Get reading for all sorts of finds this week. September brings it! A great new play opens in London that looks like great fun with two talented leads, books about everyday French lifetsyle approaches, mastering midlife, reconsidering convenience, a favorite mystery writer returns with a new book, a British series debuts with a new adaptation of a favorite sleuthing duo, savings on linen pajamas that I love and wear often, more timeless autumnal capsule wardrobe finds and still there is more!

Books

—Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease by Gabe Bullard

How much is all the available convenience actually helping us? In Against Convencience, “journalist Gabe Bullard reveals the hidden architecture behind the ubiquitous modern-day services and technologies that allegedly make our lives easier. You’ll learn:

• The ways that friction-maxxing — from talking to your cashier, cooking from scratch, and hand writing letters — can enrich our lives with meaning and rewards
• How the “false conveniences” we choose every day don’t actually eliminate work, effort, or money
• Why convenience culture fuels burnout and shallow living
• How pop culture is being shaped by “second screen” and “lean back” content”

—The Bookshop Woman: My Year Transforming Lives–One Book at a Time by Nanako Hanada (translated by Cat Anderson)

Set in Tokyo and a true story, The Bookshop Woman is an international bestseller that soon will be available here in the States.

“Nanako Hanada is a passionate book lover who manages the Village Vanguard, an iconically eccentric bookstore in Tokyo. But her story takes a turn with the breakdown of her marriage. Spending her nights alone in Tokyo’s four-hour capsules, she’s finding herself rather isolated. That’s until Nanako finds the meet-up site Perfect Strangers.

“Perfect Strangers isn’t a dating site—it’s where people meet for thirty-minute bursts to find friendship or romance, build a network, or just share ideas. She sets up her profile promising to recommend people ‘the book that will change their life.’ In the ensuing year, Nanako meets hundreds of people, a ragtag range of strangers who happen to believe in the power of a great book. Soon she discovers that she can connect with just about anyone, and bustling Tokyo begins to feel like a welcoming—if a bit quirky—small town.”

—The Butterfly Season: What 64 Butterflies Taught Me About Nature’s Great Mysteries and the Meaning of Life by Lea Korsgaard 

I have been eager to read The Butterfly Season once I learned about it earlier this year. “Lea Korsgaard’s number-one international bestseller tells the story of the year she spent tracking every species of butterfly in her native Denmark.”

“Combining nature writing, philosophy, myth, science, and sixty-four beautiful hand-drawn illusrtations, The Butterfly Seasonis a luminous account of one woman’s quest to see all sixty-four species of butterflies native to Denmark in a single year. Part field diary, part mythological tapestry, part existential reflection, Lea Korsgaard’s journey unfolds across seasons and geographies, through meadows, marshes, and ancient coastal lands, as she discovers the mysteries and miracles of the natural world.”

—The Dog’s Gaze: A Visual History by Thomas W. Laqueur

I saw this book in a local bookshop, and as often is the case for me when I visit a museum, the paintings with dogs and animals will dependably get my attention. It was in London’s National Gallery that Edwin Henry Landseer’s Dignity and Impudence (1839) captured my adoration back in 2012, and I had a print framed of it to place above Oscar and Norman’s food dishes.

Released this past June, in The Dog’s Gaze, “the historian Thomas W. Laqueur invites us to explore why they feature more than any other animal in the ways in which we picture ourselves and our stories . . . Far from being mere motifs, dogs are an integral and intentional element of the images in which they appear: They provide narrative coherence; they look out and bear witness, often on the artist’s behalf; they illuminate our understanding of morality and melancholy and some, like us, become celebrities. Indeed, as Laqueur reveals, dogs in art are our social doppelgängers, our companions in looking and being.”

—This Oak House: A Renovation Story with Interiors to Inspire Your Own Home by Annie Meyers-Shyer 

There has been much hype about this book for the past six months, or maybe that is just because I follow Nancy Meyers’ IG account and she is very proud of her daughter. 🙂 Yep, Annie Meyers-Shyer, as many already know, is one of Nancy Meyers’ daughters. And in This Oak House, released this coming Tuesday, Meyers-Shyer shares in photographs the journey that brought the house to what it is today. Something she has been sharing on social media over the past couple of years, now it is in book form.

An “historic Los Angeles, discover what it really takes to renovate an old house, preserve its charm, and create the home you’ve always dreamed of.” Between the covers discover 150 gorgeous photographs of the finished interiors weave together to create a visually rich and immersive experience.”

—Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love by Allison Aubrey 

Released last week, I learned about this book upon reading an excerpt in the weekend papers and quickly put this book on my list to share with you. “From award-winning health and science correspondent for NPR News and contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, Allison Aubrey, comes an illuminating road map to reclaim your physical and emotional health in midlife.”

In Your Turn, “Aubrey presents a captivating collection of women, ages 45 to 105, who cultivated creativity, connection, and joy, showing how it’s possible to find meaning and momentum in midlife. She takes what she’s learned, from scores of fascinating women she met both on this journey and in her decades of reporting as a journalist, to give readers a playbook for what could be next. She weaves together incredibly powerful insights and resources of rediscovery to help you reignite your passions and hit your stride in midlife and beyond. She cuts through the clutter of health and self-improvement advice and offers readers indispensable, evidence-backed strategies to thrive.”

British Finds

—Being Old…and learning to love it! by Prue Leith

With a new season of GBBO kicking off on September 22nd (25th in the States), and the first season without Prue Leith as judge since she began doing so, I wanted to share with you her new book (released back in May).

Being Old and Learning to Love It! is “so much more than a memoir. [It is] a spirited canter through Prue’s musings on the triumphs, trials and tribulations of ageing well. Including health, beauty, fashion, business, work, widowhood and finding love again, decorating, downsizing, and assisted dying.”

—Joseph’s Noel Fisherman Rib Cashmere Jumper in white

The best sweaters I have ever purchased have been from Joseph, and this oversized ribbed cashmere jumper looks truly scrumptious for cozying up in autumn.

—Palome’s Battersea Trench Coat

While Palome isn’t available in the US, I wanted to make sure to bring this coat to the attention for British readers. Made of 100% cotton and fully lined, this coat wears like a classic Macintosh coat and will be en vogue forever.

—Pressure

This new film looks absolutely riveting. Pressure depicts, with non-stop tension, the 72 hours before D-Day, during which General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) face an impossible choice — launch the most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether. This film premiered in the UK on Wednesday this week and in late May of this year in the US. Have a look at the trailer below.

—Tommy & Tuppence, BritBox

A new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s sleuthing duo Tommy & Tuppence premieres soon, and I am quite looking forward to watching it. Kicking off on September 15th with Antonia Thomas as Tuppence and Josh Dylan as Tommy, alongside Imelda Staunton as Aunt Ada, a bit of background on these two who actually came along in Christie’s second novel (following The Mysterious Affair at Styles). There were five books in this series – four novels and one book of short stories. One detail that makes this series unique from her other sleuths is that Tommy and Tuppence do age chronologically, not remaining the near same age throughout the duration of their seirs (Poirot – ahem). The series begins and they arein their early 20s (1920s), and when it concludes they are retirees (1970s). Have a look at the trailer below and look for six episodes in the first season.

—We Chase Shadows (a We Solve Murders mystery) by Richard Osman

The second mystery series created by Richard Osman has a second book! The creator of The Thursday Murder Club is back with the same characters from We Solve Murders. In We Chase Shadows, Amy, Rosie, and Steve take on a case that has them traveling between “Italy and Palm Springs, via Barcelona and Steve’s village pub.” More travel, yes please!

Cookbooks

—Eat (Like) the Rich by Olivia Tiedemann 

Olivia Tiedemann is no-nonsense and has become known for telling it like it is in the kitchen. Having worked with Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay, she knows good food. She’s also cooked for a lot of private clients, so in her new cookbook, Eat (Like) the Rich, “Olivia lays down her kitchen commandments, the lessons she’s learned from years working as a restaurant chef and private cook for high-end clients. She tells you which tools you need (she’d better not have to tell you why plastic is out) and what high-quality ingredients and brands are non-negotiable. Disagree with her recommendations? Well, too bad. Then she’ll get into techniques like how to actually make a French omelet, how to make good whipped cream without killing your arms (hint: a blender), and how to make condiments you’ll want to use instead of that crusty jar of mayo you’ve got in the back of the fridge.”

Films

—Practical Magic 2

It has been a while since 1998, but now we have a sequel to the wildly popular Practical Magic. With Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing back, the ladies of this “multi generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempt to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other.” Have a look at the trailer below and look for it in theaters today.

Francophile Finds

—Pardon Our French: The Parisian Way to a Happier Life by Alex Durand and Tom Carles

Tickled to have learned about this new Francophile book. Just released last week from best friends, Alex Durand and Tom Carles, comes Pardon Our French. “With their signature mix of humor, vulnerability, and French flair, they share their playbook for living with a little less stress and a little more zest, including advice for:

• Balancing work and play—ditching burnout culture for a healthier rhythm
• Savoring life’s pleasures—from long lunches to the perfect croissant
• Loving authentically—why romance should be playful, unhurried, and game-free
• Living with style—effortless, intentional, never overdone
• Building real friendships—choosing quality over quantity, depth over numbers”

 Definitely a book that speaks TSLL’s language. 🙂

Décor

—Regina Andrew Giorgio Crystal Mini Lamp, Chairish (many colors and finishes)

My head is back in the game of focusing on finishing the guest bedroom, so I am now looking for the details. And this lamp caught my eye. Choose your shade, the color and texture of the shade, and the finish of the lamp. A lovely size to place atop a bedside table or any small tabletop needing lighting to welcome us to sit down and relax.

—Serena & Lily’s Belataire Quilt, various sizes and colorways, on sale

S&L is having a bedding sale this weekend, and this blanket/quilt caught my eye. It reminds me of a print Rita Konig created for Schumacher (hers had pineapples), but the colorways in the saffron look very much like the print. Appearing both vintage and new at the same time, the quilt is available in all four bed sizes, and the pillowcases are available in the same fabric as well.

Shopping

—Evereve’s Dawson Cropped Blazer

A modern, on trend, version of a blazer. And for less than $200, a great purchase.

—M. Gemi’s Una Loafer Mule, many colors and textures

—Serena & Lily’s Hyannis Port Linen Pajamas, 40% off, many colors, unisex

One more item that I currently have, love, and just wore yesterday morning is S&L’s linen pajamas. I have had these pajamas for years (about seven), and highly recommend them. And being 40% off, I may have to pick up a second pair in white.

—Varley’s Celina light belted jacket

This jacket is a hybrid of a short trench and funnel neck car coat. Keeping you warm, but not hot, timeless in design and versatile in what you can wear it with.

Theatre

—Hay Fever

If you will be in London, this looks like a great musical to pick up tickets to go and watch. Reviews from previews have been across the board positive, and with Christine Baranski and Richard E. Grant starring in Noël Coward’s comedy of bad manners, that doesn’t surprise me one bit.

So what’s the play’s premise?

“Judith retired from her acting days, already she misses stage, but mostly the applause. Spending her lonely days in their country home, with her novelist husband David, failure-to-launch children Sorrel and Simon who do not pay her any attention, let alone being a good audience.

“So, Judith invites a young fan as her guest for the weekend. But unbeknownst to her, each of the Blisses have a guest of their own arriving at the very same time.

“The family unsuited to hosting and a stranger to compromise, the weekend unravels into chaos with parlour games, put-downs and unrequested encores.”

The play opens at Wyndham’s Theatre on September 22nd and closes on December 12th.

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The sun and ideal warmth arrived this week in Bend after much-loved rain, and while we were walking, I saw this pairing of the yellow dancing flowers against the calm pond and blue sky. I had to stop and capture a picture. Clear blue skies alone are a treasure that causes me to gawk.

This week found us sending out the final signed preorders of Savoring the Sojourn, so everyone who placed an order beginning in June should already now have their book or it will be arriving today or tomorrow (maybe Monday depending on location). Tracking details should have been emailed to you from USPS, but if you need me to locate yours, feel free to reach out.

Nelle and I stopped into Roundabout Books and dropped off two boxes of books for the signing and reading event on Thursday, October 1st. Spots are still available (you will need to reserve ahead), but you still have time to claim a spot in person, and of course, the Zoom Live event is available as well! Would love to have you there.

Exciting news on the guest bedroom front: the bed frame(s) arrived! And the quality exceeded my expectations! I am thrilled with it/them. Now to the upholsterer! Also, the hallways are nearing completion (something I began back in February), with the final ceiling light being purchased. All that is left is changing out the light switches and adding art to the walls. Then the tour for those areas in the home will be shared with Premier members. (View all of TSLL’s Home & Garden tours and projects completed so far here (more than 27!)).

Now, to the weekend! I hope September began well for you and you are enjoying the weather while also looking ahead to some time to dance with the season’s ending that is summer or autumn’s near beginning. Thank you for stopping by, and until Sunday, bonne journée.

~The BIG news of the week in my world had to do with Monty Don’s announcement. No doubt many TSLL readers already know. He has been an integral part in my gardening learning journey (and is quoted a couple of times in my new book). [BBC]

~Do you know someone who loves to travel and you would like to gift them with a Pre-Check or Global Entry membership? You can do that! Here’s how. [Afar]

~Some great decorating advice if you too love the layered look that British interior designers have mastered. 7 Fall layering ideas to make your home feel cozier [Homes & Garden YK]

~HOME TOUR OF THE WEEK: Wow, just Wow! Heidi Callier’s new home in San Francisco, decorated by her, is a dream to tour. She pulls out all the stops. It will be in the print edition of Architectural Digest‘s October issue, out next week, but you can view it online here.

~What to do in Paris in September [Hip Paris]

~This IG post of David Mitchell (aka Ludwig) made me chuckle out loud.

~Take a walk through Sophie Conran’s garden in Wiltshire [House & Garden UK]

~This French film, that was shared a couple of weeks ago here on T&T is an unexpected box office hit in France. I cannot wait to watch it. [NYTimes, gift link]

~In celebration of Monty Don and his garden, Longmeadow, which has been the location of Gardeners’ World for many years and will be missed after this season. A delightful interview with Monty Don this past May in his garden for the RHS Roots show. Get to know him, get to see his garden, and learn things you may not have known (there were still a few things I didn’t).

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~Explore last week’s edition of This & That: September 4th

~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.