Books, and art and music is just the beginning this week! A favorite French series returns after a three year hiatus, clothing and accessory finds for autumnal and winter style in a range of prices, a new satirical movie that looks to be a must-see no matter how absurd it may at first sound, another film takes us to the streets of NYC to solve a mystery with an intriguing sleuth at the helm, and still, there is so much more.

Art

—Cezanne et Nous, Grand Palais, Paris

If you will be in Paris in the coming months through January 27th (or maybe you are there right now!), this is an exhibit to check out. An unprecedented presentation of nearly 180 artworks dedicated to Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) and his artistic legacy. Along with Cézanne’s works, pieces by Paul Gauguin to Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joan Mitchell, Bridget Riley, and Peter Doig, are included to demonstrate how his work has been discovered, interpreted, and transformed, from the late 19th century to the present day. Get your tickets here.

Books

—Coffee, For Here: The Ultimate Handbook for At-Home Coffee Enthusiasts by Morgan Eckroth 

Coffee lovers, this is your book! Coffee, For Here is both a practical handbook and a guide to building real coffee skills at home, “designed to help you brew with confidence and curiosity. Whether you’re just beginning your coffee journey or ready to refine your technique, Morgan Eckroth meets you where you are, breaking down each step so even more complex methods feel approachable.”

“The book explores coffee from bean to cup, covering origins, flavor profiles, and how coffee is grown, roasted, and tasted. Morgan then walks you through every major brewing method, including pour-over, French press, AeroPress, Moka pot, cold brew, and espresso, with clear instructions, illustrations, and QR-code video walkthroughs. You’ll also learn how to build a streamlined home coffee bar and master espresso fundamentals like shot pulling, milk steaming, and latte art.”

—Come Home to Yourself by Déjà Rae

A soulful writer who uses her academic background in psychology (BA) and International Development (MA) to write poetry and prose to provide insight and comfort along a “three-part journey through the real seasons of personal growth. Rae designed each section to mirror the actual arc of transformation — beginning with Truth (the hard realizations about patterns, beliefs, and what is no longer serving you), moving into Pain (the inevitable discomfort of change, of leaving behind the comfort of the familiar), and arriving finally at Abundance (the clarity, peace, and wholeness on the other side of the growth process).”

“The writing moves through the territory of romantic relationships, friendship, solitude, self-worth, boundaries, and the process of becoming your most authentic self — not as abstract ideals, but as lived, specific, emotionally precise experiences that readers consistently describe as feeling like their own private thoughts finally put into words.”

—This Must Be the Place: Homes with Atmosphere by Chloe Redmond Warner 

Released this past May, if you are looking for knowledge in the craft of interior design while also ensuring you include your signature style, interior designer Chloe Redmond Warner is the designer who will provide both inspiration and confidence. Warner is “formally trained in architecture and known for infusing wit and charm into her designs, Warner has a singular perspective that marries strategic space planning with uniquely personal touches. The result is homes that each have their own defined feeling and serve as meaningful backdrops to all of life’s experiences―without taking themselves too seriously.

In This Must Be the Place, “Warner expands her design briefs, breaking down the elements―spread between art, architecture, and decoration―that, together, instill a carefully calibrated atmosphere. Each chapter opens with a ‘Style Guide’ adapted from the mood boards she presents clients at the beginning of each project; what she calls a “sourdough starter” for the design.” Just peeking at one of the images found in the book, you can see how she isn’t afraid of color, but also knows how to find the balance with neutrals.

—A Simple Guide to Being Alive by David M L Rabin MD PhD

This book is in my shopping cart. A Simple Guide to Being Alive helps readers to understand how anxiety can be helpful in being a signal rather than feared as the enemy, and “why the simplest things, like a deep breath, a shared laugh, or a 20-second hug, can change your life more than any optimization hack ever could.”

“Dr. Rabin combines cutting-edge medicine with ancient wisdom to show that safety, not productivity, is the foundation of performance, joy, and longevity. Drawing from his work as a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, A Simple Guide to Being Alive blends the scientific method with unapologetic humor, inviting you to return home to your breath, your body, and your beautifully human self.”

—We Thought They’d Never Leave: Musings on Food and Family by Tony Shalhoub

Monk! Tony! This book looks like quite the fun read. In the vein of Stanley Tucci’s food-focused memoir, Tony Shalhoub, writing with his daughter Josie Adams, shares in We Thought They’d Never Leave “warm and deeply personal reflections on the people who shaped him. Through stories spanning four generations—from an orphaned Lebanese boy who survived wartime hunger to the sprawling family he would one day help create—Tony traces the Lebanese American family traditions, meals, and rituals that continue to bring the Shalhoubs back together year after year.”

British Finds

—Death Down the Aisle (A Phyllida Bright Mystery) by Colleen Cambridge

A fun cozy mystery caper with housekeeper and house manager of Agatha Christie’s country home in Kent, Phyllida Bright. The red-headed amateur sleuth is back and this time, following being invited to a much-anticipated wedding, ” a wedding guest is discovered dead in the small chapel only hours after the ceremony.” Couple that with family bickering over inheritance clauses, extramarital affairs and the like, and well, the drama is overflowing.

—Secrets of an English Country House: A Year at Mapperton by Julie Montagu 

Released this past September, in Secrets of an English Country House, “Julie Montagu opens the doors of Mapperton, the 1,900‑acre estate she and her husband Luke Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, took over in 2016.”
 
“Far from the fantasy of aristocratic ease, Julie shares the hands‑on reality of modern estate life: restoring historic rooms, conserving priceless objects, opening the house to the public, launching a rewilding project, and balancing tradition with the demands of the twenty‑first century.” Have a look at the Table of Contents for a close look at all that is shared.

Films

—Fatherland

A film from award-winning director Pawel Pawlikowski, Fatherland premiered in Cannes this past May and received the Best Director award (two people won this year). Starring Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler, playing a daughter and father respectively, it takes place at the height of the Cold War. “Centering on the relationship between the writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika—actress, writer, and rally driver—as they embark on a road trip in a black Buick cruiser across a Germany in ruins.” Critics are raving about it. Look for it in theaters beginning today and have a watch the trailer below.

—The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

Also premiering today, John Turturro stars as The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. “When a theft goes awry, a veteran pickpocket is sent on a mission through New York to reclaim it.” This film also has been receiving strong critic praise. Have a look at the trailer below.

—Wicker

Now this film sounds absolutely absurd, but look at the casting. Intended to be just that, a fable to teach us all a thing or two about a whole array of topics (sex, marriage, and mostly social convention), this absurdist romantic comedy, Wicker “tells the wholly original love story of an ostracized fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions a husband to be made by the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage). When her wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård) proves more spectacular than she ever imagined, his soulful spirit and unique prowess awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of village life.” Have a look at the trailer below. I look forward to watching.

Francophile Finds

—La Stagiaire, season 6, PBS/Walter Presents

I was tickled to see that a new season of La Stagiaire/The Intern is now available on PBS! This new season (the 6th) is a great one (eight episodes), and rest assured, this series just keeps going. The 10th season premiered recently in France, so we have many more to look forward to!

—La Soufflerie’s Mug, handmade

A French tableware and glassware brand to make a note of. Many of the items are handmade and works of art as much as they are made for utility. This mug caught my attention, and it was the thumb rest and the stripes that sealed the deal.

—La Soufflerie’s Red Wine Glass, vert fumé

—Lupin, season 4, Netflix

The wait is nearly over! I cannot wait to begin watching, and binging, I will warn you, will occur. Enjoy eight episodes of Omar Sy in Lupin. Have a look at the trailer below and look for it to premiere tonight! October 23rd.

Music

—Elizabeth Bougerol’s new album

Ohhhh, congratulations Elizabeth! Her new album was just released this week, and I am so tickled to listen to it all. My favorite track so far is her first released track (a couple of weeks ago). Full of inspiration and reminder to live fully. Have a listen to “Life is Big” below, and listen/read her interview with Scott Simon on NPR here.

Shopping

—Alex Mill’s Sutton Pant in Vintage Twill, many colors

Twill cotton pants are on my shopping list, and when I saw this recently, I wanted to share. As the price was fair and the inseam generous (but not too much so at 31″ inseam).

—Evereve’s Striped Socks

A great pair of thoughtful socks. They catch the eye, acknowledge that we know they might show, and bring a smile. Loving these, and they are only $10 each!

—Evereve’s Drew Herringbone Baseball Cap

Tweed, herringbone, warmth and style, but not too much warmth, and quiet luxury style, which is my kind of style indeed. Maybe yours as well. Loving the stripe sizing mechanism in the back too.

—The Frankie Shop’s Nella reversible Scarf, many different pairings

We talked all about scarves in this month’s Signature Style post (read it here), so I wanted to bring this style and fabric option to you. Made of fine knit, these scarves offer versatility while also being timeless (plus oodles of warmth).

—Sold Out NYC’s Cashmere V-neck, two colors (navy and black)

A bit of warmth for layering with this top. Loving the fine-knit composition. Wear under a blazer, a sweater, or a cardigan.

—Wyse London’s Isla Double Breaked Coat, black check

One more for timeless style to keep you warm. An investment, yes, but a coat you will have for a lifetime.

Television

—Newlyweds, NBC

A new comedy series is premiering tonight, and it stars married in real life Tea Leoni and Tim Daly. Newlyweds is “a new later-in-life love story about a free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor who unexpectedly tie the knot after a whirlwind courtship. James only has eyes for Jeanie, but quickly learns that loving her means learning to love her sprawling, eccentric world of friends and family and vice versa. Jamie Lee Curtis is in the cast as well and co-created the series. Have a look at the trailer below.

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The cherry trees in the garden have begun to turn their surreal hues. Gazing at them can become almost hypnotizing. In next week’s monthly garden post, the last of this season, I will be sure to include photos of it, although I’m fairly sure they won’t do it justice. Are there autumnal sights and displays that have captured your awe as of late?

Over the weekend, the pumpkin patch, already harvested here (seen above) in the barn at a local nursery was a festive visit. I look forward to this seasonal ritual each year whether I purchase pumpkins or not. They are so distinct in their unique colors and shapes they too almost don’t look real.

This week on the blog has been full of décor posts, so if you are looking for inspiration, ideas, tutorials on how to approach decorating any room in your home, this was your week of content! Monday’s post focused on How to Be Your Own Host, making your sanctuary a place of welcome and tailored to your tastes and needs. Tuesday brought the Ponderings . . . post for Premier members where I explored a new device in skincare, an accessory for autumn and winter, a new décor book that comes out in January and a handful of other random thoughts and finds. Then on Wednesday, episode #436 of the podcast was a deep dive into décorating our private house: A Sophisticated Sanctuary — How to Decorate Our Home to Reflect Our Private Self. You’ll discover ten ideas inspired from the woman who is often called the interior designer to interior designers – Rose Tarlow. And the Petit Plaisir for the episode was a French find that takes viewers to the French Riviera.

And now, it’s the weekend, the final full weekend in October which is a reality I can’t quite believe. May you have a weekend that soothes you, delights you and is scattered about with simple pleasures. Thank you for stopping by today and until Sunday when a new Un Moment de Méditation is shared, bonne journée.

~I want to first begin by thanking TSLL community for all of the thoughts, love and kindness sent our way, here in Bend, Oregon last week and over the weekend. While I was only indirectly affected, it was a painful shock, and our community is heartbroken. Your words helped. If you would like to send words of support to the Silver Rail community, the PTO (Parent Teachers Organization) has shared this IG post. Thank you again very, VERY much.

~900 miles. The length of California’s coast. Catherine Breed just completed swimming it in its entirety – a 100-day journey. Read more about what it took to prepare and successfully swim this route. [Women’s Health]

~HOME TOUR OF THE WEEK: A 19th century apartment in Amsterdam that comes with architectural history and reinvigorated into a welcoming sanctuary. [House & Garden UK]

~I attach an AirTag to all important items, and Nelle fits this list (admittedly, not an item, but priceless and always want to know where she is). From luggage to handbags, my neighbors even put them on their bikes. A very inexpensive way to care for things we care for and need. Here is a list of the best bluetooth trackers, and AirTags are on the list! [Wirecutter]

~One of the lessons I most anticipated teaching each year in my AP Language class for high school juniors was the rhetorical tool of satire. Often misunderstood (for example, satire is not the same as sarcasm), it is powerful commentary on current events presented through absurdity, humor, and a range of other language-persuasion devices. Any successful satirical creation requires great skill in both creating it and then performing it (written, on screen, or on stage). Sacha Baron Cohen gives a great interview about the Power of Satire in Time.

~Speaking of satire, the new film mentioned above, Wicker. Alexander Skarsgård, who plays the man made of Wicker, gave an interview to Elle and shared what lessons he took away from this truly original story.

~What is Place Authenticity? Well, if you are drawn to antique décor and places that reflect the historic significance of time and place, then it’s an interesting term that may come up. Whether I entirely buy it, not sure. But there is much to ponder from a psychological standpoint. [House Beautiful]

~Five places to buy art in Paris without going over your budget [Do It In Paris]

~A play to go and watch on Broadway if you’re going to be in New York City any time soon is Other Desert Cities. Critics and audiences are already loving it and its award-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ first time on stage, although I am fairly confident, you wouldn’t know. Learn more below and check out the ensemble. Buy tickets here.

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~Explore last week’s edition of This & That: October 16th

~Please note: TSLL is supported by you, readers who take the time to stop by (merci!), peruse, and sometimes welcome into your life the mentioned and recommended finds. Affiliate links are present in this post and may earn commissions for TSLL when you make a purchase. View TSLL’s full Privacy Policy here.