May Modern Mixtape
Wearing, Wanting, Watching, Reading, Listening.
It’s Mixtape time! Like a good mixtape, this post is a little bit of everything I have going on. Rather than list off everything I’ve read or post a bunch of outfits, every month I’m going to mix it all together and give you my top picks. Here we go:
Wearing: New, old, and secondhand.
I’m wearing the very good Everlane barrel pants I told y’all about a while back. I now have these in two colors (the olive, which is sadly sold out, and oak, which is an odd color but I find it quite versatile.) They are just so crisp and comfortable and feel like nothing on. I’m wearing them with a secondhand AYR The Pool Boy blouse I found on eBay that drapes very nicely. This style is discontinued but there are quite a few on the secondhand sites. My sandals are new! They are the Penelope Chilvers Shepherdess, which I’ll tell you more about below.
Wanting: Sandals that aren’t Birkenstocks.
I’ve been wanting a pair of cute sandals that are NOT Birkenstocks, specifically gold sandals that are slightly dressy but still wearable for everyday. Thanks to a recent Girls of a Certain Age post, I was introduced to Penelope Chilvers and now have a new, expensive shoe brand to obsess over. I bought my sandals from Nordstrom using the fat rebate from my yearly contact lens purchase1, which made it even better. These sandals are gorgeous and so comfortable right out of the box. And, they have juuuust enough of a heel to work well with dresses.
Watching: Rooster! Rooster.
Are you watching Rooster? It’s a fucking delight. It has a great cast (Steve Carrell, Robby Hoffman, Phil Dunster, and Danielle Deadwyler to name a few) and it’s just a pleasure to watch. It’s smart, kind of silly, and goddammit, it’s heartwarming and I don’t even mind. I love an academic setting as well because it always has the best and worst kinds of people in one place. Anyway, give it a try if you aren’t sure. Also, if you’re a fan of Ted Lasso, definitely watch this show because it’s the reason Phil Dunster isn’t going to be in season four.
Reading: Book club pick.
I got invited to a book club! The chosen book is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, which is everywhere right now. I’m happy to tell you it’s really good, but you probably already know that. I didn’t actually love it at first because the main protagonist is such a crank. She’s a retired lawyer with very sharp opinions, and I wasn’t sure I could care about her. But she grows, and as she does, you grow to care about her and the people around her. It’s an epistolary novel, inspired by the fantastic 84, Charing Cross Road (which you should also read if you haven’t), and the letters and emails tell a complex story from several points of view.
I also finished The Keeper by Tana French, which I found to be a very satisfying conclusion to the Cal Hooper trilogy. These books are a little different from her Dublin Murder Squad series, and they’re written in a way that reflects French’s description of the Irish way of talking around a subject rather than being direct. Personally, I love this because it forces me to slow down and enjoy her writing while the story unfolds at its own pace. I know it’s not for everyone, but her writing is so beautiful and atmospheric, and I really love the characters.
Listening: Audiobooks
For my recent trip to Richmond, which is about a four-hour drive each way, I decided to check out some audiobooks because a good one will keep my attention for the duration. I tend to check out audiobooks of books I’ve already read (in case my mind wanders), so I checked out Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, which I read when it came out in 2012. It’s been years, so I only vaguely remember the details. This one is really good as an audiobook with different people for each character, which I think helps my brain keep track of who’s talking. I didn’t finish it on the trip, so now I use any excuse to keep listening - errands, chores, whatever. I always forget how much I love a good audiobook, and it’s been a nice break from podcasts.
I generally get a sizable rebate when I buy a year’s supply of contacts, and I try to save it for one really nice thing. Usually, I fail and fritter it away, but this year I spent the whole thing on perfect sandals. Yay.
I use my Libby app for audiobooks so much that I have maxed out my holds. Between Goodreads, Fable, randomly writing down book titles, and the Libby app tags my TBR will never diminish and I am fine with that. I have Tana French on my list, I think from a previous mention you made. I am so exicted for your book club! The sandals are CUTE! Solid investment if they look good and keep your foot happy.
I've read several Jojo Moyes books and they are all delightful. Someone else's Shoes, The Girl You left Behind and The giver of Stars. Consider adding them to your list. I enjoyed The Correspondent, and will look into Tana French. Thanks!