Many, many books across the genre spectrum – historical fiction, interior design, a favorite English cook’s new cookbook, and much more, cozy autumnal capsule finds, wonderful savings on timeless décor finds for the front porch and gardeners, Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline’s new film, a new addition to this weekly list for our male readers who also appreciate living simply luxuriously, oh! and a long anticipated new novel by a friend of TSLL. Yep, and still there is more!

Books

—Antoinette’s Sister: A Novel by Diana Giovinazzo

Stepping back into the 18th century and Marie Antoinette along with her husband King Louis XVI have been killed, now the story of the Queen’s sister – “another formidable monarch – Antoinette’s dearly beloved sister, Charlotte – was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister’s execution would change the course of history – and bring about the end of her own empire.”

—Iona Iverson’s Rules for Community: A Novel by Clare Pooley

I learned of this novel recently, and upon reading the premise, thought it would be a wonderful read reminding us of the community that surrounds us in our everyday routines. Released this past June, commute with “Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, [who] travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu.  Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Bookworm and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do.

“Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He’d have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver.
    

“This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you–and even more about yourself.”

—Mood: Interiors and Inspiration by Anne Hepfer

Released earlier this month, September 20th, Mood: Interiors and Inspiration shares interior designer Anne Hepfer’s process of “drawing inspiration from influences as wide-ranging as travel, music, food and drink, fashion, and nature, Hepfer shares her process and opens the doors to the masterful spaces she has crafted for both international clients and her own family.”

—The Nightingale: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

Adapted into a movie of the same name, Kristin Hannah’s wildly popular novel set in WWII, The Nightingale, “tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. Hannah “illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war.” 

—The Reading List: A Novel by Sara Nisha Adams

Released last summer (2021) and an editor’s pick for the Best Summer Reads, it is a reading list that brings together and provides companionship for a widower who spends his evenings watching documentaries in West London, his granddaughter who is an avid reader and “a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library .”

British Find

—Love to Cook: 120 Joyful Recipes from my new BBC series by Mary Berry

Last December, Mary Berry released her most recent cookbook in the UK. Aligning with her latest series on BBC (AcornTV for those outside of the UK), look for her cookbook Love to Cook to become available in the states in January 2023. You can now watch the entire series on AcornTV, Love to Cook. Beautifully produced and a joy to watch, gather inspiration for bringing delicious meals to your days, but also how to enjoy the everyday even more.

Film

—The Good House

Now this film looks like a treat. Sigourney Weaver is busy this fall as she has four films being released, and her first is alongside Kevin Kline in The Good House. Based on Ann Leary’s The Good House, life for New England realtor Hildy Good begins to unravel when she hooks up with an old flame of hers from New York.

Released today, look for it in theaters this weekend and watch the trailer below.

Francophile Finds

—Disaster at the Vendome Theater by M.L. Longworth

Finally, finally, finally! The tenth book in M.L. Longworth‘s Provençal Mystery series will be released this coming Tuesday, Disaster at the Vendome Theater, and I cannot wait to begin reading it. Be sure to listen to episode #310 of The Simple Sophisticate podcast where Longworth shares inside details of the plot for this new book. Admittedly, I have no doubt I will finish it all too quickly, but there are more to come (and more inspiration for the BritBox series adapted from her novel ☺️).

—Deadly Tropics, MHzChoice

Set on the island of Martinique, a less often seen pairing at the helm of mystery series – two female detectives, and in Deadly Tropics, more different these two women cannot be; however, they definitely share the most important values, a sincere dedication to their job and finding the truth. Two seasons are currently available on MHzChoice, and Season 3 is coming in November. Along with each episode, each lead character is traveling along her own journey in her personal life, Gaelle (the long-time resident of Martinique, who knows the island well) struggles with intimacy due to a lost love 20 years ago; and Commander Melissa (who has just arrived from Paris), is a divorcée with two teenage children. Directed by Stephané Kappes, each episode brings a refreshing perspective to traditional story-lines by more accurately including a woman’s experience, not an experience told by male writers and seen through their eyes.

Have a look at the trailer and enjoy getting to know each of the women, and, if you’re like me, becoming more and more fond of them with each episode.

Music

—John Legend: Legend

Upon watching this video of “All She Wants to Do is Dance” which is a track on John Legend’s latest album (his 8th), I couldn’t help but want to get up and dance myself and knew I wanted to share it with you. The album was released earlier this month, and I encourage you to watch the music video from beginning to end. A creatively new approach to filming a music video. Again, watch from the very beginning (reading the text) to the very, very end. A treat, a true treat.

Shopping

—Adeam, White Sora Hoodie (cotton-cashmere blend)

—Balmuda Thé Kettle (two colors)

—Eric Bompard Men’s 4-ply Cashmere half-zip pullover sweaters (many colors)

It has been brought to my attention recently that while yes, TSLL’s community is largely female, there are more male readers than you may expect, and they too, through our communications via email and IG value what is at the foundation of living simply luxuriously. Some of them found the site via their partners or wives, others simply found it on their own accord after either listening to the podcast or stopping by in search of a particular item for a loved one. Either way, I have been asked to include items for men’s English and French style as well, and so you will see me doing this here on the weekly This & That.

—J.Crew Perfect-fit Ribbed turtleneck with Buttons in Stripe (30% off)

—Joseph ivory (more colors available) ribbed merino wool turtleneck sweater

This sweater. Oh goodness, yes, this oversized turtleneck would look wonderful with a pair of slim jeans and underneath a warm coat during a chilly winter day.

—Rejuvenation, 40% off sale, Entryway & Front Porch items

Autumn may bring us inside the house more, but it also means it is time to spruce up our front porches for the trick-or-treaters and many holiday occasions just around the corner. This weekend take advantage of the awesome sale taking place at Rejuvenation. 40% of oodles of entryway and porch items. I have shopped a few below, but there are so many more.

Television

—Alaska Daily, Hulu, ABC

Starring two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, and premiering on ABC (also Hulu) on October 6, travel to Alaska in Alaska Daily, a series created by Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”). “Eileen Fitzgerald (Swank) is a fiercely talented and award-winning investigative journalist who leaves her high-profile New York life behind after a fall from grace to join a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage on a journey to find both personal and professional redemption.” Have a look at the trailer below.

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The garden is bejeweled it seems at this moment, and as the Thomas Edison dinnerplate dahlia captured above demonstrates, Mother Nature knows what she is doing. As we wrap up this month of September, and look ahead to October, I have been savoring books and blooms, sunsets and sunrises, and preparing a busy weekend of posts for you, here on TSLL blog.

The free monthly newsletter went out this morning, along with the weekly newsletter, and tomorrow look for the monthly A Cuppa Moments w/Shannon video chat where we will be talking about many, many books I have been reading, recommend and look forward to enjoying in the coming weeks. As well a conversation about the difference between having expectations and having intention and how that materializes, the cons of the former and the benefits of the other, take walks with Norman and I at a special place, videos of the garden and much more (explore becoming a TOP Tier Member to watch and partake in the conversation with fellow members from around the world). As well a new episode of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen will be released sharing a two-fer of sorts – a sweet treat and a savory nibble. I do hope you will join me.

I hope your month is concluding well, and as you settle into the start of this weekend, you are looking ahead to a couple of days, or at least a couple of hours, to relax, rejuvenate and savor time to do as you need. Thank you for stopping by today, and until tomorrow, bonne journée.

~The allure of the French kitchen and the details to add to make yours all the more French-inspired [HipParis]

~A post to ponder regarding Where Peace is Found when it comes to Mindful living in our everydays [WildMind]

~Gwyneth Paltrow turned 50 on Tuesday of this past week and shared a post of contemplation on her life milestone [Goop]

~Top art exhibits to visit in Paris this fall [Le Monde English]

~Autumn in the garden means Chrysanthemums take the state and Sarah Raven shares how this bloom is having a comeback [House & Garden UK]

~How to fall asleep faster and better [LifeHack]

~Take a tour of GBBO Prue Leith’s home in Gloucestershire – colorful, intentional and her two cavaliers! [Financial Times, subscription may be required]

~Why for men, being a HSP really is different [Highly Sensitive Refuge]

~Five of the Best Jazz Songs about Paris sure to make you swoon [Frenchly]

~This cookbook is my new favorite (reading it for leisure tonight and have already baked from it twice!), and here is an interview with the author Aleksandra Crapanzano sharing the Simple Secret of French Baking [The Atlantic]

~And the beginning of Season 19, yep, nineteen!, of Grey’s Anatomy kicks off this coming Thursday, October 6th. Here is the trailer.

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~Explore last week’s This & That: September 23, 2022

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