning for a FB of Cafe Tabac.
I can see why! I had never sniffed anything from this house, so didn’t know what to expect. I’d take a full bottle of any of them at any time and be very grateful! ☺️
Have you tried Rogue Derviche? I have heard they are similar and Derviche comes in 30 ml bottles for a good price.
Still yearning for a FB of Cafe Tabac.
Happy Sunday, Deva!
I’m still slowly making my way through Normal Women, which you recommended earlier this year. It is so jam packed with fascinating information. Did you ever finish it? I find myself dipping in and out of it, and it will take me awhile to finish.
I did finish it, but it’s the perfect book to dip in and out of since there’s really not a storyline. More a collection of facts and impressions, and first person experiences. I loved it and found it very contemporary in that the power of women waxed and waned over time in the UK, as it’s doing now in the US. The rollback of female independence and ownership is terrifying to me. I wonder how far it will go…?
Yes, I’m loving the book too, thanks for recommending it! Events from over 1,000 years ago are still relevant to this days, very disturbing! But I find it so inspirational that the women always found a way around the oppressive laws.
Still need to read North Woods. Speaking of magical realism, did you see Fred Chappell passed earlier this year? I’m due for a rereading of Farewell, I’m Bound to Leave You.
Oh no! I didn’t know that! What a huge loss. I recommend him to everyone because he writes about such a unique microcosm of America. I think I need to reread some of his works, too. It’s so weird you commented about him because I was just thinking of him last week…
Adding Fred Chappell to the list!
Unless I am mistaken, James Patterson is the single most represented author at my libary…I am astounded at how many books he has written, and it is very rare that I am reshelving fiction and don’t have to visit his section.
So apparently it is what many people want in a book 🙂
Well, it was my first and most likely my last of his. 🤷🏻♀️
Hi folks! It’s a beautiful day here today, so I’m going to go on a walk with a friend in a bit.
I’m currently blazing through the book “Mysterious Setting” by Kazushige Abe. If you like reading about strange and infuriating relationships between sisters, give this a try! I feel so bad for the main character, and I want her to succeed in something eventually.
I’m supposed to read a new book about Freud and Vienna, “Mortal Secrets,” but haven’t started it yet. It looks interesting.
I’m almost done with “Enough,” by Cassidy Hutchinson. It’s disturbing, in so many ways.
I don’t know what perfumes I’d pair with any of these! Something Japanese for the first book, and maybe something with some tobacco for the second (for Freud’s cigars, haha). I’d steer clear of any scents for the third one to avoid forming negative associations with it!
Darn, my library does not have Mysterious Setting. Added to Amazon wishlist 🙂
Good Sunday afternoon to all you great-smelling people!
SOTD is a few dabs from my mini of the original Mila Schon fragrance from the early 80s. It’s a floral chypre and I was looking for it during chypre week but it was hiding. This was one of the first unusual fragrances I picked up years ago when I fell down the rabbit hole and I always admired its perfect balance of fruits, florals, and woods Reminds me a bit of Diorella but has its own style. I’ve never read much about it or found fellow Mila lovers, perhaps because it was a German perfume that never got broad exposure in the U.S. Whoever you are, if you are even a person and not a marketing construct, I say, well done Mila Schon!
As to books I’m reading, I’ve always got several going.
I’ve recently discovered Margot Livesey, whose book The Missing World has sat on my shelves for almost two decades until I picked it up the other day. Very acute psychological slow burn that sneaks up on you – a British woman’s car accident turns her into an amnesiac. Her ex-boyfriend sees an opportunity to get back to together, but how far will he go to cover up the past. I will definitely read more from her.
Another book I’m about to re-read for work is Encounter With an Angry God by Carobeth Laird, an extraordinary woman who married the Harvard-educated cultural anthropologist John Peabody Huntington (yes from those families but what a tyrant) in her teens in the early 20th century and did linguistic fieldwork with him on vanishing Indian tribes in the Southwest. JPH only cared about capturing their dying languages, while Carobeth wanted to document their lives, rituals, myths, etc. as well. She finally left him, after many horrid but fascinating adventures, married a Chemehuevi Native man, had four children, did important research with him, lived in extreme poverty, & was roundly ignored by academia until by chance she was rediscovered in the late 1970s in her 80s (!) Fascinating woman. Deva, you might like this one. The Chemehuevis lived on the border of AZ and CA by the Colorado River (I think) before it was dammed. They are still there but their traditional way of life was upended, a very sad story all too common in our history.
Ack! Before I even read “Deva, you might…” I had already put it in my mental list! Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness, I read Encounter with an Angry God years ago and loved it, and had completely forgotten all about it. Unfortunately I got rid of most of my non-fiction but I’m going to root around in what is left and see if I can find it.
Robin, I love it when that happens.
Me too! I was in general reading lots about the American Southwest, history & anthropology mostly. I think this is right before I went to grad school. Have completely lost touch with the subject matter.
Happy Monday!🌞
I’m in no 5 L’eau. I stopped at my favorite coffee shop in the way to work. When they called my name another girl in her twenties stepped up to the counter too because we had the same name! Now this may not be shocking to you, but I have a name not commonly given so I was shocked. As was she, she said she’d never met another person with her name. Well now she has!😀
My parents are on their way home from Florida- yay! They’ll stop for a quick visit tonight and I’ll hand off madtownteen’s tshirt quilt graduation gift for my mom to finish. 33 days.🥺
That quilt must be so cute for her. Enjoy your parents.
Safe travels for your parents!
Yay on the quilt! And L’Eau!
Happy Monday!💐
I looked up Moroccan ingredients and am going to try for a week of scents to match:
– Cinnamon
– Orange Flower
– Lemon
– Cumin
Starting the week in Diptyque L’Eau for the lovely cinnamon note.
Thanks for the list, allo!
I have a question for the group. I am not sure how many of you have purchased Zara Leather Jardin, but for those of you who have, my question is do you find it comparable to Mitsouko? Is there room for both of them in your collection? Just curious as I do have both and find them similar.
I think I may have asked a stupid question. There should always be room for more perfume. Plus the more I smell Leather Jardin, the more I smell grapefruit and that is lacking in my collection.
It’s not a stupid question! (At least, I hope it isn’t, because I ask it of myself all the time.) Almost always, I must confess, the response is the same: Find room!😊
I’ll have to revisit Mitsouko, but I wasn’t reminded of it when wearing the Zara. (The Zara is surprisingly good, especially for the price, so I found room for two bottles.🙄)
Thanks Daniel. I appreciate your perspective 😊
(The perspective of an enabler, I’m afraid!)
I don’t like Mitsouko and don’t have a drop. I will wear Leather Jardin tomorrow!
I may try tomorrow,
Ended up trying tonight. I didn’t think I would like it, but I love it. The more I wear Leather Jardin the more I realize it does not smell like Mitsouko.
Hello!
Still smelling of Opus X
My team didn’t win in the playoffs unfortunately, but the watch party was a lot of fun:)
Wishing everyone a lovely day 🌹
Sorry Omega, but glad it was fun anyway! I managed yoga and sauna this evening so it is indeed a good day, hope yours was too.
Nice! Glad you had a good day and had time for the things you enjoy:). I love the sauna. And thank you, I have a little bit of post playoff blues but that is expected haha. We take hockey seriously in Vegas lol.
The weather has been perfect lately though..not blistering hot yet:)
Then I am doubly ashamed to admit I had no idea what playoffs you were talking about…I’m afraid I don’t take any sports seriously 🙂
It snowed overnight and more on the way. It didn’t stick down where I’m currently sitting but all the hills and mountains are draped in fresh white. Since the weather is what it is, we are unable to get to some of the campgrounds because they about 2000Ft higher in elevation and basically snowed in. So we are in a holding pattern for now. I did get a bunch of stuff done yesterday -mostly cleaning, reorganizing and tossing out things I’m not using on a regular basis. Today I will tackle the closet. 💪
I’m wearing Kenzo Jungle l’Elephant for warmth and sweetness. Love this one so much! I have half a bottle left and keep wondering if I should get a back up because if I wait it may not be available…
Have a great Monday!
Smelling wonderful and sounds like it’s perfect for your weather.
I’d say get a BUB of L’Elephant now, since the smaller bottles are getting scarce. I know space is tight for you.
I recently read something probably nobody else here would want to. I read The Lord Of The Rings 50th anniversary edition on my Kindle which includes all three books and annotations at 1,206 pages in two weeks. I’m having Middle Earth withdrawal after that. I can now see why there are so many fans of the series. I read The Hobbit last year too. I paired it with perfumes and home fragrance that were green, woody, and earthy.
I reread LotR every few years or so. I never really got into it until my 40s, though. Mr. Ockeghem was a huge fan growing up but I never really did much fantasy when growing up, except for Steven King / Peter Straub “The Talisman”, which coincidentally I just gave to Ockeghem Teen, who wasn’t sure she’d like it (she likes manga and horror, though), and now is zipping right through it. We gave up on trying to get her to read LotR, though — she didn’t get very far. Eventually we let her watch the movies, and she met Elijah Wood at a fan expo a couple of months ago and bought a “One Ring” that she now wears around her neck. 🙂
The one thing Mr. Ockeghem hasn’t talked me into yet is The Silmarillion. I tried, I just can’t do it. 😉
I’d read that! Heck, I’ve even read The Silmarillion. More than once.
I am so impressed! I read the Hobbit, tried to read LOTR and couldn’t make it.
Happy Monday!
I’m wearing and loving Chanel Egoiste today, from the swapmeet.
We’re back to cool, comfortable temperatures, really just what’s normal this time of year, but it’s been warm as June for a couple of weeks. My roses are covered in buds already.
Enjoy the day 🌹
Egoiste is SO good. Wish I would have bought some back when it first came out. But I thought “Why would I want a men’s fragrance?” at the time.
Live and learn!
Happy Monday y’all! I’m in FM Outrageous, from a sample thanks to a lovely swapmeet partner. It’s good for warm weather, yet has white flowers in it. Great for the weather today. 🌸
Outrageous is really pretty. I think it’s misnamed though.
Agreed. It doesn’t break any new ground, to my nose anyway.
Monday again, it goes so fast. Must mail off mothers day cards today.
Getting a massage later today. A little self treat for my birthday later this week.
SOTD is Prada – the original. I bought the bottle when it first came out and was going to sell it on eBay, but I sampled it instead yesterday and decided to enjoy it for myself.
Third and final interview tomorrow morning. Am manifesting hard!
AND to all the nurses, happy nurses week and day.
Thank you! And I hope that third interview clinches you a great job where you’ll be appreciated, and paid commensurate with your experience and outstanding personal vibe! 😀
Break a leg tomorrow!
Yay, third interview! 🤞🤞🤞
Super good luck tomorrow!
Best of luck tomorrow!!
Good luck!
Adding to the manifest!🤞
For the reading poll, I’ll mention again the Strangers and Brothers series by C. P. Snow. Normally, fiction about political and institutional intrigues is not what I’d seek, and those themes are often cited as the main ones. But these novels have a compelling sense of time and place, and draw believable conclusions about human nature. And I’ve been asking myself if they have a male voice in the same way Barbara Pym’s novels have a female voice? S&B novels are very far from the humor of Miss Pym, though. I first read The Masters and that was a good place for me to start in the series. Functionally fragrant today in JLo Glow.
For awhile, I was collecting the Glows. I only have the original now and a body spray of Miami.
I have Miami and enjoy it, too.
I figure I’m Wind Advisory twins with someone today. A road sign was blown onto Interstate 25 down in Denver early this morning, forcing lane closures until it was dealt with. It hasn’t been nearly that bad where I am at. No power outages, either.
I pulled out a leatherbound version of “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis that made the move with me. It was highly recommended many years ago, and I have yet to read it. Maybe now’s the time.
SOTD = Wrappings again.
I’m expecting high winds and storms tomorrow. Glad you kept Power.
So far, I’ve never even seen a flicker. The closer one gets to the mountains, the worse the wind gets.
🤞🤞 for your weather situation.
It hasn’t stopped blowing here for over 24 hours. Ugh. I’m glad you’re not dealing with that. 💨
All too familiar with downslope winds this time of year. IIRC, you are dealing with them as well.
Wyoming and SE Idaho are worse when it comes to windy weather.
We have high winds, rain and possible tornados. Pouring as I write this.
Yikes. I heard a significant chunk of the Midwest is due for ugly weather tomorrow. Hope it doesn’t pan out for you.
Seems to have let up for now!
Stay safe Kris!
Thanks my friend. Seems to be ok for the time being.
I smelled good all day today. Violet Blonde for work and Angel Innocent for errands. It’s going to storm tomorrow but of course I forgot a few things at the store so will have to go back out in the morning.
Stay safe, lillyjo!
I came across my cute mini of Angel Muse yesterday while tidying up and thought of you.
Aww… that makes me smile. 😊
Hope that your stormy weather tomorrow is on the mild side and nothing horrible comes of it.
Thanks. It looks pretty bad. I think by time it gets to me it will be on the weaker side.
I am guessing it will be weaker by tomorrow.
Love both of your perfume selections. I haven’t smelled either one for years!
You smell double-good today!
Back to work in MFK Gentle Fluidity Gold. Started out vanilla and now I smell soft spices.
That sounds lovely, have not tried that one.