10.29.2013

Book Style: Confessions Of A Teen Sleuth

Confessions Of A Teen Sleuth




Confessions of a Teen Sleuth by Chelsea Cain is a brilliant Nancy Drew parody and is one of those books that I constantly recommend to people in a reading rut. Nancy Drew always evokes sexy-secretary chic in my mind and the blush tones of this cover really let me play with that ladylike theme. I went with some traditional detective garb with the fedora and trench; I think the tweedy wool of the skirt also says private eye. The magnifying glass necklace is a lovely finishing touch.


10.25.2013

Book Style: Belle De Jour

Belle De Jour



For Belle de Jour by Anonymous (or as we now know, Dr. Brooke Magnanti) I was tempted to go with a full on bedroom-only outfit, but then I thought about how I generally feel sexier all dolled up for the evening prior to sexytime and went with a date outfit instead. I took Belle's advice and decided that luxe and classy was the way to go, but I went more for a downtown feel. These heels are pure cheek, what with those great legs as heels detail. The metallic nail polish is a fishnet pattern, which itrès à propos.  And, of course, some designer lingerie is a must.

10.24.2013

Book Style: The Night Circus

The Night Circus


Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus has been a surprising hit. It's also been fodder for a lot of criticism. While I won't get into too much nitpicking, I think it suffers from a "Twilight" complex: a lot of buildup for some very lackluster action with some blank slates for characters. The cover is perfection for the story though. You really know what kind of tale you're getting into here. I stayed true to the red, white and black color scheme (that is also integral to the plot). I love that this peplum ballerina top conveys the feeling of a circus tent. Lots of stripes, glamour, and an acrobatic charm necklace complete the look.

10.21.2013

Book Style: The Parasol Protectorate

Soulless


Changeless


Blameless


Heartless


Timeless


For the Parasol Protectorate series I was challenged to match the very strong color palettes of the five books. In truth, the covers were what drew me to the books in the first place, I love when something appeals to me inside and out! I made sure to include an umbrella with every outfit as an homage to Alexia's omnipresent and well-armed parasol.
  1. Soulless: I went for a modernistic, steampunk-inspired evening outfit. That skirt is perfection. Can I rock a bustle in the bookstore?
  2. Changeless: Fun with patterns. And do you see those shoes?
  3. Blameless: Sophisticated schoolgirl charm. Alexia would definitely approve of that laser-cut umbrella.
  4. Heartless: This is a great office-friendly summer outfit. Take note of the wolf bracelet. Lady Maccon must represent.
  5. Timeless: I could totally see Dita von Teese in this marigold sheath dress. Totally chic and timeless.

10.19.2013

Link Love: 10.19.13

[image found here]


10.16.2013

Book Style: The Hobbit

The Hobbit


For one of my favorite books, The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien I thought a camping-friendly outfit would be in order. Or, you know, a bed and breakfast in the mountains outfit... The whole vibe is in honor of the trek that Bilbo and the dwarves make from the Shire to the Lonely Mountain. That was a lot of nights sleeping rough. I love the dwarven shield on the belt buckle and the lovely Tolkien-inspired pendant. And the dwarves shirt is something that needs to be in my closet now. 

10.14.2013

Book Style: A Tale Of Two Cities

A Tale Of Two Cities


A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is quite honestly the only (non-modern) Classic I ever remember liking. Probably because it sated my high school Francophilia and had some legit history going on with the whole French Revolution thing. I remember being oddly invested in the story which never happened (or happens still) with Dickens. I chose lots of nods to Paris and London with this weekend-chic outfit. Who says you have to look like a schlub to run Saturday errands? Also, those of you who have read the book will get the earrings' reference to the blue eyes.

10.11.2013

Book Review: Let's Catch Up, Shall We


I've been super delinquent about posting any actual book review on here for the past couple of months. Part of it is due to the fact that I've been reading so much, on average two books a week; you may have noticed that I had to up my book goal for the year since I already surpassed 52 titles. I've also been reading a lot of publisher galleys for titles that won't be available for several months and I don't want to rub it in your faces. But, I figured it's time to play catch up and give you a brief rundown of some of the best things I've read since early August.



I'm a little late to the Miéville game, largely due to his rather vocal Tolkien bashing. I was convinced that anyone who hated the fantasy epics of my childhood would not appeal to me as an author. But, when my coworker, Casey, told me that Kraken was like American Gods but better, I called him a blasphemer and then started reading to prove him wrong. Only one problem with my plan, he wasn't wrong. I don't know that it's *better* than American Gods, but it's definitely on par. I love the language and how authentically British it all feels. Now I'm faced with the problem of catching up on the rest of his books. This is the book for you if you like anything Neil Gaiman has ever written but want something just a little different.

Jussi Adler-Olsen is my new favorite Scandinavian mystery author. His detective, Carl Morck is the best curmudgeonly, Wallander-esque detective out there. I also love, now that I'm getting into the second book in this series, that he doesn't have a formula to his books, making them each unique and delightful. In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Carl is recovering (but not if you ask him, if you ask him, he's just fine) from the all too recent ambush he an his team encountered. One partner is dead and the other is paralyzed and begging Carl to help him end it. In the midst of his personal turmoil he is "promoted" to the head of a brand new cold case division nicknamed Department Q. Carl comes out from under his personal rain cloud when he realizes that one of the cold cases may not be so cold after all. 

The phrase "Roald Dahl meets Harry Potter" has been used to describe John Connolly's Samuel Johnson series and I think it's a perfect synopsis of these delightfully dark tales. If you haven't read The Gates, you really should first, or else you won't get some of the great character development that happens in The Infernals. The third in this comedy-of-errors apocalypse series is due out this month and I can't wait to see what's next for middle schooler Samuel Johnson and his intrepid dachshund Boswell.

It's been a while since I braved the world of YA vampires, but I have to hand it to Holly Black, The Coldest Girl In Coldtown is a lot better than most. I wasn't sold on the appeal of the mysterious vampire that Tana falls for, especially after it turns out that he lies to her throughout almost the entire book. And I'm also a bit torn on the ending; without spoiling too much, let me say that I don't get why Tana makes the decision she does. If you like supernatural thriller/romance, this is a nice read, although I might wait for the paperback to learn all about how Tana survives the massacre at a sundown party that killed off several of her classmates and left her saddled with a turning ex-boyfriend and a mysterious and dangerous vampire on her hands. Also, someone explain the title to me, it doesn't *really* make sense.

Once upon a time I danced ballet, and I still retain a great fascination with the whole world of dance, so this title isn't as far out in left field for me as you might think. It's a fictionalized account of the life of prima ballerina Tanaquil "Tanny" Le Clercq with her husband, the (in)famous New York City Ballet director, George Balanchine. The novel covers their courtship (she was his fourth or fifth wife depending on how you do the math) through her polio, rehab, and ultimately their divorce. It's a fascinating read, just bear in mind that it is a novelization and not a biography.

Remember Cinder? Well this is the next in the Lunar Chronicles, Scarlet. It's just as amazing. This one follows Scarlet, who you probably guessed is Little Red Riding Hood, as she and a suspicious street fighter names Wolf track down her kidnapped grandmother. Along the way their story becomes entangled with Cinders who is now an escaped convict. I just finished the third in the series, Cress, and am now impatiently awaiting the fourth... But since the third isn't even officially published yet, I've got a lot of waiting to do. This series is my new obsession. I love finding all the parallels to the fairy tales and the scifi setting is perfection. 


Neil Gaiman never fails to disappoint and The Ocean at the End of the Lane is no exception. It's perfectly magical and equally creepy. My friend/coworker Justus told me not to read it before bedtime unless I wanted some disturbing dreams, and she was absolutely right. This tale follows a young boy who befriends an odd family of women (daughter, mother, and grandmother) after he finds the dead body of his family's lodger in their stolen car. His adventures with his new friend quickly lead to his entanglement with a malevolent force that is bent on destroying the world. It's a quick read, but it's magical.

Kelly Williams Brown is my new hero. Seriously. This book immediately went on the list for my holiday pick, it's that good. This book is hysterically funny while being dead helpful. Kelly offers real, practical advice with a side of wit that (sort of) softens the blow when you realize what an idiotic, sheltered yuppy you are. If you are in your twenties or you know someone who is, this is the book you/they need. (Fair warning, she has a potty mouth, just like me.)

Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia by Jenny Torres Sanchez has the most deliciously grandiose title. I've seen this book compared to Paper Towns by John Green and the similarities are there. This is a much more goth version. It also deals beautifully with how horribly un-normal grief can be. Frenchie is coping, well not really, with the suicide of her long-time crush Andy by alienating herself from her friends and spending time in the neighborhood cemetery talking to her imaginary friend, Emily Dickinson. One night, with the help of a new acquaintance, she decides to relive the one (and only) night she had with Andy, the night before he died, in an effort to move past it all.

Jenni Fagan's The Panopticon is another amazing look at the horribly raw and unflinching emotions teenagers face. Anais Hendricks has been part of the system since birth. First she was an orphan bouncing around to different foster homes. Then, after an all too brief sojourn, she was thrust back into the world as a drug-addled juvenile delinquent following the murder of her beloved adopted mom. Now the police suspect her of bludgeoning an officer nearly to death, an accusation that Anais cannot deny nor confirm, and have shipped her off to the Panopticon pending trial. Anais is brutally honest in everything from sex to drugs to her love of vintage fashion. Combined with Ms. Fagan's habit of writing in Scottish brogue, Anais ended up sounding like a sexed-up version of Brave's Merida in my head. I was rooting for her in the end.

Ashley Cardiff is pee-your-pants funny. She reminds me a lot of Sloane Crosley. Maybe I just dig young, female wits. Night Terrors is a collection of true anecdotes that all, loosely, revolve around sex and relationships. I found myself relating to so many of her stories, especially when she acknowledged how much her upper-middle class whiteness colors her world. If you need a good laugh, I definitely recommend this one.

So the Italians are weird. I've decided. I've also realized that as much as I loathed If on a Winter's Night a Traveler back in January, I need to amend that because it's been growing on me ever since. Niccolò Ammaniti's Let the Games Begin started out with me feeling like this book was going to be way more academic and intellectual for me to enjoy. Then the sad, little Satanic cult popped up and I was intrigued. Next everyone ended up at this house party hosted by a megalomaniac who is attempting to buy his way into the hearts of the upper echelons of Italian society. He's planned a lavish weekend party that the floundering Satanic cult leader is hoping to sabotage to stake his claim in the annals of the infamous. If this doesn't sound weird enough yet, just wait until the mutated, Soviet defectors pop up. It's a brilliant farce and a mad-capped comedy of errors. Enjoy.

Somehow I never read anything by Catherynne Valente before, which is such a shame since I now know how wonderful she is. This is a collection of her short stories and poems; the perfect introduction to her work. You can get a real feel for her love and understanding of Japanese folklore here. Also, she is a genius with words; just try reading her description of a sunset in the titular poem without being awed. Thank you Catherynne for getting me excited about poetry for the first time ever.

Laurie R. King does historical mystery better than anyone else I know. She never fails to make the 1920s come alive for me while I'm engrossed in one of her page turners. This is technically the second book featuring Harris & Bennett, but I never read Touchstone, so I don't think you need to. This is also the only non-Mary Russell book of Ms. King's that I've ever read. I need to remedy that shortly. This thriller is set in Montparnasse in the '20s and is appropriately gruesome for a book featuring the Grand Guignol theater.

I have two problems with this book: (1) I dislike the final cover. You can't give me neon coral on the publishers galley and then expect me to be okay without it. Although, admittedly, this cover makes more sense for the story of the Hursts and their complete and total dysfunction. And (2) This book was incredibly anxiety-inducing. I had to force myself through a few chapters to get to a point where I couldn't stop reading. Ignoring those two personal issues, it's an amazing psychological thriller. A bit Mommy Dearest meets Girl, Interrupted. Please read it so we can discuss how disturbingly creepy Will and Josephine's relationship is. Please.

I really thought this was going to be a twist on Pinochio and Anne Ursu does a sneaky job of playing into that idea for the first half of The Real Boy. But it's not. And the true delight comes once you get past that mental hurdle and engross yourself in an original tale for the middle school set about magic, friendship, and loyalt

This is one of the best, quirky titles I've read in years. It makes you think, right after it frustrates the hell out of you. This book is new to the states and I'm so thrilled to have Keith Ridgway's Hawthorn & Child here now. The titular detectives are charged with piecing together obscure clues for some seemingly unrelated crimes. This book is about examining unfinished business. If you're a person who needs closure, don't even think about reading this, although I'm still going to recommend it to you. Over and over and over again.


10.10.2013

Book Style: The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher In The Rye


Up next in Book Style, I've tackled another classic cover: The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I've been eyeballing this cover on my bookshelf since I started this project but I kept wimping out because of the ketchup and mustard color scheme. I finally found some sort of inspiration though, whenever September rolls around I'm always ready for Fall/Winter outfits. I started this look with Holden Caulfield's iconic hunting cap and added a puffy red vest, some classic red Converse and some cozy yellow knit gloves. I've layered all of this over some dark denim leggings and a white thermal henley. A backpack and some novel-inspired charms, a Coke bottle, a duck, and a carousel, for a charm bracelet complete the look. 

10.08.2013

Book Style: Sherlock Holmes The Novels

A Study In Scarlet



The Sign Of The Four



The Hound Of The Baskervilles

The Valley Of Fear




Today we get all four of the Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of the Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear. Let's break them each down:
  1. I went with sexy, slightly badass secretary here. Some British nods with the Vivienne Westwood watch and the Cambridge Satchel. Also, it should be noted that the nail varnish is named "A Study In Pink" after the newest BBC incarnation of the great detective. And as the final touch, a subtle lip gloss to balance all the fuschia called, appropriately enough, "Sweet Revenge".
  2. Spring weekend or maybe resort wear here. A lot of Indian and African inspired jewelry here makes a nice tie in to the treasure at the center of the drama in this novel.
  3. Can't you just imagine a modern, albeit very hip, British lady sporting this outfit. Those spectators are fantastic (and I don't even like yellow!). A nice little nod to the eponymous hound with that wolf ring.
  4. I admit to playing off more of the psychedelic, New Age-y vibe of the cover than the actual plot. Although I do think the geode jewelry is a good parallel to the coal country setting of flashback section of the novel.

10.07.2013

Book Style: The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn #1

The Last Unicorn #2

The Last Unicorn #3

My friend/coworker, Justus, put in a request for a The Last Unicorn Book Style. Peter S. Beagle's epic tale of a lone unicorn who goes in search of her missing kin has gone through several cover designs over the years and most people are at least passingly familiar with the gorgeous animation from the 1982 movie adaptation. I chose three covers to work with and I also restricted myself to non-pants outfits. For starters, I just don't think unicorns would ever wear anything as restrictive and utilitarian as pants and, also, Justus never really wears pants either.


  1. The 40th Anniversary: This look is a little bit preppy and a lot of timeless, menswear style. I think layering a colored button-down underneath a top or dress let's you incorporate color in interesting ways. This slightly creepy, black unicorn ring is my favorite of the bunch.
  2. The 1982 Mass Market: I thought of a pond the minute I saw this skirt, and it works so perfectly with this color scheme. The Essie polish is called "Carnival" which is perfect for this book. The taurus ring and the butterfly watch are both nods to characters in the story also.
  3. The 1968 (Original): This sweatshirt is such a cheeky nod to the whole plot that I couldn't resist. I also decided that these graphic leggings would make a great base layer for a Last Unicorn outfit since her search leads to the sea. The three piece ring is something I'd really like to try but I'm convinced it would feel all weird. The final, perfect touch is this abstract minotaur necklace.


10.05.2013

Link Love: 10.05.13

[image via here]
It's been a while, over a month a while, since my last Link Love post, so some of these links may be old news to some of you, but I still thought I'd share everything that I'd stockpiled. :)