What Are You Reading Now?
by habituallychic
03 . 21 . 08
I have a million design books on my must read list and already own so many that I had to put some of them to use as a nightstand because I was running out of room. (Thanks Nick Olsen for the great idea!) But then I realized that I haven’t read any good fiction lately. I started re-reading Eat, Pray, Love for a little inspiration and so I’d have something in my bag for the subway. But what do I read when that’s done? So I’m reaching out to the blogshere for suggestions. What are you reading? What should I be reading? My only criteria is that it be portable for travel and have a happy ending please. I’m always a sucker for a happy ending, but then again, aren’t we all?! Thanks!
27 Comments
I have a book blog if you’re interested.
http://www.coteriebooks.blogspot.com
I don’t know about the happy ending part but my friend and I are addicted to “The Other Boleyn Girl”.
Last month I read (and liked) The Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig and And Only to Decieve by Tosha Alexander, both historically fiction mystery/romances.
The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls.
It is wonderful! I read it right after Eat, Pray, Love (which I loved) and I may have even liked it more.
Also,
A History of Love, by Nicole Krauss.
(beautifully written- very delicate)
And,
The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai.
(also incredibly well-written)
I think all of these have reference to NY, which you will like!
I am new to your blog, and the blog world in general but I have to let you know I LOVE it! I just finished Eat, Pray, Love and found it a pleasure. Was sad when I finished. I’ll check my bookshelves and get back about suggestions but just wanted to express my new found joy for your blog. Thank You
I love your lamp!
I’m reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner. I haven’t finished it yet so I can’t say if there is a happy ending but so far it is amazing.
Erin don’t read this!
A Thousand Splendid Suns is NOT happy. Well written but depressing.
If you want some fluffy (yet happy) reading, I just read Wolves in Chic Clothing about Manhattan society types. I thought it was entertaining and light. Very light. 😉
I LOVE your lamp! where did you find it?
Hi HC:
I really enjoy reading your blog (I write one about art, politics and style at LuxLotus.com). I am also an independent publicist and work on a lot of fiction, actually! One novel that I believe you’d enjoy is FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES by Min Jin Lee; a great story about a young woman finding her way in New York.
Happy weekend!
Very best,
Lauren
I love Diane von Furstenberg’s autobiography, A Signature Life. I recommend it to all those living a “habitually chic” life….
This is a brilliant and fun book and you can read it in small bites:
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Ordinary-Life-Krouse-Rosenthal/dp/1400080452
“The Moviegoer” by Walker Percy – won the National Book award in 1962
The Collected Stories of Mavis Gallant – specifically, read a short story called “The Other Paris” – totally brill
i work for a top interior designer in LA. My favorite post was your pumpkin cookie recipe!
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and the sequel Something Blue are both fun.
I’m not much of a fiction reader, however, I’ve started to read Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.(It’s a coming-of-age story set in a tony prep school.)
John Adams by David McCullough is on my amazon wish list. It’s the book that the hot new HBO miniseries is based on. I’m also looking forward to reading The Audacity of Hope this summer.
The Senator’s Wife by Sue Miller is a very good read…and it really does have a happy ending. Sort of.
I second the recommendation above for Glass Castles and The History of Love. Two of my favorite books ever.
You’ll also adore anything by Brit author Penny Vincenzi. No Angel or Something Dangerous or In Temptation especially. It’s a trilogy of sorts. i LOVED THEM. Her book The Dilemma is on my nightstand now.
I love your lamp too, I thought the shot was from a magazine! I am reading EPL too for bookclub, and sadly have no recommendations for you, as I am a memoir reader.
I second Alyssa’s suggestion of The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls.
I just finished Behind Those Eyes by TP Carter. Great book, lots of twists and turns and yes, a happy ending. Be sure to let me know what you think.
I have been having the same problem too. The last two books I read were so annoying. I’ve been having a hard time finding the next great, all engrossing, don’t want to get off the metro book and I am so anxious for this!
One of my all-time favs is A Trip to the Stars by Nicolas Christopher.
I didn’t see The Woman in White during its abortive Broadway run a few years back, but I can heartily recommend Wilkie Collins’ door-stopper of a book, a tale that’s sometimes a mystery, sometimes a love story, sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic, often suspensful, with at least one heart-stoppingly dreadful plot development halfway through, and in which, despite a story thick with ominous portents, false identities, false imprisonment, blackmail, revenge, treachery, madness & murder, a happy ending is, at least, from time to time, a possibility, and which story contains one of the smoothest, most charismatically villainous men & one of the strongest & most resourceful women ever created.
And don’t let the fact that it was written 150 years ago stop you from reading it. After all, how many of today’s bestsellers will still be in print–and keeping people up way past their bedtimes–in 2150?
I love the stacked book idea as a nightstand…I totally need to do that myself!
As for books, I’ve recently been reading anything written by David Sedaris. He is an absolutely brilliant writer and sooo funny. I’m literally laughing out loud every other page. I started with “Dress Your Family in Courduroy and Denim” and just read “Naked.” I highly recommend his books.
Let us know what you end up reading!
Love your lamp.
V. Sackville-West’s “The Edwardians.” Not exactly a happy ending; more ambiguous. But luxurious writing, marvelous characters, lots of decor pointedly observed, and just plain wonderful.
I’ve been resisting “Eat, Pray, Love,” because I read about it on Oprah. I know that shouldn’t matter. I guess I’ll have to check it out. Also, regarding fiction, has anybody read Pete Cameron? He’s incredible.
T8
Strange Closets Design Blog
http://www.strangeclosets.com
Thanks Everyone! I can’t wait to check out all your recommendations!
As for the lamp, I bought it a few years ago in New York. It’s available online from Gracious Home, http://www.gracioushome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=172464&langId=-1&categoryId=61595&parent_category_rn=61548&top_category=61509.
The Glass Castle, as mentioned above. A must-read!!
You should read Shadow of the wind, the time travelers wife and Wicked! Great books that make you want to read more.