“Don't buy much but make sure that what you buy is good.”— Christian Dior
READING — 3 Dior-inspired books and 3 that are outside my comfort zone:
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico — “Determined to make her dream come true, Mrs. Harris scrimps and saves until one day, after three long, uncomplaining years, she finally has enough money to go to Paris. When she arrives at the House of Dior, Mrs. Harris has little idea of how her life is about to be turned upside down and how many other lives she will transform forever. Always kind, always cheery, and always winsome, the indomitable Mrs. Harris takes Paris by storm and learns one of life's greatest lessons along the way. This treasure from the 1950s reintroduces the irrepressible Mrs. Harris, part charlady, part fairy godmother, whose adventures take her from her humble London roots to the heights of glamour” (Goodreads).
The Last Dress from Paris by Jade Beer — “Paris, 1952. The City of Light comes alive in this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family [not to mention seven magnificent Dior dresses]” (Goodreads).
The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris — “n the 1970s, Paris fashion exploded like a champagne bottle left out in the sun. Amid sequins and longing, celebrities and aspirants flocked to the heart of chic, and Paris became a hothouse of revelry, intrigue, and searing ambition. At the center of it all were fashion's most beloved luminaries - Yves Saint Laurent, the reclusive enfant terrible, and Karl Lagerfeld, the flamboyant freelancer with a talent for reinvention - and they divided Paris into two fabulous halves. Their enduring rivalry is chronicled in this dazzling exposé of an era: of social ambitions, shared obsessions, and the mesmerizing quest for beauty” (Goodreads).
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand — “Based on the classic film Same Time Next Year (which Mallory and Jake watch every summer), 28 Summers explores the agony and romance of a one-weekend-per-year affair and the dramatic ways this relationship complicates and enriches their lives, and the lives of the people they love” (Goodreads).
Book Lovers by Emily Henry — “Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story” (Goodreads).
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — “Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets? A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived…” (Goodreads).
WATCHING:
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (see READING) — This article explains how this charming film is “The Fairy Tale We Need Right Now.” Despite the scenes in Paris and the beautiful dresses, as usual, I preferred the book to the movie.
Only Murders in the Building - Season 2 on Hulu — “Only Murders in the Building follows three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. As they record a podcast of their own to document the case, the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late” (Hulu). So funny.
Grantchester - Season 2 on PBS — Season 7 picks up in the long hot summer of 1959 with wedding season in full swing in the Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester. This does seem like the end. Does anyone know if it is indeed the final season?
LISTENING TO:
The Earful Tower’s Paris Countdown — Oliver and Lina are spending 24ish hours in every Paris arrondissement from 20 to 1 and I am taking notes for my next trip to Paris.
ENJOYING:
Time with friends — We have had graduation parties and holiday celebrations. I have had coffee dates and cocktail dates with friends and colleagues and have even entertained overnight guests.
A better life-work balance — I have been prepping and facilitating summer professional development and attending meetings; yet, I also have days when row a little longer, keep my home comfortably tidy (including my closet pictured above), and linger over coffee in the morning, a good book in the afternoon, and wine and music in the evening — all with a cuddly beagle by my side.
