Tuesday's Top Five
New book releases, and miscellaneous recommendations from Bethanne
Top Five New Book Releases:
Time of the Child by Niall Williams
Christmas 1962 in Faha, Ireland, and 12-year-old Jude Quinlan makes a discovery that turns the town on its head. Williams’ beauteous sequel to his 2019 This Is Happiness can be read as a standalone, and it can also be read as a kind of “Christmas miracle” narrative, in which good people help each other get second chances at life and love.
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
From the author of Braiding Sweetgrass comes a book about “Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.” In other words, read this before you do any holiday shopping; hastily wrapped fast fashion, gift cards, and plastic tchotchkes should pale in light of the author’s message of seeing the earth’s resources as our real gifts.
The Bishop’s Villa by Sacha Naspini
How I adore Europa Editions. You should, too. You’ve probably already adored their editions of Elena Ferrante’s books. Keep looking further, there’s such superb literature in translation to read, like this account of Tuscany during World War II that includes a love story, a resistance story, and lessons for us all about how and whom to trust.
The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-Ryeong
Noh Inji, nearing age thirty and about to start work at a hugely successful Korean matchmaking service, discovers she’ll be a rental “wife,” going through a wedding, sharing a marriage bed, and keeping house for elite clients. Eventually, one of them wants to hire her for a year—but Inji has secrets locked away. A dystopian thriller.
Water, Water by Billy Collins
A new collection from a former Poet Laureate of the United States is cause for celebration. Collins takes the quotidian and helps us to see the wonder in the smallest actions, sharing sixty poems about wild animals, fine art, and other poets (e.g., Emily Dickinson). The work is about simple things, but is far from simple in its structure.
Top Five Recommendations:
Burt’s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream: For most of my youth, I played the violin–seriously enough that I considered applying to conservatories. That means I had to keep my fingernails short, and I missed the memo on proper manicures until i was well into my thirties. This hand cream, which used to contain baobab oil and watermelon-seed oil and now contains aloe and rice milk, has changed my life. Or at least the life in my cuticles. It absorbs quickly, it’s NOT greasy, and (this is key for those of us who sleep next to partners) has no scent. I buy several at a time and keep them everywhere: Nightstand, tote bag, glove compartment. . .
Six the Musical: I don’t care if I’m late to the party on this one. Last weekend in NYC, I took my daughters to the Lena Horne Theatre and we all loved this production that uses the millennium-tastic penchant for talent shows to skewer (but not skew!) Tudor history. King Henry VIII’s six wives compete to belt out their stories, backed by an all-female band with serious chops. It’s over the top, it’s cheesy, it’s fabulous, it’s feminist AF, and most of all, it’s fun.
Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy, Sardinia: Allow me a moment to brag on a friend, Kathy McCabe, who is the creator, producer, and host of a long-running PBS series called Dream of Italy (and now also Dream of Europe). She’s amazing and you should watch her! But Kathy focuses on luxury experiences, while in this particular episode of Stanley Tucci’s series, Stanley gets down and almost dirty among the shepherds, chefs, and sheer lunacy of this Italian island. There’s lobster boiling, the construction of a sort of Sardinian haggis, and a bakery filled with both pillowy loaves and pillowy cleavage (you have to watch, trust me).
The Tatte House Latte: Currently conquering Massachusetts and the DMV, Tzurit Or’s Tatte Bakery & Cafe franchises serve delicious Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food and beverages; I’m obsessed with their many, many tempting pastries. But I’m even more obsessed with their house latte featuring honey halvah and cardamom. It’s the sweetest pick-me-up-in-a-cup ever, without any weird additives. Delicious hot, or iced.
Vionic boots: Last year we took a trip to Europe. I’ve lived in Europe, and Europeans do not wear the big puffy sneakers that Americans do, the big puffy sneakers that everyone else in our tour group laced up each day to walk through Vienna, Prague, Budapest. Meanwhile, I sported this pair of boots and negotiated every cobblestone with ease. Several women asked me where I’d found them, because they looked so chic. More important, they felt so comfortable: I experienced not one blister or backache. Vionic shoes have arch support. Highly recommend.