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five paperback books to get or gift

10/19/2014

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Cool weather is perfect for curling up under a blanket with a cup of tea and a great book. Cool weather also marks the start of gift giving season and books make wonderful presents. However, the price tags on hardcover books add up fast so unless I have been waiting for a particular title with bated breath, I try to wait until it comes out in paperback (although a look at my bookshelf tells me that I am not very successful at waiting). 

When buying a book for a friend I often worry about buying a brand new hardcover for a different reason. New books are being reviewed, recommended, and displayed prominently in stores so if I think a book is perfect for a friend, it is likely that one of their other friends will also see it and think it is perfect. The solution? Paperbacks. The title won't be in the public eye as much as when it was a new hardcover so it lessens the chance that your friend will receive duplicate copies on the same holiday. 

So whether you're buying for yourself, a friend, or just to replenish your gift closet for the times you need a last minute present, here are five books available in paperback that would look perfect wrapped with a bow or on your own bookshelf:
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1. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
What is more delightful than a novel that lets you peek into the high life of the upper class? When you also get to see the cracks in the facade of that world. I picked up this book when I was shopping for a friend's birthday, but the bookstore clerk's recommendation was so convincing that I couldn't bear to part with the book once I bought it. With a backdrop New York City in 1938, a strong female lead, and the author's attention to detail, this will engross any lover of historical fiction. While there are definitely some moments that will require a handful of tissues, overall this book can be read in coffee shops or on the bus without causing embarrassment. I recommend reading this on a dreary day when you are looking to get lost in someone else's life.

2. War Trash by Ha Jin
This is one of the books that I most often recommend, though as far as I know, I have not yet convinced anyone else to read it. Far from being a light and breezy read, the subject matter can be emotionally daunting but the payoff is a beautifully told story that will stay with you. This is the story of a young Chinese soldier who is sent as a "volunteer" to fight with the Communists during the Korean War. This is not your typical war story because very little takes place on the actual battlefield. Instead, the setting is the POW camp where the soldier is sent after his unit suffers an early defeat. The camp is filled with violence, but the real danger is in aligning with the wrong group and being branded (sometimes literally) as a target. From these trying circumstances comes a story about survival and the struggle to maintain one's identity and dignity during adversity. Anyone interested in military history will especially enjoy this rarely heard perspective.

3. Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay
Okay, I realize this is actually two books, but together they compose the Sarantine Mosaic series and when you finish the first book you will want to have the second close at hand so you can stay immersed in the 6th-century quasi-Byzantine world that Guy Gavriel Kay has created. Although there are some fantasy elements sprinkled throughout the books, the plot is mostly driven by the political maneuverings of the characters and features plenty of side stories which add depth and color to the main arc. The series follows a mosaicist on his journey to the heart of the empire and as he navigates the political and social currents of Sarantium, where he was commissioned to create a mosaic for the Emperor. Although a mosaicist may not seem like a controversial figure, his designs place him at the dangerous intersection of art and politics. Couple that with several claims to the throne and just as many desires for revenge bubbling under the surface of the Sarantium nobility and the unrest will keep you furiously flipping pages until you reach the end.

4. Stone Arabia by Dana Spiotta
Of all the books on the list, this is the only one I bought as a just-released hardcover. I heard a review on NPR and could not wait for it to come out. Now it is available in paperback, so if you missed it the first time around, now is your chance! We meet the main characters, two siblings, when they are middle-aged, but over the course of the novel their earlier lives are revealed. After a lost chance at pursuing his dream of being a rock star, the brother threw himself into documenting the career he wished he had and the sister became his number one fan. The brother's grip on reality may seem tenuous, but the bond between the siblings is undeniable. This novel is for anyone whose life took a different path than they had hoped or who had to watch someone they love struggle to keep their dreams alive.

5. The Ethical Assassin by David Liss
This quirky crime novel is definitely not for everyone. One character pushes veganism with a heavy hand and after the scenes at the industrial hog farm, you probably won't be able eat or even look at meat for a few days. However, the circumstances around the crime (which is witnessed early in the book and as you might guess from the title is in the form of an assassination) and the changing understanding of how all the pieces fit together make this a mystery that you want to see to the end. Still on the fence about whether this book is for you? Start with an encyclopedia salesman in Florida and add in speed traps monitored by unscrupulous cops, a profitable drug ring, and semi-militant animal rights activists to create the setting for a murder. Motives are plentiful and not everyone is who they initially seem. If you want a break from procedural, Law & Order style mysteries, this book will keep you on your toes.

I highly recommend browsing the bargain books section of your local bookstore for a great selection of paperbacks, especially if you are looking for something off the beaten path. Three of the books I have listed here (War Trash, Sailing to Sarantium, and The Ethical Assasin) were found there and my first stop at the bookstore is always to see what books have been newly remaindered by the publishers. It is a great place to find something interesting at a low price. 

If you've read a great paperback recently, be sure to share your recommendations in the comments! 
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book review: the vacationers

8/21/2014

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So, quick show of hands--who actually has completed their summer reading list? I never had an official (or unofficial, for that matter) summer reading list for school, so for me the idea of one is not tainted with bad memories of middle school. My lists have always come in the form of a stack of books waiting to be devoured and instead of crossing a title off on a piece of paper, a finished book just returned to its correct shelf. At the beginning of summer the vacation days seem to stretch out in front of you and it seems impossible to believe that there wouldn't be time to read thousands of pages, so it seems logical to take advantage of that time. Perhaps that is why some people eschew the lighter beach reads and instead use their time by the pool to dive into weightier volumes, like the attractive neighbor in the 1962 film Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation who spent her days on the beach in a skimpy bikini reading War and Peace. However, if I am spending the day out in the sunshine with a nice breeze, I want to read something that feels congruent with that atmosphere. 

One the first books on my stack this summer (yes, this is a very belated post--I had to reread it before writing this) was Emma Straub's new novel, The Vacationers*. While I didn't get to sprawl out on a white sand beach to enjoy it, I did enjoy a lovely afternoon in a deserted bar drinking Moscow Mules and imagining I was in Mallorca with the characters from the book. As you can probably guess from the title, the setup for the novel is a summer trip and this one involves a large rented house filled with family and close friends for two weeks. The characters are at various crossroads--going to college, dealing with infidelity, trying to adopt a child--but like in real life, not everything is shared with the rest of household. The result is a fascinating microchosm that allows the reader to peer into the minds of people at many stages of life and see not only their inner thoughts, but also how their own issues affect their interactions with each other. 

There is no single main character so if you don't relate to one personality, there is a good chance that another character is more your style, which I think makes The Vacationers ideal for a book club. I can imagine that just the conversation about which character everyone likes best could send your meeting into overtime. Plus, at only about 300 pages it is a length that most people can commit to finishing, no matter how busy their lives get. There are also quite a few descriptions of the food that is cooked, so if you want to create a snack menu that is linked to the book, you won't have to struggle to come up with ideas. 

This novel is set during summer vacation, but you should not let the arrival of fall here in the real world dissuade you from picking it up. This is a book that would be equally enjoyable to read in the middle of winter, when you have only the memory of sunburns and sand in your toes. While the backdrop is beautiful and warm, it is really about the relationships and how life and age can change them. Some of the issues that plague the characters are resolved, but the ending doesn't solve all the problems and wrap up the result in a big bow. Rather the resounding feeling after you turn the last page is one of hope for the possibilities of the future. 

Are you excited to discuss this book with your fellow readers? Plan your next book club meeting and then check out my new post on practically stylish for tips on what to wear to it.


*I received a free review copy of The Vacationers through Riverhead Books and Birchbloggers. All opinions are my own.
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anatomy of a favorite book

5/5/2014

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Choosing a favorite book can seem like an impossible task for any avid reader. After all, when someone asks you to choose they are hoping to get a glimpse of your personality in your answer. But books are like old friends who are available when we need them, but don't need a daily phone call to know we still care. Reaching for an old favorite is like eating comfort food after a stressful day; there is something about our choice that makes us feel at home. 

When I need a comfort book I don't reach for a breezy beach read with minimal conflict (although I'm sure that is a popular choice for many). Instead I hunker down into a tale of adventure, laden with strife. I can channel my own stress through the main character's struggles and experience relief when everything ends as it should. Since I know the stories practically by heart, I can read for the emotional journey and not for the plot line. 

My collection of favorites has not been whittled down as I have aged, but has grown over time to include books that I loved in elementary school all the way through those published in the last couple years. The common thread that bind them all is my desire to return to them and relive their magic. When I am feeling low and need a sure pick-me-up, Garth Nix's Abhorsentrilogy, consisting of Sabriel, Lireal, and Abhorsen, is one of the first options I reach for. On the surface it does not seem like an uplifting tale, full of death, the undead, and very little hope for the survival of our heroine. But that is precisely why its happy ending, not cheapened by deux ex machina, is so satisfying. If Sabriel can come out on the other side, bruised a bit in body and in spirit, but generally okay, then any real world problems feel somewhat more manageable. 

So when someone asks me what my favorite book is, I can't narrow it down to one, but there is a trait that is universal to all of the stories I return to over and over: they all have strong characters who can overcome bad odds while still being someone you wouldn't mind sharing a pot of tea with. Basically books are our friends that have incredibly interesting lives.

 
For those looking for a satisfying and exciting read, the other books shown in the photo are:
Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
Nightbirds on Nantucket, by Joan Aiken
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan
Redwall, by Brian Jacques
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling.

What books do you turn to when you need to read something comforting and familiar? Leave your recommendations in the comments!


When moving the bread & flowers blog posts onto the practically stylish site, the comments were unable to transfer. I have copied and pasted them here for your perusal:

Emily (05/05/2014 1:07pm): "Artemis Fowl" is always on stand by for me, as is "Once a Runner." They don't really have anything in common other than I know both of them nearly by heart and are completely engrossing (to the point that I end up having crackers for dinner).

Jane (05/09/2014 6:29am): Mysteries are my favorite books, and Dorothy Sayers my favorite author. No matter how many times I re-read one of her Peter Wimsey stories, there are interesting details that I had not noticed before.
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welcome to bread & flowers

4/9/2014

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Welcome to bread & flowers, the lifestyle blog from practically stylish! I have loved sharing my fashion tips and thoughts with you and am excited to expand to include my other interests, including books, food, and design. Thanks for joining me!
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