Reads #16: June 2013

Dance Dance Dance (Haruki Murakami, 1988)

Oh dear, another laborious read I'm afraid, but for completely different reasons than I Capture the Castle. I kept getting distracted by pesky flash-backs from the previous book in the Trilogy of the Rat, A Wild Sheep Chase. I just couldn't place them back in the context of the story, I have such a bad memory and kind of regret I didn't bother a re-read.

With that being said, I feel it's no way vital to read it to enjoy Dance Dance Dance to the fullest as Murakami skillfully places plot reminders when the story calls for them (nothing as heavy as 1Q84 thank God for that).

I had been keeping Dance Dance Dance in my towering 'to-read' pile for a good while now as I was getting anxious with my running low on Murakami material. And as the famous Japanese author released his latest offering this April (Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage's translation is due in 2014), I felt at peace to finally pick it up.

My own goldfish struggles aside, Dance Dance Dance is a thrilling read, but I can't help feeling that I benefited from leaving such a long lapse before opening another Murakami's book (I read 1Q84 in April last year), it probably saved me from an overdose.

It was a bit like watching a renowned magician whose tricks I already knew. The element of surprise and wonderment receded, but my admiration for the author was left intact.

Dance Dance Dance picks up 5 years after The Wild Sheep Chase ended. Our narrator, who seems to be leading a meaningless life, is troubled by vivid dreams calling him back to the Dolphin Hotel, the location of his previous adventures. There, his former girlfriend suddenly disappeared and he now intends to find her again.

This quest takes him through a series of weird events and encounters, and I found it serves as an exhilarating parable for the search of self-discovery and the eternal pursuit of happiness.

Favourite quote: As time goes on, you'll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn't, doesn't. Time solves most things. And what time can't solve, you have to solve yourself.

L'Écume des jours (Boris Vian, 1947)

Since stumbling upon the trailer of Michel Gondry's adaptation of this book last April, I've been obsessed with the idea of reading L'Écume des Jours (it might be another reason why it was so hard for me to get into Dance Dance Dance).

Looking back to my highschool years, I find it weird that I actually never read Vian before. His songs were played in an obsessive loop at my best friend's and I remember class mates reading him on several occasions, but they didn't seem very enthusiastic (side remark: don't you hate when people are tepid about what they like?). I even had a short-lived passion for Jean-Paul Sartre. Weird.

Anyways, let's go back to the actual book and its plot. The protagonist is called Colin, he's rich, he has a talented cook, Nicolas, and lives in a house worthy of Inspector Gadget. Colin seems pretty happy until his best friend, Chick, falls in love. This makes Colin terribly jealous and he decides to find the girl of his dreams too. He won't have to wait long as she will appear in the person of Chloe at a dinner party where they were both invited.

You could say that Colin is the male Amelie Poulain, but the book has a definite dark side.
While it is incredibly playful with surrealistic situations and puns and fantastic machines, the most striking absurdities are inspired from our very own lives: death is nearly always portrayed as faceless and inconsequential, mirroring our news reports, the hilarious catch-22 of job interviews, people spending most of their life on jobs they don't give two damns about, etc...
As you can see, beyond the whimsical love story, this book is in fact a real satire.
My heart was completely taken away by this story and L'Écume des jours has now become one of my favourite book of all time.
One regret I have though is that there's absolutely no secret on the outcome of this book: I was spoilt just looking at the back of my book or watching Gondry's trailer. I guess that's not what the book is ultimately about, but I feel I would have connected more with the characters had I not known their fate.
Don't worry you're safe here and if you want to keep it that way, I'd recommend not to read or watch anything before opening this book.

Which is a bit of a pity because the trailer looks totally epic, I feel there couldn't have been a better fit than Michel Gondry for this adaptation. I did read though that he got a few bad reviews, critics accused him of overloading the story with special effects. It made me wonder if those journalists actually read the book because there's something magical happening at literally every line.
With that being said, I can't wait to make my own judgement. While it's been released this spring in French-speaking countries, no date has been announced for the UK/US, but it looks like the film will be called Mood Indigo.

Here are a couple of screenshots I took from the trailer in case you want to avoid being spoilt:

reads #15: april 2013

I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith, 1948)

I have to be honest and tell you that this book drove me into a bit of a reading slump.

I picked it up cos one of my favourite blogs is named after it. Maybe I needed something more caustic at the time, after reading J.D. Salinger. Something less 'consciously naive'. 

Dont get me wrong, I liked it, I want to say that the tone is kind of like the Famous Five series, but for little rosebuds, full of wonderment typical of young teenager; and flourish language. It's extremely well written and compelling. But ultimately, it made mee feel old and jaded. I feel like it's the kind of book that should be read at a younger age, round 14 maybe, when you feel trapped by your pretty bedroom walls during Summer vacation, and longing for escapades... and a little bit of flirting.

Reading this book reminded me of the joy I felt while reading Enid Blyton as a kid. I was in awe with those clever, eloquent children in search of adventure. 

In place of adventures, Cassandra the 17-year-old narrator and her sister Rose are experiencing the discovery of love. It got a bit too Mills & Boon-ey for my own taste, with all the romantic chassé-croisé but what I really loved is the description of the English country side that transpired. It is a truly beautiful ode to its greenery and magic. Dodie Smith wrote this novel, her first, when she moved to California and deeply missed the United Kingdom. Between the lines, you could almost hear her heart weeping.

It is a brilliant Summer, or even Spring, read (check out my other book recommendations for Summer: Bonjour Tristesse and Brideshead Revisited)

Favourite quote: Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression.

The 2003 film adaptation is a very good one, so do watch it if you can't be bothered with reading the book. The visuals are sublime and the actors are spot on: Romola Garai, Rose Byrne... and Bill Nighy *heart-shaped eyes*.

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editorial #17: Dance With A Stranger (Love #8)

 source: fashion slop (found via hjartesmil)

Magazine: Love #8
Photographers: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Stylist: Katie Grand
Models: Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Rob James Collier, Sophie McShera, Amy Nuttall, Justus Eisfeld, Oliver Grenali, Konan Hanbury, Eddie Klint, Jason Morgan & Alex Shantz

reads #11: november 2012

Life of Pi (Yann Martel, 2001)

I'm not really one for contemporary literature (Murakami aside, who wrote on the subject: If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone is thinking), but I got confused with this one. I took it in a charity shop because I thought it was connected with Pi, which is one of my friend's favourite movies. I realised I made a mistake when the back cover revealed a plot about tigers and shipwrecks. I put it at the top of my shelves and sort of forgot about it.

I was reminded of its looming presence in my bedroom by the release of the trailers for the film adaptation. It  looked pretty enough that I decided to read it in time for its cinema release.

Well, let's just say as a preamble that it didn't entice me to pick up more of our contemporary literature. I found the writing style quite bland, very much what I imagined airport literature to be like. And I don't think that the story saved it that much. It gave me the impression that the book was pretending to be something it wasn't most of the time.

Life of Pi is the story of a young boy stranded on a boat with a bengal tiger after the ship he was sailing on with his family wrecked. That's more or less the pitch of the book I guess.

This book annoyed me on so many levels, but mainly it's the claim that this story will make you believe in god that irked me. Which not only it doesn't if you ask me but actually feels like reverse preaching and it's hard to make my point clear without revealing the end.
The book is divided in three parts: the first one is an introduction to the character Pi. It's very slow and is supposed to be about spirituality, but it felt more to me like a primary school textbook on religions. I'm going to assume it is because of the young age of the protagonist...
The second part of the story happens at sea, on the boat, with the tiger.
And in the third part, Yann Martel throws what is for me a cheap trick at the end, powder to the eyes, veiled as food for thought to cover the average quality of the book. The good old twist that doesn't quite sow everything together.
If the book only consisted of the middle section, I think it would have been a good adventure book in its own respect and that's why I decided to go to see the movie anyway. I would recommend it over the book (probably the only time you will hear me say that). The imagery is spectacular and the spiritual stuff is kept to a minimum and more importantly doesn't come off as patronising. Watching the film knowing the end still makes me think that all is not very tied in together, but it's not as offensive on screen.

earworm #50: astrud gilberto - manha de carnaval

Every year when come the colder months, I feel the need to watch Vénus Beauté. It is one of my favourite films, hands down. It wasn't love at first sight though. I watched it a couple of times with friends when I was a teenager, oddly unimpressed, but then one night, it was broadcast on real late TV, and I felt like it was speaking to me. I identified with Angèle (played by the beautiful Nathalie Baye) and her disillusion towards love. I am not as bitter today, but I still like happy endings, especially around Christmas time... And the photography is pure magic, I rarely even notice those things while watching films, but the use of light here has stuck to my retinas ever since, as if I had looked straight at the sun. Oddly enough, the beautiful bossa nova soundtrack works perfectly with the stark Paris winter light.

obsessed with: lady mary's jewellery

1. Cursive Design / 2. Adriana Soto / 3. Adrian Soto / 4. Still With You

Is it just me or didn't yesterday feel kind of empty without Downton Abbey? I had gotten used to my little 9pm rendez-vous. I definitely felt the withdrawal effect and decided to watch one of my favourite episodes again: the Christmas Special (Season 2). I needed to feel comforted after the rollercoaster of a season that was Series 3. There was another reason to my watching this episode. I remembered being taken by the necklaces adorned by Lady Mary. She usually wears the mandatory long pearl necklaces and chockers characteristic of the era, but in this episode she opted for two pieces with Art Deco accents.

They inspired me to have a gander around Etsy and pick necklaces with a modern take on this style. 

1. knobbly / 2. Mariana Galan / 3. Cursive Design / 4. Adriana Soto

reads #9: september 2012

Breakfast at Tiffany's (Truman Capote, 1958)

I have to say it puzzles me that the first thing you generally hear about Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's is that it's NOTHING like the movie (or vice versa). Well yes, the ending is different. Yes, the narrator (Buster, aka 'Fred') is a bit of a loser compared to the dazzling blonde Paul in the film, yes there's little confusion as to what Holly Golightly's doing for a living in the book, whereas in the movie you could easily not notice it. Yes, the language is a bit cruder. Yes there's no 'conventional' love story between 'Fred' and Holly... but what did one expect? It had to be hollywood-ised. All of these for me are mere details, the essence is the same. That is Holly Golightly's fiery nature (and to think that Truman Capote wanted to cast Marilyn Monroe...). All her best lines are there: the mean reds, the sense of belonging or running free, the lipstick, etc... Sublimed by Truman Capote's writing which is incredibly cinematographic. I couldn't choose which I prefer between the book and the film, they're the same to me, but one has a happy ending and the other a truer-to-life, gritty feeling.

With Breakfast at Tiffany's, you also get 3 other short stories. House of Flowers which is about a young Carribean prostitute who discovers love. A Diamond Guitar is the story of a tragic friendship inside a prison. And finally, A Christmas Memory where Truman Capote recalls his childhood and his special best friend.

I enjoyed them all, Capote has this way of writing that shoots clear pictures in your mind. I don't think I'll ever forget that scene from A Diamond Guitar where the two prison friends are eating oranges under the pine trees. I swear I could smell it all. The short story though that particularly left a mark on me is A Christmas Carol and that's where my favourite quote of this book is from.

Truman Capote made a screen adaptation of it where he narrates the story himself with his wonderful voice. With Christmas coming, it feels apt that I should link it here.

Favourite quote: My, how foolish I am! You know what I've always thought? I've always thought a body would have to be sick and dying before they saw the Lord. And I imagined that when He came it would be like looking at the Baptist window: pretty as colored glass with the sun pouring through, such a shine you don't know it's getting dark. And it's been a comfort: to think of that shine taking away all the spooky feeling. But I'll wager it never happens. I'll wager at the very end a body realizes the Lord has already shown Himself. That things as they are, just what they've always seen, was seeing Him. As for me, I could leave the world with today in my eyes.

PS: I am now on Goodreads if you'd like to add me, I am curious to know what you are reading. If you don't have an account, you can tell me about it here if you'd like.

happy autumn!

Here are the little somethings that I will love this autumn:

Something pretty 

L-R: Leighton Denny in Supermodel, Dior in 257 Incognito, Chanel in 559 Frenzy, Topshop in Rainy Day, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 330 Grey Area, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in 48 Mocha Mix and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 660 Pat on the Black

At the start of a season, I love picking the nail polishes from my collection that I'm going to wear (not that I always stick to it) and I'm especially excited by all these amazing neutral colours.

Something to watch

I've been infatuated with Diana Vreeland la magnifique for quite a while now.  It all started when I read Edie Sedgwick's biography. The ex-Vogue editor was the one who saw her potential and organised a feature about her in the magazine. I remember my curiousity being piqued by this seemingly visionnary woman. But I really became obsessed while reading Cecil Beaton's diary. Cecil and her had a profound friendship and I was always happy to see her name popping up on the pages because she had the most flamboyant behaviour and that made for an exciting read. Claire (from the blog Lola is Beauty)'s rubric Ask D.V. definitely sealed my love for this woman. I got my hand on her biography, D.V., and delighted in her witticisms and style. You can imagine how happy I was when I discovered that this month, a biopic on Mrs. Vreeland got released. I realised while watching the trailer that I had never heard her voice but it sounds precisely how I imagined it in my head. In Dublin, The Eye Has To Travel is being shown at the Lighthouse Cinema until the 4th of October 2012.

(image source)

Something to drink 

Autumn is especially exciting when it comes to tea because it means my local shop is now going to stock Christmas tea again.

I'll have it with loads of milk and 3 spoonful of sugar please!

Something to listen to

This month, Patrick wolf is releasing a compilation for his tenth anniversary in music years. He chose 16 songs from all his creations that he re-recorded and re-arranged for this special double album. He wanted to get to the core of the songs and took the parti-pris to use 3 instruments maximum. The first extract is Overture (from the album The Magic Position) which is one of my favourite songs of his. Favourite song period. It's painfully beautiful, listen.

Something to remember

The new season of Downton Abbey is on ITV at 9pm every Sunday!

Best...scene...ever

Something creative

Nothing screams autumn more than stitching. At least to me. I am sure I could stitch faster and better if I had a fireplace, a rocking chair and a cat.

Something to eat

Let's put it plainly, I can't cook but when the colder months come, one of my great passions is to make and eat soup. My favourite ones are either pumpkin or courgette+broccoli. But a tomato soup is quite lovely too. 

Something to read

Well I enjoy reading all year round really but doing so buried under duvets in bed and with the electric blanket on when it's chilly outside is otherwordly. I set myself the goal to read 5 more books by the end of 2012, here are the ones I picked: Breakfast at Tiffany's (Truman Capote), Gribiche (Colette), Life of Pi (Yann Martel), The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers) and Wise Children (Angela Carter).

Something to visit

Tim Walker for Vogue Italia January 2012

An exhibition about the whimsical (fashion) photographer Tim Walker opens its doors in London from the 18th of October to the 27th of January. A collection of Walker's photographs will be shown as well as giant props he used for fashion shoots (among them, the one in the above picture, if I'm not mistaken). It will also be occasion for Tim Walker to share with visitors, films that inspired his famous vision (The Red Shoes, La Belle et La Bête or A Matter of Life and Death) and his own short movie, The Lost Explorer.

More information here, free admission.

Something to keep me entertained

still from The Red Shoes (1948)

I love making lists of old films to watch when the nights get longer and colder (so I'm not sheepishly tempted to watch some crap on TV). I recently watched The Red Shoes and A Matter of Life And Death (inspired by Tim Walker's upcoming exhibition) and realised that on Youtube, you can watch films that have fallen into public domain. Pretty awesome I think.

Next on my list are Badlands, Metropolis and Paris, Texas.

Something to wear

Crew-neck jumpers are one of my favourite things to wear. Unfortunately, good ones are hard to come by, may it be because of their knit (they might loosen quickly), their shape or their colour.

Benetton, Topshop and Cos

Something cheeky

I always forget my gloves so I can dig my hands in his coat pocket.

obsessed with: hearst castle

I just finished Louise Brooks' biography (written by Barry Paris) and can't get the San Simeon chapter out of my head. Louise Brooks was often invited there by Marion Davies' niece, Pepi Lederer. Always up to some mischief, the two young ladies brightened up the strict life under the roof of the castle. I am dreaming about a trip there but meanwhile I have a few things to keep me busy until I cave in and book a flight to California *wallet's scream of agony*.

- Rhiannon's beautiful post about her honeymoon there

- Re-watching Citizen Kane (C.F. Kane and Xanadu were largely inspired by William Randolph Hearst and his castle)

- Reading Aldous Huxley's After many a summer dies the swan. This lesser known book by Huxley was also inspired by Hearst and deals with the fear of mortality.

- Anticipating the release of Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. The set looks totally xanadu-esque!(release date: 25/12/12 - trailer)

earworm #36, #37 and #38: elliott, G.O.B. and fun

Elliott Smith - Everything means nothing to me

This song clawed its way into my braincells at the first viewing of this video. Rachel from makeupneversleeps brings makeup to a whole new level. I love the aesthetic behind her tutorial videos and her acerbic tone makes me roar. As strange as it sounds, she is, for me, the Enid Coleslaw of the beauty world.

Europe - The final countdown

Who has not been assaulted by this earworm once in their life? I have, many times, and tend to clear away from it in fear of suffering a brain-hammering for months and months.

But this could not be helped as I recently watched Arrested Development, pushed by my boyfriend who ranks this show as his favourite of all time. I resisted for a while as the reality tv filming style was not to my liking (being a major escapist) but I warmed up to it as more and more shows use this style nowadays (Modern Family being an example). Well, I'm glad to say that I am hooked, I just can't get enough of G.O.B. stage choreography routines and Tobias' innuendos.

Fun - Tonight we are young

This one has been bugging me for a while and it has reached its peak of annoyance. Let's hope it finds its way to the downhill path.

a summer wardrobe: jean seberg in bonjour tristesse

It struck me while watching Bonjour Tristesse that Cecile (played by Jean Seberg) has the perfect summer wardrobe. Oxford shirts, cropped pants, flowing dresses, boat-neck t-shirts, etc... they all allow an effortless transition from beach to evening look. In a nutshell, it is the very concept of a capsule wardrobe perfectly illustrated.

The beach look

Pick three swimsuits in primary tones to add a pop of colour in your holiday attire. The one piece will give you more freedom in your movements and the fifties style is flattering to every shape. Throw your dad's (or boyfriend's) chambray shirt on you when you wander about the house. As for the sunglasses, you can never go wrong with a pair of wayfarer.

esther williams swimsuit (via modcloth) - uniqlo men's oxford shirt - asos wayfarer sunglasses

The after beach look

It's sizzling hot outside but you have to cover these little pins of yours in order to go to the village. Then why not opt for a pair of shorts, a boat-neck t-shirt or even better a sleeveless blouse? Nothing screams summer better than gingham on the French Riviera. It's also an easy outfit to throw on for those hangover mornings. The best cure? Ice-cream!

uniqlo striped t-shirt - uniqlo men's oxford shirt - asos wayfarer - uniqlo white shorts - ice pack - steven alan riley top

The casual evening look

Perfect for strolling in the evening when the sun goes down, the combination of a pair of capri trousers and a blouse will get you through your lazy plans for the evening may it be a late dinner on the terrace or a stroll in the pine forest, or just a lie-in when the weather is a bit capricious.

topshop tie front blouse - topshop sailor blouse - cath kidston bag (via asos) - uniqlo men's oxford shirt

uniqlo green capri - kg white sandals (via asos) - topshop floral trousers - topshop baller flats - uniqlo white capri

The formal evening look

Are you ready to make them all swoon? A full skirt is the perfect choice to woo all your suitors. Now will you go for femme fatale or flirty floral?

orla kiely dress - topshop dress

That dress in Repulsion

I recently watched Repulsion by Roman Polanski with Catherine Deneuve and while I wasn't too impressed with the story, I lusted for Deneuve's wardrobe and particularly this dress (you can watch the movie here).