Marginalia on the Emma M. Lion Series + Other Miscellaneous Notes on What I’m Reading.

I cannot stop reading the Emma M. Lion series. It’s the last thing I do before I fall asleep at night and the first thing I do when I wake in the morning. I’m making slow but steady progress; those two slivers of time are about all I have to contribute to my readership at the moment, while the margins in my daily life are despairingly thin! I have been taking on all kinds of new opportunities (mentioned one here) as I settle into my post-publication vocational life (whatever that is meant to be — time will tell) and there is a lot brewing behind the scenes — not to mention the usual mom-of-school-aged-kids panoply of activities, sporting events, birthday parties, etcetera. Not complaining, just — preoccupied! It’s a heavy-on-the-vine season. And there are seasons for that.

But Emma! My goodness, this series! The witty, propulsive writing; the amusing scrapes (small and large) in which Emma finds herself; the epistolary form, which I find gives the author, Beth Brower, a wonderful latitude to only share the meaningful bits, and to leave other elements out, as she’s not beholden to the standard narrative constraints. She can signal that Emma’s been at a tiresome ball without actually forcing us to bear witness to it. This gives the books a delightful, clipping pace and, on a narrative level, creates an interesting interstitial texture where we must guess at absences and ellipses. And then there’s Emma: a strong, lovable, hilarious protagonist who has weathered a rough adolescence. Something about her spirit reminds me of that Ina Garten quote that’s going around, about how your childhood does not need to dictate your life. What rebounding energy! What a third act miracle!

On a literary note, I’m floored by the way Brower draws on 18th century genre conventions, especially Gothic, sentimental, and romantic. When Emma’s writing is interrupted by a spider landing on her page or some other interruption to her journaling, I immediately thought of Dracula and the way high-intensity action on its pages is occasionally disrupted because the author’s pen has been interrupted! It’s such a clever way of blending the page with the action, of creating a sense of hyperrealism while also quietly questioning the validity and trustworthiness of the narrative itself. (What’s happening beyond the text?! Where does the created universe of the text end?) I’m also clocking the motifs of exchange, property, ownership, inheritance — all principal concerns of the 18th century novel, too — and the representation of space (her isolated and strangely-quartered garret, the centricity and complex architecture of Lapis Lapizuli, the letting of her sitting room to Mr. Pierce), which was a major preoccupation of the Gothic novel. My question is — why? Why these themes, why now? Is it Brower’s personal interest in that era or are we meant to understand them as unresolved issues for women several hundred years later?

I shared this a week or two ago, but Brower has pledged she will be writing 25 volumes in this series (joy, joy, joy!) and recently signed with Penguin to publish the remaining 17 installments. She had previously published the books via her own label, and I couldn’t help but draw the obvious line between that fact and the section in book four in which Emma discovers Islington’s aunt has been quietly publishing her own books about “rogue and brigand women who rescue desperate men,” and Emma replies: “You are joking. How does the publishing world stand such a notion?” Islington replies: “They didn’t at first, so the countess bought her own press. Since that day, she’s sold enough books for them all to come running.” Strangely coincidental, don’t you think?! I’d read that all the major publishing houses have been vying for Brower’s books. Penguin and others “all came running,” too. Poetic providence!

Two other completely random and idiosyncratic moments of joy in the book I had to share. You know the feeling you get when you encounter the title of a book in its text? It feels like a big wink at the reader? That’s how I felt when I came to these two lines:

“He was chattering away like a magpie“

and

“My restraint is something of a small wonder.”

Cosmic winks! Finally, in one of the scenes in which Roland rewards Emma with a book, she observes: “Felicity is the gift of a book.” In this spirit, I’d love to give one Magpie reader a copy of the first and second Emma Lion books! Just leave a comment below sharing what you’re reading right now and you’ll be entered into the giveaway. I can’t solely give the first because I think it’s an on-ramp to the series, with a lot of table-setting — you must give it until book two and then you’ll be properly hooked.

OK, for those already deeply ensconced: what else are you finding in Lion?

Above: Hero dressing at its finest. When I don’t know what to wear, I just pile on all my favorite things and call it “hero dressing.” Never fails to cheer — or work. Wearing the best sweater on earth (use code JEN15 — my code expires today! This sweater is also on sale in select colors!), this gorgeous cashmere-blend bandana scarf (up to 25% off), the “sister of the traveling pants jeans” (up to 25% off, too — these jeans fit everyone?), my new handbag obsession (am constantly stopped about this bag! somehow leopard goes with everything?), and my shearling lined boat shoe mules.

In other reading news, I recently polled Magpie readers, and the consensus is that most of us are reading:

Emma M. Lion

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult (I’m skipping this — I think the material is too tough for me to read!)

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (I read this and found it dishy and amusing)

Accordingly, I woke this morning and, having just finished book four of the Emma Lion series, downloaded a sample of The Pirate Queen to follow the magpie flock’s lead (actually, a group of magpies is called “mischief”) and — was immediately hooked?! I hadn’t anticipated enjoying it so much, but I read until the very last minute possible before rousing to make breakfast for my children before school and I immediately ordered the rest of it. Very different book, but it brought to mind Isola by Allegra Goodman in the sense that there is a female coming of age story on the high seas. Could I be becoming a historical fiction girlie? On second thought, let me resist the urge to self-label. Bad book girls spurn a label!

I also plan to dig into Understory while traveling later this week and next — I snagged in hard copy so find myself less likely to read in bed, which is the current solitary locus of my reading activity, but figure I’ll have more flexibility while on the plane! I’ve also picked up this Mary Oliver poetry volume (partly inspired by my staked aspiration to become a true morning person) and have been visiting with Fitzgerald short fiction in little sips in the morning. I love the way he writes romance.

Such a gripping fall lineup! What are you reading and excited about?

Finally, I came across this reaction from Stephen King about Caro Burke’s Yesteryear, which was a polarizing read among us Magpies! What do you make of his analysis? “It’s a feminist catch-22”?! Discutons. I don’t see this book in the same light but am open to alt perspectives here. I do think his observation that it was “funny and sharp enough to draw blood” is perfectly expressed.

Last but not least, before we move on from the bibliophilic, at least ten Magpies sent me the link to this book ornament (cover: “A Guide to Bird Watching”) — can you even?! Of course I need this for my tree this year. The messages were so thoughtful and sweet, and they also sent me down a book-themed rabbit hole — how adorable is this felted stack of books ornament?! More generally, I’ve shared this list of great gifts for book lovers, but this tee is one of my personal favorites, and who wouldn’t love a gorgeous hardcover set of a series they love?! My friend Riley also has a couple of beautiful illustrated prints of iconic covers — I proudly have the Little Women one in my studio.

A few other items that give me major “I’d rather be reading” energy —

SWEATER // SOCKS // KINDLE CASE // COFFEE CUPS // PENS // ELECTRIC KETTLE // BLANKET

01. My go-to mug for my autumn morning coffee. It charms me to no end!

02. I love my kindle case from Rifle Paper! I’ve never had a cover before and I totally respect its utility now — prevents the screen from turning on all the time and, of course, from the violence of brush bristles and pens floating around in a bag. A few of you have also recommended the whimsical ones from Page!

03. This is the chicest electric kettle. I love the colors. Pretty enough to keep out on the counter! We actually keep their Clyde kettle out on the counter — we got this before the other model was available — and I love the matte green color. We make tea all the time in the autumn/winter; Emory loves it too. (They also just released a new color of their incredible Aidan Precision Coffee maker! Ideal for a kitchen with blue and white.)

04. I just got this tea sachet set in for the season ahead! Fun to try some new flavors. (I typically order from Mem Tea in Boston.) I’ve also been hearing really good things about this hot cocoa bone broth? Has anyone tried this? I’m intrigued. Apparently it’s been out of stock quite a bit but finally available again. Might try for a fall treat.

05. A long-lasting rechargeable book lamp. I got my kids these for their birthdays and they LOVE them. Great because it means they can read until they are drowsy without getting up to switch off the light.

06. Hands down the best blanket to curl up with a good book. Love all the new fall patterns.

07. These splatter bowls are the perfect size for a little afternoon reading popcorn snack. Love the splatter motif and autumnal colors.

08. This If Only If gingham nightgown/dress is giving major “I’ve retreated to the English countryside to read and convalesce” energy.

09. These pens are perfect for keeping notes / marginalia while reading.

10. A chic floor lamp for a reading nook.

11. For an early morning porch read in the fall. Try code SHOOP15. Layer over pajamas!

12. Chic glasses!

13. Love to light a candle for a cozy reading session. These Cire Trudons are insanely elegant and complex in scent. Great throw. They are a splurge but Landon usually gives me one in my stocking at Christmas. Hotel Lobby just released a new fall scent, too! We have it burning in our family room. Great leather / autumn smell.

14. An ideal chair-and-a-half reading perch.

15. Richly textured knit blanket. (Try code FALL20 — there may be a min spend, FYI!)

16. Scalloped sticky notes to mark important passages/pages. I love doing this if I’m reading for a book club / will be discussing a book with a friend.

17. The holy grail of socks. Cozy in this marled knit!

P.S. My favorite fall pants for fall.

P.P.S. Casual everyday athleisure.

P.P.P.S. Intrinsically rock n’ roll.

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