It's summer holiday season soon which means it's time for book shopping. I don't know anyone who doesn't take at least one book away with them, whether it is to read on the plane or on the beach. Here are some of the books I think should be in your luggage this year:
What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt - Set in New York What I Loved follows the Bohemian lives of an artist and an art critic. It slowly becomes a much darker story and is completely addictive.
The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake - Fashion Journalist Alicia Drake has written for magazines such as W and Vogue. In The Beautiful Fall she explores the careers and private lives of YSL and Karl Lagerfeld. If you're into fashion you MUST read this book, it's so interesting and very juicy.
Breakfast With Tiffany: An Uncle's Memoir by Edwin Wintle - This is my favourite book ever. A gay New Yorker takes in his rebellious teenage niece. It is such a touching (true) story and is so funny.
Playing With The Grown Ups by Sophie Dahl - I didn't think this book would be that great when I started reading it but it is actually a really beautiful coming-of-age story.
When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris - Everyone should read a David Sedaris book, he is insanely funny. If you like random observational humour you'll love him.
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar - A million times better than the TV show. If you haven't read the books you've been missing out. Nate is way cooler, Jenny has brown hair, Vanessa is bald and Blair and Serena chain-smoke.
Feel free to leave your 'must read' list in the comments section, I'll check out your suggestions.
Bag from Net-a-Porter
i heart the marcs jacobs bag :)
ReplyDeleteoh great recommendations! i love finding new books to read! my favorite beach reads are: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Both incredibly beautiful and touching novels!
ReplyDeletehttp://fashionhedonism.blogspot.com
I suggest you the books by Amélie Nothomb.
ReplyDeleteI've read all of those books except the first one and they were all fantastic. Especially the Sedaris one.
ReplyDeleteI'd throw in there some classics and I'd be set to alternate between them :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about Gossip Girl! I used to read the books in high school, and when I heard they were making a show I thought it was a really bad idea. I never thought that it could be as good as what you kind of imagine in your head as you're reading it. I thought the first season of the show was terrible, but they've definitely gotten better. Plus its always fun to see all the clothes :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book suggestions! I've been stuck on what book to read for a while now. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Book Theif is an Amazing book. Completely draws you in.
ReplyDeleteInnocence by Kathleen Tessasaro also.
Completly agree about GG, it was always meant to be Blair and Nate, plus Chuck.. well, hes just a completely different character in the book.
xo
Oooh I've only read Gossip Girl, must check out the rest of these... Especially the Sophie Dahl book, coming of age + she's got author in her veins!
ReplyDeleteFor lighter books I must add any Sophie Kinsella or Plum Sykes book.
For classics, Great Gatsby (just finished it, and was the only one in my class who liked it!), Breakfast at Tiffany's, Jane Austen, or JD Salinger novels. Classics, but light enough for summer =)
I have been wanting to read the Gossip Girl for ages! Will check these other books, too. :)
ReplyDeleteOh breakfast with tiffany is one of my fave reads too! I heard They are meant to be making it in to a movie with Edwin writing the screenplay so hopefully that should be good!
ReplyDeleteMy recommendation would be The perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Ill make sure i get a few of these, ive not read any!
ReplyDeleteThe Beautiful fall is a great book, definitely worth a read! I would also recommend any Murakami book but my ultimate favourite is called 'hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world' I always recommend that to everyone.
ReplyDeleteWell the Beautiful Fall was my holiday book last year and it is perfect. Yes yes yes also re the gossip girls series. How I miss the buzz of getting the latest one!
ReplyDeleteI'd add Edmonde Charles-Roux's The world of Coco Chanel, friends, fashion, fame - for a good style read and hows about a good old fashioned number Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby!
Thank you so much for the recs!
ReplyDeleteGreat reading list, I'll definitely have to check some of these out!
ReplyDeleteMy faves are:
Go Ask Alice- Anonymous diary, an excellent read takes you back to a girl dealing with life in the 70s and being addicted to drugs.
A Girl Like Moi- By Lisa Barham, A young fashionista obsessed with fashion trying to deal with her AmEx debt while also trying to make sure her dream as a fashion forecaster comes true.
xo
This is a great review honey and yummy books for the summer,im looking forward to reading PLAYING GROWNUPS
ReplyDeletemuah x
Marian
I've benn wanting to read The Time Traveler's Wife for a while now, all my friends say its amazing. As for the classics Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is a must read for everyone.
ReplyDeleteYou are as bad as me, I cannot go anywhere without a book. My dilenma when going on holiday is not choosing what clothes to bring but what books to take with me. The one by Alicia Drake looks good. I have read the Gossip Girl books and I was not impressed, the TV series is much better.
ReplyDeleteGreat book picks, they all look so interesting. I'm currently reading Pride and Prejudice.
ReplyDeleteThis year one of my teacher's had my class listen to a short story written by David Sederis and read by him. It was hilarious. I was peeing my pants with laughter. What a great choice.
ReplyDeletexoxo isabella clarisse xoxo
www.tasteoffashionkar.blogspot.com
Stiff -by Roach
ReplyDeleteEcho -by Block
This Side of Paradise -by Fitzgerald
The Coma -by Garland
Bonjour Tristesse -by Segan
The Secret History -by Tartt
It's Kind of A Funny Story -by Vizzini
and of course,
The Collected Oscar Wilde
i love all of these.
dont except them to all be in the same style of writing though. they're all just amazing in their own beautifully written ways.
oh! I also left out in my last comment ^^^
ReplyDeleteWhite Oleander -Fitch
Paint It Black -Fitch
and this one isn't fiction, but it;s just amazing to read. It's so interesting and really inspired me to sort of live life to the fullest.
"Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl" -Ollivier
it is in the self help section, which i really hated because it's more of a cultural observation of how the french live and also it's so awkward coming out of that section with a book, haha.
But really, everyone should read it.
i love this post- i've recently become obsessed with my local library and will be sure to check some of these out!
ReplyDeleteHi Coco :)
ReplyDeleteI like Siri Hustvedt's books but I prefer her husbands books (Paul Auster). I have all his books and usually I read them during my vacations :)
Do you really think the "Gossip Girl" books are better? I really don't know if I should buy them or not! :(
xoxo
Su
If you're into Gossip Girl you'd probably like The Luxe series by Anna Goldbersen...it's basically gossip girl in 1899, the salicious gossip, gorgeous dresses, way to luxurious parties and the romantic, sexual escapades are awesome. But as far as my favourite book, you can't go past Atonement by Ian McEwan, it's beautiful.
ReplyDeletei totally agree on the Gossip Girl series. so much better than the show.
ReplyDeleteim reading the Private series..its a litte far-fetched but its a good series
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations! I'm always looking for new books to read.
ReplyDeleteI want to suggest The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, it's amazing <3
Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. Rich and beautiful and heart-breaking.
ReplyDeleteLoves!
My must read is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
ReplyDeletexx
the full, unabridged version of Hugo's Les Miserables -
ReplyDeleteone of those books you have to read all of at some point in your life, IMHO.
Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - dorian gray makes a wish for eternal beauty. his wish is granted, but a portrait of him ages as he would have. amazing, amazing, amazing. i started it expecting nothing and finished with an all-time favorite. must read.
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves - i just started this, and so for so good. a teen is murdered and the suspect is a crazy old man. supposed to be "chilling."
How to Murder a Millionaire by Nancy somethingorrather - ohmygod, my favorite series ever. they are the stories of nora blackbird, an exsocialite, and the murders of people close to her. she also happens to be kind of sort of not really but kind of dating this hottie with mafia ties. ah-mazing!
i am loving Wally Lamb books right now...just finished "I know this much is true" and now reading "the hour i first believed" - both are superb!
ReplyDeletexox
i agree with gossip girls, i only watch the show for the clothes. The books are much more scandalous.
ReplyDeleteI read that Sophie Dahl book last summer and thought the same as you. I bought it for the pretty cover but was pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying the story.
ReplyDeleteI read The beautiful fall earlier this year and I loved it, it really is a must!
ReplyDeleteif you're on Goodreads, you can check out my reading selections :) Its a great site. Perfect for book lovers.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't already you must, must read Atonement by Ian McEwan. I love the film also, however it isn't in the same league as the book. Fascinating, shocking and enduring, you will love it. If you haven't seen the film, be sure to read the book first, it will make you love the film more, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the other book suggestions, I am currently reading Gossip Girl even though I'm in love with the tv series, and I will check out the others for my annual holiday reads. xoxo
true that the gg books are way better - although I still love the show.
ReplyDeleteAnd I want that fab MJ tote. So so great.