As if my reading life weren’t busy enough right now, I’ve just added three more books to the pile. It’s gotten so bad I should really quit working and blogging altogether until after the holidays and dedicate myself full-time to doing nothing but reading. As lovely as this sounds, I am sure my boss would not agree and after a week I would likely start to get a bit restless and long for something to break up the reading.
Even knowing that over a month of doing nothing but read would sour, I still can’t help but imagine that it would be wonderful. But what would be wonderful is all that time in which I could decide to read or not, when and for how long. Because isn’t that really what we dream of? Not so much doing nothing but read all day but the luxury of being able to make that choice. Like today. I was reading Emma at lunch and I was enjoying myself so much, I was comfortable and happy and wanted to keep reading. I had to return to work though. So what I want when I imagine a month of nothing but reading is to be able to say, I will stay here and keep reading Emma and I’ll go back to work when I feel like it. Instead of fitting reading around everything else, I want to be able to fit everything else around reading. If only.
But back to those three books I just added to my pile. Two are library books that I jumped into the hold queue for a month or more ago and I didn’t expect either of them until at least mid-December. But here they are. Women In Clothes is an “exploration of the questions we ask ourselves while getting getting dressed every day.” Edited by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, Leanne Shapton and Mary Mann, it includes photos and interviews and stories and essays long and short and who knows what other sorts of surprises await in the pages?
I have a love/hate relationship with clothes. I like clothes that are just a little different in some way, quirky. At least that’s how I like to imagine my “style” if I had a style. But because I hate shopping for clothes a large portion of my closet is filled with items I did not buy for myself but others bought for me as presents. I am pretty decent at sewing my own clothing but it is so much work and fabric is so expensive that it is just easier and more cost effective to buy a dress off the clearance rack at Target or accept whatever my mother gifts me with at Christmas. But there is a discount fabric store that recently opened near me and I am in the process of setting up my sewing machine and locating all my long unused supplies in order to make myself some fun skirts and dresses. All that explanation to justify why I would be interested in a book on women’s clothing and fashion, as if I need a reason. But I feel like I do because part of why I hate shopping for clothes is this feeling that it is frivolous (and yes I have seen the movie of The Devil Wears Prada and would absolutely love some of those outfits in my closet but I cringe over spending $50 for a pair of jeans so designer clothes are not going to happen).
Well, did I ever go far afield there. Now that you know all about my fashion sense, or lack there of, the other book from the library is F by Daniel Kehlmann. I’ve seen a few blog posts about this one that left me intrigued especially since what the “F” stands for is never actually explicitly revealed. It seems the reader is left to make her own decision about that. It is the story of a man named Arthur who abandons his family in the middle of the night and eventually becomes a famous author. Part of the novel is also what his abandonment does to his sons.
The third book just added to my pile is a review copy of a book being published in January called Dirty Chick by Antonia Murphy. It Murphy’s story of how she and her husband, both urban dwellers, decide to move to New Zealand and become farmers in order to provide a slower, safer place for their five-year-old son who was diagnosed with a developmental delay. Neither Murphy nor her husband knew a thing about farming but they figured it couldn’t possibly be all that hard. They find out otherwise, of course. I hope it will be something fun and light to read so I can forget about the cold and snow for awhile.
Now fingers crossed that I get a respite of at least a few weeks before any additional books I have hold requests on come round to me!
I had what felt like the last straw at work today, so I plan to do a lot less working and a lot more reading in the next few weeks. Although one of the good things about leaving the house to go to work is dressing for it. I like skirts and jewelry and colorful shoes. One doesn’t put those on to sit around the house reading.
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Jeanne, sorry about the last straw but I hope you enjoy the extra reading time! And you are right, if I didn’t have to leave the house I would spend my days rather abysmally dressed so going to work does indeed give one a reason to wear that cute outfit.
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The thing I hate most about leaving the house is dressing up. My preferred style is comfortable and a little quirky too. The style I hate the most is tailored. Right now I’ve been shopping and am wearing something a little classical – taupe linen blend pants and a navy t-shirt. That’s uncommon for me but I just happen to have these pieces because, the number one driver for me when shopping is what suits my sensitive eczema skin. This means clothing that’s not too fitted and as much natural fibre as possible. If I could live bohemian all the time that would be me!
I get most stressed if I’m invited to dressy occasions.
Not really the same thing at all, but there’s a new memory published here called Dress, Memory. I haven’t read it yet but it’s about clothes and growing up with I think different clothes and styles operating as metaphors for different parts or periods of her life. This is what I’ve gathered but I could be way off beam here!
And Stefanie, if you are interested in sewing you might like a blog called I’m not Tina Wheeze. She doesn’t post very often at all but she chronicles her sewing adventures, and is great fun. (I do know her – wife of close friends’ son).
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whisperinggums, I don;t like dressing up in business style clothes at all so I am glad my work environment is pretty casual I can wear jeans and a blouse or stockings and heels–not that I have any heels gawd my feet hurt just thinking about that. I cold be quite happy with the bohemian thing, we cold be bohemian babes together! 🙂 I have so few dressy occasions to go to that I quite like it now and then because it’s like I get to play.
Dress, Memory has an intriguing sound to it. And thanks for the blog recommendation! She’s very good. I love that purple dress she just made!
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I have been adding books to my pile for as long as I can remember now and I am not getting that much reading done. Too little time, too much to read. It’s just not fair.
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Wajiha, it isn’t fair, is it? I keep thinking some day when I retired…but that is a long way off.
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It isn’t. I so want to just retire with my books and my coffee and unlimited time. Sigh.
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I am right there with you Wajiha! Unless I win the lottery retirement is anther 20 years away at least. What a depressing thought!
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Le sigh.
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You know I always imagined an early retirement after making pot loads of money and spending the remainder of life reading when I wish and where I wish. The flaw in the plan is making pot loads of money!!! When oh!! When will i find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow??? I hate shopping but I LOVE wearing good clothes…does that sound like an oxymoron? I mean I would love it if somebody just designed and bought clothes for me…but the clothes I get as gift are mostly hideous, so I have to go shopping!! Cannot sew to save my life!! Back in Irish Roman Catholic schools, during the arts and crafts class, I was the one standing outside of the room because of the terrible mess I would make !!!
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cirtnecce, heh, I used to imagine that too! I was going to win millions in the lottery jackpot and then I could quit my job and create a truly magnificent library and spend all my time reading. Now I’m just hoping that one day I can actually retire, though sometimes I still imagine winning the lottery. Ah, another person who loves clothes but hate shopping! I think there are a good number of us. It would be totally cool to have a personal designer/shopper who take care of all that. I thank my mom for teaching me how to sew. It’s a skill that really comes in handy. It’s never too late to learn 🙂
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There are two flaws in the argument – one is the pot of money, the other is the assumption that you’ll have loads of time. Maybe you’ll be better time managers but I read scarcely more than I did when I was working. I don’t have pots of money but fortunately due to spending my career in the government I have a decent government superannuation (as we call it) plan income. And our government – perhaps almost too generously – gives we retirees some good tax breaks. I should add that Australians on self-funded retirement plans can be more challenged in managing retirement (I don’t what to give a rosier picture than is right!)
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Nooo! Say it isn’t so! It’s ok if you lie to me about this and brag about the copious amount of reading time you have 🙂
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Okay, so I wrote a long, sympathetic (hate shopping, love nice clothes, wish I could sew — you’re lucky!) comment that got gobbled up by one of those Internet monsters that loves to feed on such things. Suffice it to say, time to read all day? Sigh! And Dirty Chick sounds like fun, light reading. Hope it is.
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Emily, oh no! I hate when comments get gobbled. My mom used to sew a lot when I was a kid and she taught me how so I could make my own Barbie clothes which never actually turned out the way I imagined but I learned the skills and have kept them up through the years. It was really handy when Bookman and I were ballroom dancing, I made all our costumes from floor-length gown to short sequined dress, vests, shirts, and bowties. That was fun. I am hoping Dirty Chick is more than city slickers try to farm and make fools of themselves. It seems like it goes beyond that so fingers crossed!
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You’re joking! You made ballroom dancing gowns! You are an expert! I made Barbie doll clothes – and still have them as I adore the little 60s frocks – but never progressed to any sort of adult clothes. The number of dresses I made for myself I can count on half a hand! (BTW Mr Gums and I met ballroom dancing – but I never did competition level. He had done some before we met in our mid 20s).
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I’ve not attempted the full-out flashy fancy ballgowns, mine are all simple and understated. They were fun to make and always guaranteed Bookman and I matched. We never did do competitions though. I wanted to but Bookman didn’t. How fun that you and Mr. Gums met ballroom dancing! We haven’t gone for ages and I really do miss it sometimes.
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Same here, re missing it … Have discovered a social group we may go to. Good fun and good exercise, eh?
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Definitely good exercise! Have fun at the social group if you go!
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We will go …. When we can fit it in!
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I can totally relate to this.
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Re: Time to read a lot of books – it might be nice to be a temporary lighthouse keeper!
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Ian, heh, laundry? who needs clean clothes? 😉
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Xeno, heh, I think a good many readers can! 🙂
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I have a favorite pair of jeans in my closet that I got at Ambercrombie & Fitch about 20 (yes, 20) years ago. It is simply the best thing. Only problem…I was a size 4 then. Books always fit.
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Grad, heh, good point!
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I’m peppering this post with comments – sorry! But I do need to say one thing. We have a deal Ms So Many Books and I hope you are doing your bit. I’ve started A girl is a half-formed thing. Have you? 😉
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Pepper away! I am happily reading A girl is a half-formed thing but I don’t think I will be done in time for your book group. Definitely by the end of the week though!
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I am home now for a time and I find myself unable to read for long periods of time!!! So unfair! lol I sympathise with you too, I want long periods of unbroken reading time too. I am looking at it that I will know I am better (healing) when I can read for longer periods and finish more than one book every two weeks or so. That said, it doesn’t stop me adding to my pile of books to read some day, of which Dirty Chick has just been added 🙂
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Susan, that is so very unfair! I hope you feel well enough soon that you can get some reading in. I hope should you get the chance to read Dirty Chick you enjoy it! Take care of yourself and get well 🙂
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You should see the TBR pile over here…. but then I often think I’ve been put on this earth to make other people feel better about themselves..lol! I have noticed those reviews of ‘F’ too, and will await your review of that one with curiosity! I’m hoping to read the paperback when it’s out over here.
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Litlove, oh goodness, how you made me laugh! You reminded me of a favorite “demotivation” poster that says Mistakes: It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.
It cracks me up every time.
With luck I will get through F before it has to go back to the library!
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Oh I love that poster, I want one! Lol! xx
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