Friday Eye Candy

The lovely Judith of The Style Crone
The lovely Judith of The Style Crone

Hat Attack is here! The style blogosphere’s newest fabulous linkup party is live! Though my head is too small for most hats, I love the look of a hat and am really enjoying seeing everyone’s favorite millinery on display.

Benedict Cumberbatch
Military millinery

After watching the series Parade’s End (with the incomparable Benedict Cumberbatch) I found myself wanting to know more about the characters and story, so over the last few weeks I’ve been slogging (and I do mean slogging) through the book of the same name by Ford Maddox Ford, originally published as four separate novels between 1924 and 1928. Told mostly in ruminations and reminiscences from various characters’ points of view, the story lurches around and occasionally succumbs to disjointed snippets of actual narrative. I must doff my imaginary cap to the screenwriters of the series who were able to tease a mostly linear story out of this cubist painting of a novel. I also think had I the cultural frames of reference (i.e. had I been British) it might have resonated a bit more. This is regarded as one of the great novels of the early 20th century, mainly because of the literary devices used that make it such an arduous read almost 100 years later.

Michael Kors "Darci" and "Lady Nini" Watches
Michael Kors “Darci” and “Lady Nini” Watches

You still have a couple of days to take advantage of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale prices. I’ve been so pleased with my own Michael Kors watch and wear it daily. Both of these watches above are currently marked down (through this Sunday only) and would be my top picks among the sale items to add to a watch collection: one for more dressy occasions, the other for more casual.

And to kick off your weekend with a bit of levity, 22 Dogs Going Through An Existential Crisis.

What are you reading these days?

Bon weekend!

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11 Comments

  1. Well, naturally you had me at Benedict. Sorry to hear the novel’s a slog; I loved the mini-series and must confess to re-watching the last ten minutes a few times : > The existential pups have given me the sadz now, so off I go . . . Have a lovely day!

    1. Have you read Kate Atkinson’s Life after Life yet? It begins in that between the wars Britain that people seem to love in the period dramas, and it experiments with a literary technique, yet is absolutely compelling, entertaining, and thought-provoking. I’ve just lent it to my daughter who is devouring it. Meanwhile, I’ve just finished W.G. Sebald’s Austerlitz which also challenges through style and structure. Not meant to entertain, it is wonderful and difficult and melancholy and . . . not everyone’s read, for sure, but he/it’s pretty stunning. But I’m going to follow it up with a mystery novel, I think!

  2. I need to watch this show! Mad Men is done for the season and The Killing (my favorite show right now) is ending this weekend.

    I love Benedict and am looking forward to seeing his handsome face in action again.

    Happy Friday!

  3. Funny, I can’t wear hats because my head is so BIG. One size does not fit all!

    I’ve just started reading “Paris” by Edward Rutherfurd. I like historical fiction; before this I read three books in the Falco series by Lindsey Davis, which are basically murder mysteries set in ancient Rome (I went to Rome in March & was looking for relevant reading material). The books are more interesting than they may sound….I plan to read more in the series.

  4. My current read is The Mitfords , Letters Between Six Sisters by Charlotte Mosely . The letters cover most of the twentieth century & these girls moved in very different worlds . From Nazi Germany to communist California – English duchesses to Parisian glitterati , it’s all here . They are totally dotty of course but fascinating .

      1. Yes , just a small group of communists & they weren’t very popular. Read the book & all will be revealed – it will make you laugh too .
        Also agree with poster above that Kate Atkinsons books are excellent

  5. I’m afraid I have a big head also. Most hats do not fit me. My husband has the same issue! I was not aware that some have a head too small.

  6. Shamefully, to be honest, I must admit, that I have no books on my bedside table.
    With all the big, wonderful things having happened lately in our family, the work on our grounds, I haven´t been able to concentrate on reading anything but the news.
    I haven´t even started ( and I´m having the feeling that I even won´t ) reading the next book for our literature club, as it is too theoretic/ difficult to my liking.
    About hats – well my head is the right size, but so far, hats are not ” me “.
    However, I think that they are fine seen on the royals and on some official occasions nearly a ” must “.

  7. The screenplay for Parade’s End was written by playwright Tom Stoppard. Ford’s trilogy-plus-one is considered “the first modern novel” but yes, it was a slog. Although reading it in combination with the screenplay plus watching the mini-series was a fascinating and multi-faceted experience.
    As for hats – give me my dad’s old Borsalino fedora and I’m covered for most occasions!