May I Gently Suggest, #2
January 23, 2012Good morning! It's rainy and bleak and I had a long unhappy dream last night about my hair turning into an afro? (edited to add: my unhappy feelings re: afros are only limited to when and if they appear on my own head; such a hairstyle would not be flattering on me, as I have the facial bone structure of Stan Laurel.) My hair is growing out, you see. It is awkward. It looks nothing like an afro, but clearly I am having deep, complex Feelings about my hair. My God, but I am multi-faceted.
I've changed the title of this feature from "Suggested Reading," because I intend to issue suggestions for non-book items in addition to suggesting books. That was awkwardly phrased. Moving on!
I can't believe I didn't read this earlier, but there it is. I am a big ol' fan of Julie Klausner, Funny lady with a Heart of Gold. From the Cat Whisperer to her podcast, every thing she does is, to me, glitter-dusted magic. I am loving this book even more than I thought I would, which is saying rather a lot.
I am not yet done with this book, but so far it's astonishing. The way Peter Carey writes, it's like a magic trick. I don't get how he does it. I want to tear the book apart to figure out how it works, but they're just PAGES, just like any other book. It's the devil's work!
This book was recommended by dear commenter DGM. I have a long list from last week's reader recommendations, bless your hearts. I'm waiting for the Brooklyn Public Library to magically teleport many of them to my Kindle.
I had a galley copy of Jenny's book IN MY HANDS just this weekend, but then she wrested it OUT OF MY HANDS and into the mitts of Evan from Obscura Antiques, so now I am sadly bereft. Jenny claims she's going to have her people send me another copy. Despite this blow to my dignity, I am compelled to strongly recommend that you pre-order her book. Jenny read three chapters out loud to me, and I laughed so hard that I am still soaking my pants with urine. (I'm exaggerating. I am a Kegel Master.)
In non-reading suggestions, you will watch Bill Cunningham New York. It is mesmerizing. Fashion-indifferent Scott was just as entranced by this as I was.
Finally, if you're at all interested in the Paleo diet, you must follow nom nom paleo. Her recipes are glorious. GLORIOUS. Every one I've made has been a winner. Last night I made her slow cooker roast chicken with gravy, and the angels descended from heaven to see if they could get a taste and I booted them the fuck out of here because it is MINE MINE ALL MINE. (Also, I guess, Scott's. Henry refused to try it because he is clinically out of his tree.)
P.S.: If you are having problems with leaving a comment, please be assured that I am not blocking you. I promise. Unless you were going to write a comment that was one page of ALL-CAPS SELLING OF SHOE PRODUCT, I am not blocking you. Squarespace is experiencing some hiccups. You should not be seeing a request for you to fill out a captcha form. If you do, I share your frustration and I hope to get this cleared up quickly. Thank you for reading all of this. You are adorable.
P.P.S. All book links to Amazon include my affiliate code.
Reader Comments (34)
I love Bill Cunningham! He's like the Mr. Rogers of the fashion industry.
Ummm, is the title of the book here and I'm missing it? That's entirely possible!
I'm also an avid library user and have the Overdrive app on my iPad. I have learned it's much faster and easier to get the books in Adobe, rather than Kindle format because it takes much longer to get them the Kindle way. I assume it's the same way on a Kindle...anyway, fabulous way to get free books!! I love the library!! (Can you tell I'm a retired librarian?)
Dearest Alice,
May I gently suggest a word of caution when you describe your dreams? I am a rabid, avid, voracious fan of your work, (is love too strong a word? Mmm, prolly not) but was taken aback a bit by your description of your hair dream. Granted, dreams are funky thangs, but you have a very wide and diverse (I hope) readership and influence. It just seems a tiny bit, um, not cool when you say that you had a long and unhappy dream about your hair turning into an afro. As in, that would be a big negative. Would that be the worst thing in the world to happen? I mean, I see how you might not have the bone structure to pull it off, but an afro is not something to be feared, my dear.
Much love,
Afro-lovin' momma.
That Bill Cunningham film WRECKED me. In the best possible way. I heartily second your recommendation. (I credit that film for making me go back to an analog 35mm camera.) It kills me that people like Bill are being pushed out of the city.
And I'm very much enjoying your book recommendations. I have set a goal to read 50 books this year, so I need some titles to bulk up my list...
Oh, happy reader, I have no problems with afros, but have you SEEN my head? It would not be a flattering look on me. Point taken, however! I have edited the post to clarify. Thanks for your gentle critique. xo
Um, I didn't see any book titles....or links...and I looked 3 whole times! Or are you being coy with us? Hair compliments in exchange for the info?
The book images link to their Amazon pages!
Uhhh, what book images?! I've got the nomnompaleo and the Cunningham trailer as my only visuals in this post! Feeling very left out in the cold.
Thanks to Bill Cunningham and you, I am fighting a dangerous urge to buy some kind of non-practical hat. I have given in to this urge before, but I usually end up with something that itches. And was too expensive for me.
I love love loved that Bill Cunningham movie.
I saw him at work once, some event for Housing Works. I watched him ask a woman if he could take her picture. She was wearing a dramatic black/white jacket; he steered her over to a dramatic black/white wing chair - it was a beautiful thing, watching him work. I was disappointed not to find the picture in my paper the following week.
Me too, Jen! I see no book images. I'm freezing over here! Maybe it was something we said? Or not?:) Maybe if we compliment her gorgeous,
slim, talented cat! lol!
I was thinking that I would go Paleo starting in February, but then my partner brought this delicious brioche into my life. So yummy! Despite its appearance, I do wonder if something with such a high egg and butter content can really be called bread. Hmm, maybe the Paleo thing is still a go!
Uh oh. Hmm.
I'm totally blushing...thank you so much for the shout-out! Cavegirls, unite!
The "uh oh" was from me...so you guys aren't seeing anything where the picture should be? Not even a link?
Nada -- at least I assume nada, since I don't know where to look for something I can't see. If that makes any sense! Besides the youtube embed and the nomnom pic, I can see the "You might also like..." and the three little pics to go with those posts...but nothing about books. If it were about, say, exercise equipment, I would be able to let it go, oh so easily, but it's books, books that I want to know about! And perhaps buy through your linkage!
Nope. Nada. Nothing. Not a picture or a link or anything! Just words:)
I'm so glad that you're here Maggie, making my problems not seem imaginary. I have imaginary ones too, so it's always helpful to know which pile to put a problem into. ;-)
I know what you mean, Jen! I feel like we've bonded over our real imaginary problem. Or our imaginary real problem.....
Alice! You are a verified miracle worker! I see pictures! Glorious pictures! Thank you:) Shall I now praise your cat?
I done fixed it! Thanks, guys!
Pictures, pretty, pretty pictures (and titles too).
Thank you! I do so love my blog friends (real? imaginary? who knows!) and their dedication to service. :-)
I can't wait to get Jenny's book.
She is my people, my people...
As are you, Alice Bradley.
Thank you for explaining about the comment trouble, b/c my words didn't go through last post.
I didn't take it personally, cuz of you know, the therapy 3x a week and all.
LOVE YOU ALICE!!
I just found your blog and I have fallen in love. And maybe not in a platonic way. No, I'm kidding. Maybe.
But I checked out Nom Nom Paleo and oh for the love of all that is delicious, that looks like some good eatin'.