My Latest Score
I just snagged a new paper agenda ($29). I’m a big fan of all things digital when it comes to keeping tabs on my daily to-dos, but there’s nothing like checking off tasks laid against a calendar, and using colorful pens (my new ones) to make it all look tidy and organized. You know what they say: a clean space is a clear mind. In light of the fact that many of you are apparent paper product geeks like myself (see the comments on this post!), I am sure that you’ll have additional recommendations for me on this front, but I am pretty particular about this purchase since I like to have lots of space for each day to write in my checklists. I had been a loyal devotee of Sugar Paper for Target’s calendars, but they’re not available currently, and these ones by Whitney English have a whole cult following around them. (As an aside, I’m not sure why they cost half as much on Amazon? Maybe a different version or diffusion line? We shall see.)
You’re Sooooo Popular
Most popular items on Le Blog this week:
+My go-to storage boxes for mini magpie’s closet ($15). (I guess some of y’all are neat freaks like myself? If so, check out my post on some of my favorite organizational products.)
+This white poplin dress, which is now marked down to $109 PLUS AN EXTRA 50% OFF. Grumble — in this case, the early bird did not catch the worm; those of you who waited to pounce on this lovely are in luck.
+Super versatile, super chic flats ($120).
+My must-have wireless earbuds ($89) — I swear they make ALL THE DIFFERENCE when running. Obsessed.
+Adorable gingham headband ($24).
+The best bra ever ($25+ depending on color).
#Turbothot
Friends, I’ve read nearly four books in the first week and a half of owning my Kindle and, in the words of Gustave Flaubert: “Me and my books, in the same apartment: like a gherkin in its vinegar.” I hadn’t realized how ravenous I was for intellectual engagement.
Two of these books, Roxane Gay’s memoir-ish Hunger and Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost (she is the author of Men Explain Things to Me, which we’ve discussed here in the past — a slim collection of essays that touches upon mansplaining and gender inequality, contains some of the most strikingly precise prose I’ve ever encountered, and is worth a read for the impeccability of its writing alone, if I may be so bold as to negligently set aside, for a moment, its urgent and meaty substance) likely deserve multiple posts owing to their brilliance and depth, but I’ll approach Gay’s for now.
Oh man. Roxane Gay. I have written many posts about how much I loved her essays in Bad Feminist — they challenged me, enlightened me, left me alternately white-knuckled and smug, and ultimately made my list of 10 Books that Will Change Your Life. I was anxious to read her memoir, which, on the surface, serves as a chronicle of her lifelong struggle with morbid obesity, but is in fact a devastating trauma narrative exposing the contours of an anguished soul and a brilliant mind that belong to one and the same Roxane, grappling in their own ways with the effects of sexual abuse. It seethes with self-loathing. It ping pongs between her characteristically incisive, sardonic interpretations of American culture — much of it focused on our cultural norms around physical beauty, food, and health (one chapter ends: “What does it say about our culture that the desire for weight loss is considered a default feature of womanhood?” — KAPOW!) — and the unruliness of her emotions. She writes, early on: “What I know and what I feel are two very different things,” and this could well serve as shorthand for the book’s central drama, a showdown between her intellect understanding and explaining what has come to pass with her and her body, and her emotions grappling with the same. Over the course of her memoir, she creates a sort of intellectual gridlock for herself, at times acknowledging her own responsibility in her obesity and at other times pointing the finger at the sexual predators who took advantage of her as a child and, in turn, a culture that is cruel to those unwilling to conform to our cultural standards for beauty and fitness. In some chapters, she tells us she wants to be invisible, but her weight precludes such self-erasure. In other chapters, she writes that she wants to be seen and acknowledged, not ostracized.
Hers is a mind in torment.
It is tough reading.
What are you reading? I’m in the last few chapters of the Solnit book, and then I’m onto Just Kids, which I’ve been saying I’m reading next for the last few weeks, but THIS TIME I MEAN IT. (Writing in all caps to convince myself to do so. And P.S. — I wrote a bit about its author and a magical essay she wrote recently here.)
Also, for the record, the other two books I tore through were:
Straub’s The Vacationers — an easy read with semi-decent writing (I want more for Straub! She has a lot of promise!) but an implausible ending and a mind-bogglingly stupid takeaway — basically, “Stay with your husband even when he cheats because one day he’ll come around and stalk you out of love and you will still love him! HURRAY!” (???????)
Puig’s A Wife of Noble Substance — A candidate for the worst book I’ve ever read in my life. Among its worst offenses: flabby, over-decadent, and imprecise Thesaurus writing. Her writing is full of les mots INjustes — meaning that she nearly always picks a word with such opacity and inexactness that I would puzzle over what the hell she meant. I think she was trying to be artful? It was so ridiculous that I read several passages aloud to Mr. Magpie and we took to texting each other in parody of her strange and overtaxed style. An actual exchange:
Me: Any new movies out for rent on iTunes?
Mr. Magpie: Nothing to rent. The nothingness of movie options is clean yet obtuse.
Me: My disappointment is sparse yet unfeeling.
Seriously, though, this book is an editorial nightmare. I found THREE grammatical errors. I assume at some point the copyeditor just gave up on the good battle of arguing with the author over diction and got sloppy.
But, adding insult to injury, the book is billed as a modern day “Edith Wharton” and the comparison is sickening. (I feel that Edith’s name should be cleared of this unfortunate connection.) The basic plot of this book is: “Girl is rich. Girl is part of a cruel, man-obsessed sorority-like Texan society. Girl turns poor. Society turns back on girl. Girl “makes it” when a pervy, wealthy benefactor buys her a store that she outfits as some sort of art gallery despite the fact that she has no background in this line of work. Girl marries man with whom she has a grand total of three interactions over the course of the book, yet is painted to be the love of her life.”
Arg, my head throbs. Wretched. Do not read.
Shopaholic
+I’m dying over this dress by hot new line MISA. I love the bows at the sleeves.
+Speaking of bow adornment, how sweet is this $100 dress?
+Easy weekend dress for a girl on the go — and under $30?! I’m picturing myself in it at the farmer’s market, grabbing coffee, strolling with the babe, etc.
+Such a sweet, delicate ring — I ordered it with minimagpie’s initials and birth date on it and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.
+Fellow Biggie lovers will rejoice in this straw tote. LOVE.
+This tiered LWD ($121) is so sweet. The kinda thing I might wear on a lazy Saturday at home.
+Guys. Are rugby shirts, that vestige of the Abercrombie + Fitch early aughts preppy-frayed lifestyle, making a comeback?
Ahhhh, daily planners! I am still in analog mode when it comes to planning my schedule (though I do live and die by my Outlook calendar for work meetings, and have even started putting a few personal appointments on there as well…). I use Moleskine’s Weekly Notebook and have been using it for 10 years this year (!) — I like that they come in colors other than just plain black (namely red, my favorite accent color for accessories and such). Having a lined page on the right-hand side of the page is key for my weekly to-do list, too! Prior to Moleskine planners, I was a devoted Filofax fan and used mine throughout high school & college, but it was SO large & chunky (mine was the A5 size, which doesn’t SEEM big, but it was so thick!)
I digress. Thank you for your thoughts on Hunger — it has been on my “should I, should I not” list and I think you’ve sufficiently intrigued me! I have a copy of Bad Feminist and have not read it yet … adding it to my list after I finish the silliest beach read! Should be a good juxtaposition. 🙂
And: I LOVE that MISA dress! What a great find.
Hi hi! Had not considered Moleskine, though I love their little notebooks. Will def consider next time around, as the Day Designer is REALLY fat. Like, enormous. I like it, though, because I principally work from home and don’t need to schlep it around with me — and it gives me TONS of space to make lists and take notes and get supah organized. But, if I’m back in an office or on the raod any time soon, Moleskine may be necessary.
Yes, definitely worth reading “Hunger.” I’ll be curious to hear your reactions!
Misa is SO hot RN. I have my eye on a ton of items…but I’m wondering if some of them are a little “young” looking for a 33-year-old mother like myself?!
The Moleskine is definitely good for travel — I travel a lot for work (and pleasure) and it’s never a big hassle to tote the Moleskine planner along with me.
Re: the youthfulness of MISA, I feel you — I am also a newly-minted 33-year-old and worry sometimes about whether or not certain items are too young (!) I guess I would rather think this way than be completely oblivious and wearing inappropriate things! But, le sigh.
SAME PAGE, MK. You are my spirit animal. (?)
Thank you!
My pleasure!!!
Omg that ring! Ordering one for me and one for my sis right now! Also, I’m in need of some new blogs? Any recommendations? I’m a little down on Cupcakes and Cashmere which has been my go to. I read Cup of Jo daily as well and some local stuff. But I need some new reading material!
The cutest!!! I’m obsessed with that darn ring, and it hasn’t even arrived 🙂 For blogs — for family/lifestyle, I love following Naomi and her precious babies on LoveTaza. She has a sort of twee air about her, and her writing is a little more interesting than a lot of the photocentric blogs out there. For high-end/elegant inspiration, I love Daily Cup of Couture — she’s always coming across amazing new lines and labels. For a mix of everything (food/family/fashion/fitness — and, right now, pregnancy), I like Sequins + Stripes: she’s approachable and sweet and tends to find easy-to-wear pieces at affordable price points. Finally, Grace of The Stripe is super kind and super interesting, and she covers things as disparate as interior design, travel, and books: http://thestripe.com/.
Do you read/follow The Home Edit? There’s a blog but their IG account is the star. They’re super cute and funny and their organizing skills are next level (their aesthetic is really elegant and fun, and they work with some majorly stylish ladies like Gwyneth and Rachel Zoe). Such good inspo!
And I love all of these book recs. Hunger is somewhere in my to-read stack, it sounds like it is worth reading even if it’s a bit imperfect. The Vacationers is literally on my nightstand right now but I’m feeling like I should skip it? I’ve never read any of her work but I have a perma-crush on Emma because she just opened a new bookstore in my old Brooklyn neighborhood to fill the hole left when the most amazing independent book store closed. Maybe I’ll try Modern Lovers?
I just finished South and West — fine and compelling at times and a super quick read, but I think publishing this material as-is as a book is a little insulting. Right now I’m reading The Bright Hour, which is fantastic and heartbreaking. I’m on vacation and it’s not a typical beach book (my bf asked me this morning if I preferred to cry on the beach or by the pool today), but it’s a good kind of hard read.
Hi hi hi! I hadn’t heard of The Home Edit, but am now following — eye candy!!! Hunger is definitely worth a read — I personally think she’s one of the more important voices to listen to right now. Very smart, very thoughtful. Vacationers is so-so — you’ll read it in no time flat and it’s a nice little, well, vacation. LOVE Didion, so thanks for the caution on South and West! And, I just don’t know if I can read The Bright Hour. I think it will break my heart!
Hi Alison! I haven’t read Vacationers (yet, I own it…ha!) but Modern Lovers was a breezy, entertaining read, if a bit predictable.
Glad to have your thoughts on South and West — I have that one as well and have not read it yet.
Hi again! MK, I’m going to add Modern Lovers to my list of reads as well. I think Straub’s writing is solid and she’s so easy to read. Like you, I like to sprinkle in some beach reads among the heartier fare.