the Olsen twins' new coffee-table book

Speaking of twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will be co-authors on a new coffee-table book titled "Influence." Featuring 22 interviews with who they deemed influential actors, designers, and artists, the book features the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, John Galliano, Lauren Hutton, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, Margherita Missoni, and Giambattista Valli.

While I wouldn't call myself an Olsen fan, one of the things I admire most about them are their work ethics. People make fun of their "hobo" fashion styles and call them out on MK's eating disorders, or who Ashley is currently dating, but what I find most remarkable about them is that even though they rarely speak to the press, and aren't in-your-face in their need for fame, they were able to transcend all of that by just working hard in areas that interest them, which in these days are fashion for Ash and acting for MK.

They've been working since they were toddlers, have never been exploited in a way that was damaging to their reputations, and were keen enough to go to college when they obviously had little need of it, if only to expand their minds just a little more. I admire how private they are, while at the same time building an empire that seems very much to be built on love and a belief in their own products. One forgets how young they still are, but they appear to be very wise due to their life experiences. Because of that, I would be very interested in reading what they feel are "influences" that have made them strong and successful.

"Influence" - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - $35 (Pre-order at Amazon or Barnes & Noble - available Oct. 28th)

another Harry Potter book!

Two months ago I wrote about the auction of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," a handwritten collection of short stories by J.K. Rowling. Amazon owned the only original copy that was available for sale, and at the time, they did not have the right to publish it, so we were stuck reading synopses, which is just a tad boring compared to actually reading the stories themselves. But with perseverance and patience, everyone in the world will now have a chance to read it. In December, the book will be published and available for sale! This is especially exciting for "Harry Potter" fans such as myself. :D


In addition to the standard, mainstream copies, for a limited time, Amazon is selling a replica of the book they own. This version is only available through Amazon. I immediately jumped at the chance to own a copy.


Tucked in its own case disguised as a wizarding textbook found in the Hogwarts library, the Collector's Edition includes an exclusive reproduction of J.K. Rowling's handwritten introduction, as well as 10 additional illustrations not found in the Standard Edition or the original. Opening the case reveals a velvet bag embroidered with J.K. Rowling’s signature, in which sits the piece de resistance: your very own copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, complete with metal skull, corners, and clasp; replica gemstones; and emerald ribbon.

As a bibliophile, I'm a sucker for interesting books. I think I just love the idea of owning a book that is similar to what the characters in HP would be reading, and not your standard, mass-produced book. Only thing is, I have to wait 6 months to get my hands on it! But better late than never!

"The Tales of Beedle the Bard" Collector's Edition - by J.K. Rowling - $100 (only at Amazon)

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sad and ironic state for literature...

I read this and it was just so sad!

A German fighter ace has just learned that one of his 28 wartime 'kills' was his favourite author.

Messerschmidt pilot Horst Rippert, 88, said he would have held his fire if he had known the man flying the Lightning fighter was renowned French novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

The fliers clashed in the skies over southern France in July 1944.

"He was below me," said Rippert. "I saw his markings, manoeuvred myself behind him and shot him down.

"If I had known it was Saint-Exupery, I would never have shot him down. I loved his books.

"I knew he was a French pilot, but he was probably my favourite author at the time."

Saint-Exupery published eight books before his death, including The Little Prince, which has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Rippert gunned down 28 Allied planes during the war and found out about Saint-Exupery only from a historian who is writing the author's biography.

"I am shocked and sorry," the ex-Luftwaffe pilot said yesterday. "Who knows what other great books he would have gone on to write?"

While I have to admit that I have read only snippets of "The Little Prince," this story resides in my mind as one of those universal tales that do not die with time. For a children's book, it was mature in terms of the themes in the story, where it provided so many philosophical observations that try to dissect human nature that children's stories these days just seem dumbed down.

It is tragic that one of the author's fans shot him down, but sometimes the human world works in mystical ways. Would Saint-Exupery have found humor in this story? I think he would have smiled at the irony.

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welcome to the dollhouse

I never run out of reasons to visit London again, and how I wish I can right now! Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf are exhibiting what they hope to be the world's largest doll house, and what is so insanely adorable about this exhibit is that a lot of their runway work has been miniaturized and will be modeled by dolls.


The House of Viktor & Rolf presents each of the designer’s signature pieces from 1992 to now, shown in a specially commissioned and characteristically theatrical installation that dominates the entire Gallery. Highlights include pieces from Atomic Bomb, 1998–99, featuring dramatic mushroom cloud-like cushioned necklines and Russian Doll, 1999–2000, in which a single model was painstakingly dressed by Viktor & Rolf until she was gasping under 70 kilogrammes of exquisite haute couture. For the collection Bells, 2000-2001, models emerged from a smoke-filled space in clothes embroidered with hundreds of brass bells, so they were heard before they could be seen.

Also, for you V&R fans out there, you might want to head to the gift shop to get some limited edition V&R pieces.

As well as selling the book that accompanies the exhibition, a specially commissioned silk scarf by the designers, limited edition versions of their famous perfumes and exhibition postcards, Viktor & Rolf have also selected a unique range of designer objects, books and curiosities that have inspired them. Omigosh, I wish I could buy the scarf!!!!!


I just emailed them about getting the book, seeing that I can't possibly make it to the exhibit, but they don't ship outside of the UK, so we shall see what happens.


If anyone does go to check out the exhibit, please let me know how it went!!! :)


Also, V&R have been guest bloggers and have documented the entire process of putting the show together here. It's a great read, and has loads of photos. Enjoy!

The House of Viktor and Rolf - Barbican Art Gallery
June 18, 2008 - September 21, 2008

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Anglophile, bibliophile, Janeite...

You can call me all of those things, as my recent purchases completely support these statements! It is no secret on this blog that I have a slight obsession with "Pride & Prejudice" (ok, maybe more than slight), as I've watched the 1995 BBC TV series more times than I can count while in high school, and after the 2005 film came out on DVD, I've watched that at least 10 times. The TV series is truer to the book, but I loved the chemistry in the film more, so I love them both equally.

Lately, I've been obsessed with trying to find a copy of the book that is lifted directly from the original 1813 text, as the current versions that are published now have been revised since sometime around the late 1800s/early 1900s. (The original also happened to have been published in three volumes, but now they are all combined into one book.) Even if it's difficult to read, I want to try, but it seems that no one has bothered to create this version, aside from a collector's miniature set, where the books measure 3"x 2". That's too small to really read from! And frankly, I don't have £7,495 to buy the original; really, a copy would suffice!

Anyhow, on a whim, I purchased an 1895 illustrated copy of the book, and I love it. This is not the first time that I've purchased antiquarian books, as I did that when I was a child at local flea markets (what I did with them, or where they are now, I have no idea), but this is the first time I really pursued a book that I loved. Although this copy isn't in any mint condition, I still love it for all the whimsical illustrations. I can't wait to re-read this book!


In addition, while I was perusing the Regency period on eBay UK, I came across this fashion plate, which is equivalent to their version of fashion magazines back in the day. I love the look of this woman, where she looks back at you with such clarity, and she looks so proper in her day dress, which is similar to what I imagined Elizabeth Bennet might have worn, minus the bonnet and purse (I see her touting a book with her hair in a loose bun, curls unfurling in the wind as she wanders through Derbyshire). I purchased this as well, and plan to frame it and hang as wall art.


Although this was not the most glamorous or romantic period in history, I must say that from both film, TV, and books, it's become romanticized, and I like the simplicity of the times, that it wasn't very gaudy, vulgar, or over-the-top in regards to the way that ppl acted or dressed. Women sewed, read, played music, danced...it was all very un-posh, which is why the human mind and connectivity were so important. It is more and more difficult to capture that feeling in this day and age.

Harry Potter mania still going strong

The Harry Potter sequel that J.K. Rowling wrote to benefit two charities sold for £25,000 yesterday. Not bad for a double-sided postcard's worth of work! In total, after the auction of all 13 author contributed cards, almost £50,000 was raised to benefit the Dyslexia Action and English PEN.

While I was very excited to read the prequel, I have to say, this wasn't as story-driven as I would've liked. Basically, this was a quick sequence that took place three years before Harry was born, and involved Harry's dad, James Potter, and his godfather, Sirius Black. And what's the deal on "Elvendork?" Can anyone explain that to me?

The one thing that this does for me is that it does put into perspective that if Rowling wanted to, she could continue the saga from the perspectives of an earlier generation, which could have a different feel. But alas, she has said she won't write anything HP-related for the next 10 years, so that's that. This is the last time we'll read anything new that has anything to do with HP!

Here is a copy of the original handwritten copy, but if you're having trouble reading it, there were ppl kind enough to type it out for all to see. Read it here.


Also, you can pre-order a postcard book that will be available in August, which will contain facsimiles of all 13 cards. I already ordered 2 copies; you should do the same!

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I am a bookworm, unapologetically...

This is probably old news to some, but I had no idea that Amazon had won the auction of the only copy of J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" to be available for sale. Only 7 copies of this handwritten book exist, but Rowling gave the other 6 to those whom she wanted to thank. The 7th copy was placed at auction to raise money for the Children's Voice campaign. Amazon won the auction back in December of last year.


I read a lot, and the Harry Potter books were definitely one of the highlights of my book list in the past decade. I recall being a bit of a book snob when the first book came out, and many ppl recommended it to me, but at my first reading, the book smelled faintly of Roald Dahl's influence (i.e. "James and the Giant Peach," one of my all-time faves), so I thought of her (or him; I don't think I knew the author was a woman then) as a copycat, and couldn't get through the book. A year later, I was bored and wanted to read something, ppl were still telling me that I should read it, so I picked it, and slogged through the first several chapters, hoping to get over my negative feelings. By the end of the book, I was hooked. Luckily for me, the 2nd book was already available then, so I could continue on reading, and I was charmed all over, just like the rest of the world had already been.

Last summer, when I was in London, I was there just when the last book was being released. I didn't stand in any lines at midnight or get dressed up or anything, but I did go into the Waterstone's at Trafalgar Sq. that first day, and picked up my UK copy, and read it on the plane while flying back to Boston. It was so great to be back in that world, but sad, too, because I knew it was all coming to an end.

Anyhow, even though the series is long over, J.K. Rowling continues the saga of her universe through very inventive means. I am actually very glad that it was Amazon that won this auction for "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," because they chose to share it with the world, and that is more than any fan could ask for. The book was referenced in the HP series as a book that Ron had. JKR had to go back and create all new stories to fit in with the original titles she had listed as stories contained in the book. You can Amazon's reviews here, but unfortunately, they didn't transcribe the original text! Better than nothing, huh? :P

A week from now, there is another auction that J.K. Rowling will participate in. To benefit the Dyslexia Action and English PEN, a writers' association, Waterstone's bookstore (that same one that I bought my HP book from) is holding an auction of 13 original works from 13 internationally renowned authors. Rowling's contribution will be an 800 word prequel to "Harry Potter" that she'd handwritten onto a card.


It would be silly to think that any one of us mortals would be able to afford something like this, but you can buy the entire collection of works in book form. And for your Harry Potter fans, the big tease coming from Waterstone's is this last sentence by JKR, saying, "From the prequel that I am not working on - but that was fun! JK Rowling 2008."


Waterstone's Exclusive Postcard Book: To celebrate the National Year of Reading Waterstone's asked 13 world-class authors to tell us their story. We extended this invitation to our customers, in the form of a nationwide competition to win the opportunity to be published in this limited edition postcard book, alongside the original works from JK Rowling, Doris Lessing, Neil Gaiman, Michael Rosen, Nick Hornby, Sebastian Faulks, Lauren Child, Tom Stoppard, Irvine Welsh, Axel Scheffler, Margaret Atwood, Richard Ford and Lisa Appignanesi. This collection consists of 13 story cards from the authors listed above plus story cards from the three winners of the national competition. Due to the exclusive nature of this product, we are limiting orders to two (2) per customer while stocks last. All profits from the sale of this collection will go to Dyslexia Action and English PEN. Please note that because the postcard book contains a mixture of authors, some stories are not suitable for children.

Happy Reading!!! :)

Waterstone's Exclusive Postcard Book - £5

Losing the Age of Innocence - PLEASE HELP!!!

Last spring, I was out in the Berkshires for a friend's wedding, when my honey and I decided to visit "The Mount," Edith Wharton's estate. The unique aspect of the home and gardens was that she designed the entire property herself. Wharton is best known for her novels, such as "The Age of Innocence" and "House of Mirth." However, later in her life, she actually published the first books on home decorating. She was there before Martha Stewart ever came along!


So I was sad to read that "The Mount" is in danger of being foreclosed. Can't historic landmarks be exempt from a recession? Much time and money were spent renovating the home back to its former grandeur. However, the estate has less than one month now to raise over $3M to keep it alive as both a landmark and museum to the legacy of Edith Wharton.


I don't get many readers to this site, and maybe my one little voice won't make much of a difference, but I hope that you will donate something, anything, to keep this estate alive! When I was there, while the interiors were modest, and much of the original furniture is no longer there, it really was beautifully renovated, and it would be a huge shame if this property is never public for people to see again. This is where Wharton wrote some of the most beautiful and classic American novels! England has Jane Austen, we have Edith Wharton! Keep it open, and keep it alive!


For me, seeing the home made me relive all those novels and films that were so romantic when I experienced them as a youngster, no matter if the endings were happy or not. So please, I hope you can contribute to keep her legacy alive. I have donated. Will you please do?

PLEASE DONATE HERE!!! :D

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sweet valley high redux

There is no other series of books that marked my youth in the late '80s and early '90s more than the Sweet Valley series. While I was more partial to the Sweet Valley Twins (the cover art to me was less creepy, plus, I was quite young when I started to read them, maybe around 8 or 9 yrs old), it was the success of the Sweet Valley High series that launched all the spin-offs. Fluffy, superficial, at times repetitive to the point of ad nauseum (if you'd ever noticed, every book had at least one and a half pages devoted to the descriptions of the twins, and line by line, were the same in every book), this was a pure guilty pleasure, sugar for the brain at a time when little girls still read for pleasure.

Fast forward 25 years, and Francine Pascal, the creator, is relaunching the SVH series with all new references, bringing my favorite twins, Elizabeth and Jessica, back into relevance. The texts are the same, but any references to the '80s are all but trounced so that a new generation of little girls can fall in love and choose their favorite twin.


I don't know how this repackaged series will fare when it's up against more salacious offerings like "Gossip Girl," "A-List," and "Clique," which are supposed to be much more risqué. Sweet Valley High was designed for quieter, more conventional times, and they are as familiar as apple pie, not sour apple martinis.

Anyhow, I won't be buying any issues, but it definitely brought back memories when I heard that they were going to try to make these books a part of pop culture again. I must confess, the new covers starring soap actress Leven Rambin are kinda icky. I'm not feeling her look at all. There was a (God-awful) TV show that starred real-life twin actresses Cynthia and Brittany Daniel, and while I hated the show, they emit more life into the characters than this girl, who looks kind of snotty in the photos. She looks like she smelled something bad. :p

Leven Rambin above

Cynthia and Brittany Daniel below

Fun fact, all the cover art from the original series were painted by an artist named James L. Mathewuse. I never thought too much about the artwork until they replaced him, and now I'm all fawning nostalgia.


BTW, my fave SVH issue has to be #50, "Out of Reach." It wasn't any classic to write home about, but I remember feeling in awe that there was a Chinese-American character at all (!), and that her challenges were on how to blend in with that very vanilla society. I would say that for a series that hardly ever rhapsodized on the issues of race, this was a defining moment for me as a reader.


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the "It" Boy and the "It" Bag

The Boston Globe had an intriguing article on a new book that's coming out today that reveals how to get your hands on the elusive Hermès Birkin, as well as breaking all myths on the two-year waiting list that you have to wait on to get the bag.

"In his book, Tonello, 49, an Osterville native, reveals how he cracked the code for jumping the waiting list to purchase Birkins whenever he pleased. Naturally, this code has something to do with large amounts of cash. When Tonello first attempted to purchase a Birkin at Hermès, he was told that the store had none available. But when he later visited a store and spent thousands on Hermès merchandise such as scarves and jewelry, he found that stores would suddenly have the coveted Birkins in stock.

'I have seen this on more than one occasion,' he explains. 'Someone walks into Hermès, asks for a Birkin, and is told 'I'm sorry. We don't have any. There's a two-year waiting list.' Meanwhile, there is someone else in the store buying a dress, a blouse, or a pair of shoes and a wristwatch. They are pulled aside by a salesperson and told 'A client ordered a Birkin bag two years ago, and her bag has come in. She chose not to buy the bag. Would you be interested in seeing it?' Of course that woman is going to say yes. My book basically proves the waiting list is bogus.'"

And folks, I have seen it all! :p

I've wanted a Birkin for quite some time now, even though no, I do not have the discretionary income required to own such a bag. However, to know that Hermès is picking and choosing its clientele really shouldn't be a shocker either, considering how important image is to them. Better to sell to the client who will buy everything in the store than one who's been saving up for 2 years to get the cheapest, basic version of the bag, right? C'est comme ça!


Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag (Hardcover), by Michael Tonello - $17.13 at Amazon

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