It’s hard to believe that 2011 is already over. The holidays were a whirlwind, and now it’s back to the regular routine–except it’s 2012 and I have to remember that when I’m writing the date (I’m sure it won’t sink in until sometime around St. Patrick’s Day). With the end of the year comes the inevitable “best of 2011″ lists and countdowns and recaps. Well, I’m not immune to the trend.

I did a reading recap last year so I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at my reading list for 2011 and compare the two. I read a few more books this year (43 total), including:

8 collections (essays, poems, or stories)

12 nonfiction books

24 books by women writers

4 classics

Here are ten books I particularly enjoyed:

1. Ghosts, Cesar Aira

2. The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood

3. Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro

4. The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt

5. The Hunger Games series, Suzanne Collins

6. Talking to Girls about Duran Duran, Rob Sheffield

7. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel

8. Zone One, Colson Whitehead

9. The Summer Book, Tove Jansson

10. Autobiography of a Face, Lucy Grealy

You can check out my full list at Goodreads.

This year I’ve challenged myself to read 50 books–I’d better get going!

What were some of your favorite books of the year?

Like any good yoga student, I’m familiar with Lululemon Athletica and even drooled over their cute yoga pants and tops. A few years ago, being naive and young, I wandered into one of their stores in a burst of motivation to buy new workout clothes. I almost ran out screaming in terror. $128 for yoga pants?! I mean, this is America, but COME ON. Since then, I’ve stuck to my faded t-shirts from free events in college, and that one pair of yoga pants I bought at Gap Body seven years ago with a loyalty (thriftiness?) akin to Lassie.

I wasn’t truly surprised, then, when I heard about their newest ad campaign: the company has started printing the question “Who is John Galt?” on their tote bags. The quote is the opening line of Ayn Rand’s famous Atlas Shrugged, in which Rand preaches “objectivism,” a philosophy in which individuals act in their own best interest, damning altruism and all that other feel-good hoo-ha. A reference to Galt is a clear indication of belief in Rand’s uber-capitalistic beliefs, and Lululemon’s chairman proudly stated his support in a recent blog post, “Our bags are visual reminders for ourselves to live a life we love and conquer the epidemic of mediocrity. We all have a John Galt inside of us, cheering us on. How are we going to live lives we love?” Another gem, ““We are able to control our careers, where we live, how much money we make and how we spend our days through the choices we make. … We can choose to rise up and be great.” It’s these kinds of delusions of the privileged that lead to the economic problems we’re facing around the world. It must be nice to be able to control your career and how much money you make and where you live–but it’s certainly not a privilege that many are enjoying.

This clear support of an individualistic agenda is upsetting to me as a consumer, not only because of the ridiculous prices the company charges for clothing to sweat in, but because it’s in direct opposition to most of the main principles of yoga. Yoga, at least as I understand it, is meant to be relaxing and to be taken at one’s own pace. It is a way in which to appreciate our bodies and the world around us, to find peace in the every day and the good in our neighbors. It’s not about being the best or brightest. In fact, I’ve been admonished by multiple yoga instructors not to compare yourself to others, to only hold the poses until it feels right to you, to let your body decide what’s best.

Maybe this is all mumbo-jumbo to you, but I object to this kind of marketing, and I won’t be patronizing Lululemon any time soon (let’s pretend that I was actually able to afford it, for the sake of the argument). I’m all for incorporating literature into style, but this goes too far.

What do you think? Do you shop at Lululemon? Read Ayn Rand? I want to know what you think.

Obviously, books have had a huge impact on my life. I honestly don’t know where I would be without them–seriously, I met my fiance in grad school while studying publishing and writing. Who does that if they don’t love books? So, I am very grateful for books in general. Specifically, I put together a tiny smattering of the books I’m grateful for and why:

1. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

I don’t remember how old I was when I read this book, but I had a small, fat paperback, with illustrations, that I read and reread as a little girl. When I was in high school, I bought a hard cover edition that included Little Men, Jo’s Boys, and a few other Alcott stories, but nothing ever beats Little Women, in my opinion. I even wrote a research paper on Alcott for a high school English class. It’s the first book I really loved in a kind of sentimental, connected way, and I still love it.

2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Fannie Flagg

My mom took this book out of the local library and just kept it, she loved it so much. My grandmother rented a beach house for a week in summer when I was 8 or 9, and I decided to read this book. I was probably a little too young, but I loved loved loved it, and I don’t remember being confused by it, though the murder, complicated female relationships, and domestic abuse were probably a little over my head. The movie came out a few years later, and all of a sudden, everyone knew the story. I’ve reread it several times, and my college roommate even bought me a copy for Christmas when my old copy got lost. Even though it’s a little more sensational and not as “literary” as most of the books I read now, it definitely remains in my top ten list.

3. The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

I read this in college, at just about the time that I was discovering that I really loved to write. Reading the journals of one of the writers I admired most was really helpful in understanding what it’s like to pursue writing, and the creative genius behind one of the foremost female poets of the 20th century. The collection is dauntingly huge, and I don’t think I ever quite read everything, but I’d recommend it if you are interested in learning more about Plath than the myth that she was just a crazy woman obsessed with suicide and death.

4. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon

I was hesitant to read this book because it’s about comic books. But as soon as I was finished with the first page, I knew I had found something special. It’s about so much more than comic books, and the writing is sublime. I read it about five years ago, and every once in awhile, I’ll take it down from the shelf and reread certain passages, but I haven’t reread the whole book. Part of me is afraid that it won’t live up to the first time I read it. Maybe that’s crazy. Either way, when someone asks the question, “what’s your favorite book?” this is my go-to answer.

5. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ok, so this one is a gimme, but I really love it. It’s one of those tried and true classics that lives up to the hype–despite what some haters will say. I read this in my junior year high school English class, and I distinctly remember doing the Charleston in class, awkwardly, trying not to look like too much of an idiot in front of the boy I liked. But despite the corny 1920s lessons that went along with our reading the book, the deeper themes resonated with me, and it was one of the first books I was required to read for school that I really loved. I read it again in college, and wasn’t tired of it. Even now, I find myself rereading certain parts, and of course, there’s my totebag that I carry every day.

What books are you thankful for?

And now, I’m off to Rhode Island to spend Thanksgiving with the family. Happy Thanksgiving to all–see ya next week!

I like to reserve Thursday for Fashion Book  posts, but when it comes to the book I finished yesterday, Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, I just couldn’t do it. If you’ve read it, you’ll understand my hesitation. Geek Love is one of the strangest, most twisted, and most imaginative books I’ve ever read. How could I even begin to conceive of an outfit for a hunchbacked albino midget, siamese twins, an exotic dancer with a tail, or a frozen food heiress with a penchant for disfiguring surgeries? There’s only so far my own imagination can go sometimes.

I found many things about Geek Love repellent, beginning with the idea that two “norm” parents, Lil and Al Binewski, would purposely breed children with specific abnormalities (freaks, if you will) in order to keep their traveling carnival in business. Al puts Lil on a pregnancy regimen of amphetamines, cocaine, arsenic, and other toxins, resulting in a brood of truly extraordinary offspring (including some children who didn’t quite make it). There’s Arty, the boy with fins instead of arms or legs; Iphy and Elly, the siamese twins who share one set of legs and two very different personalities among them; Chick, the sensitive and outwardly “normal” boy with astounding mental abilities; and Oly, our narrator, an albino dwarf with a hump and an amazing voice.

The story of the Binewski family and their traveling “fabulon” is every bit as fantastical and surprising as one would expect from the premise, but Dunn goes even further, pushing the envelope of contemporary fiction, challenging us with every chapter. The characters are dark, even depraved in most cases, and the things that happen are not suitable for young children. I had to put the book down the handful of times I attempted to read it during lunch or breakfast. But ultimately, I couldn’t put it down, and though I was disgusted, I was also fascinated by what was happening in the book. The Binewski family saga quickly spins out of control, and I’m not quite sure where the ending came from, but I know I won’t forget this book. I only wish I had read it for a book club, because there’s so many things to discuss.

Have any of you read it? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I first read an excerpt from Mindy Kaling’s new book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Other Concerns in the spring. Now, this may sound creepy, but all I could think of while reading it was, “All I want is for Mindy Kaling to be my best friend so we can go shopping and talk about life and eat ice cream and laugh all the time.” I think that’s a pretty positive reaction when reading someone’s book…even if it’s slightly weird/creepy.

The book just came out this week and I’ve been making my way through it. Not only is Mindy’s book funny, but her thoughts on food, friendship, and first jobs will resonate with most ladies. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been known to wake up in a cold sweat worrying about all the fun parties my friends are having…without me. It’s an issue. I thought I was suffering alone, but it makes me feel better to know that other, more glamorous and successful women, also struggle with this malady.

I haven’t read Tina Fey’s Bossypants yet, but I love seeing books by funny, smart, and beautiful women at the front of the bookstores and on the top of the bestseller lists.

Have you read either book? What did you think?

PS: Looks & Books (aka me) is on vacation in Florida until next week! Catch you back here then.

The below look wasn’t created specifically with Marie in mind–she’s only 17, and her style is decidedly more sexy and young. I decided instead to put something together inspired by that paragon of chic–the French woman. I chose slim black cords, a Breton striped top, ballet flats, Ray Ban Wayfarers, a classic Chanel handbag, a cozy hat, simple jewelry, and a sophisticated cape.

What was the last new book you read on a whim and loved?

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the style blogs that inspire me most. Today it’s time to review some of the writing and book blogs that I love to read.

The Guardian Books Blog:

The blog for the Books section of UK newspaper The Guardian continuously impresses and inspires me with the variety and thoughtfulness of their discussions and features.

The Book Bench:

The book blog for The New Yorker, it’s almost like the hip, less pretentious, more tech-savvy younger sibling of the print magazine.

The Book Cover Archive:

A really awesome database of spectacular book cover designs. The site allows you to randomize and look at an array of designs, or search for specific books. I’ll definitely be using this for my new Coveralls feature!

The Book Lady’s Blog:

It seems as though Rebecca and I share similar reading tastes, and I like her recommendations and personal writing style.

The Paris Review Daily:

The blog version of The Paris Review contains expansions and ruminations of the pieces featured in the print issue, as well as columns and additional features. It’s filling in until I remember to renew my print subscription!

The Rumpus:

The Rumpus is a kind of catch-all for literary and cultural writing–you can find pretty much anything on there, and most of the articles are different and interesting.

HTMLGiant:

HTMLGiant is my go-to source for finding out about new and independent writing, as well as keeping up with what’s going on in the literary magazine “scene.” And yes, it’s very much a “scene” which can be annoying, but don’t hat the player, hate the game…right?

Largehearted Boy:

Of course, I would be remiss in not including Largehearted Boy, one of my very favorites. Every day, the blog is updated with a stunning mix of what’s new in music and literature, featuring author playlists, links, and “best of” lists.

Where do YOU go for book recommendations or inspirations? Leave it in the comments!

*Image via Room and serve

In her post, Rebecca says she was reminded of the cover for Justin Torres’ We the Animals while watching last week’s Project Runway. One of Viktor’s  dresses, printed with photos he had taken of the sky in Mexico, is reminiscent of the sky on the cover of Torres’ novel. While the thought didn’t occur to me at the time, the observation got the wheels turning in my own brain, and I thought I would highlight a couple of looks that remind me of book covers.

The Corrections: Jonathan Franzen

Image from Lands End Canvas

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: Haruki Murakami

Rockabilly Bird dress at Unique Vintage

The Bell Jar: Sylvia Plath

Sigerson Morrison pointy-toe flat (via La Garconne)

I like this idea–I think I’ll make it a regular feature! What do you think? Do you like the idea of creating outfits or featuring items based on different book covers?

]]> http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/25/cover-alls/feed/ 7 http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/24/july-july/ http://www.looksandbooks.com/2011/10/24/july-july/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:13:18 +0000 Jill http://www.looksandbooks.com/?p=1995

Miranda July is one of my favorite artists and writers–she’s just got that something you can’t put your finger on, that quality that makes you feel as though this complete stranger somehow knows the most fundamental truths about you and is telling stories about you, or at least to you, in their work.  If you’re not familiar, I highly recommend her film Me and You and Everyone We Know and her story collection, No one belongs here more than you. She’s quirky, yes, but once you get past the strangeness, you realize there’s all of this beauty and weight to what she’s saying.

This week, The New Yorker‘s book blog, The Book Bench, is posting excerpts from July’s new book, It Chooses You, in which she recounts the people she met responding to ads from the PennySaver whilst doing research for her latest film The Future. The first post, a meditation on the writing process and procrastination, strikes as deep a chord in me as anything. She writes:

The funny thing about my procrastination was that I was almost done with the screenplay. I was like a person who had fought dragons and lost limbs and crawled through swamps and now, finally, the castle was visible. I could see tiny children waving flags on the balcony; all I had to do was walk across a field to get to them. But all of a sudden I was very, very sleepy. And the children couldn’t believe their eyes as I folded down to my knees and fell to the ground face-first, with my eyes open. Motionless, I watched ants hurry in and out of a hole and I knew that standing up again would be a thousand times harder than the dragon or the swamp and so I did not even try. I just clicked on one thing after another after another.

This is how I seem to feel nearly every day lately–almost everything I take on, whether it’s at work, on a freelance project, cleaning the apartment, or even (especially?) updating the blog, the task becomes monumental, seemingly impossible for me to complete in any timely way, no matter how simple it is or how much I want to do it. My to-do list is my biggest enemy.

Anyway, the post made me think, and it made me want to write, and that’s what these things are supposed to accomplish, right? And now I’m off to tackle the rest of my to-do list for today–I’m ready to take you on, procrastination!

*Image via Wear Color

More than being immensely entertaining and fun to watch, I think the show challenges our conception of what art is, and what it means not only to us, but to society as a whole. I may not think a photograph of a naked man with his terminally ill parents in the background is particularly pleasing to the eye, but I do think it’s thought-provoking and, at the very least, intriguing.

This afternoon, while browsing at The Strand on my lunch break, I came across Tree of Codes, Jonathan Safran Foer’s latest novel. It’s an interpretation of the book Street of Crocodiles. Foer cut out words and phrases to illicit an entirely new story. Every page in the book is a unique die-cut, which caused nearly every printer to balk and reject publication. However, one Belgian printer was up to the challenge, and Tree of Codes was born. As I flipped through the book (carefully), I marveled at the craftsmanship, the artistry, and the innovation. I was also, admittedly, a little confused as to how the narrative progressed, but I think that’s part of the fun of the book.

My point is, whether you think it’s a gimmick, pretension, or genius, it pushes the boundaries of what we think of as a “book” and what we think of as “art.”

What do you think? I’m eager to hear your thoughts!