Summer Reading Round Up

Sunny summer Sundays are best spent outside with a coffee, and a good book (well, at least that’s how weare choosing to spend this particular Sunday).  If you don’t have a book club to direct your summer reading list, or if you are prone to misjudging a book by its cover, here are some of our picks to help you get your read on:

1. Everything is Perfect When You’re a Liar

We look forward to hearing her  140 character quips on twitter, and are now beyond excited to sink into the perfectly imperfect world of Kelly Oxford (the extended version). This collection of personal essays has been described as laugh-til-you-can’t-breath hilarious –we can’t wait to get started on it!

2. The Great Gatsby

With the much anticipated movie hitting theatres on May 10th, the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an obvious choice. Read the book, then see the movie, or vice versa; either way, we highly recommend getting lost in this cautionary tale about the decadent side of American society (or y’know, just live vicariously through the character sand their lives filled with mansion parties, luxury, gossip and fabulous excess.)

3. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls

David Sedaris is a familiar face on our top reading lists. His essays are hilarious, intelligent and at times, surprisingly moving. In his newest collection of essays, Sedaris remembers his father’s dinnertime attire (shirtsleeves and underpants), his first colonoscopy (remarkably pleasant), and the time he considered buying the skeleton of a murdered Pygmy.

4. Running with Scissors

AugustenBurroughs’s memoir covers his adolescence; a time where he is transplanted from his parents’ world of order, perfect grooming, and dreams of stardom to living with his mother’s psychiatrist where rebellion, dysfunction, and the antitheses of his former life run rampant.

5. Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A memoir of an outsider in Paris

Adolescent American in Paris, Stephanie LaCava, tackles her social awkwardness, and feelings of uncertainty by taking solace in the strange and beautiful objects she encounters in everyday life. This collection of essays provides a beautifully illustrated, retrospective look at nineties fashion and culture.

6. Grace:  A memoir

Former model,Vogue creative director, and international fashion icon Grace Coddington directs us through a storied narrative of her life so far. We’re definitely looking forward to delving into Grace’s world of designers, stylists, models, photographers and all things fashion.

7. It’s All Good: Delicious, easy recipes that will make you look good and feel great

We love food as much as we love fashion, so when Gwyneth Paltrow released her second cook book “It’s All Good” we knew we had to have it. Not only does this Academy Award winning actress lookamazing, she seems to ooze positive energy; apparently she found a fountain of youth in the elimination diet. While we love wine, cheese, and pasta far too much to fully adopt Paltrow’s super-dedicated diet, we do appreciate recipes that taste as good as they make us feel. Needless to say, we are all over trying the 185 delicious, healthy and easy to prepare recipes in this cookbook.

8.Get Jiro!

Sometimes there’s too much going on outside to really sink into a text-heavy book –enter Get Jiro! An original graphic novel written by renowned chef Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose, Get Jiro! combines futuristic foodies, crime fighting and people who would literally kill for seats in LA’s best restaurants.

9. I’ll Seize the Day Tomorrow

A collection of stories that recount Jonathan Goldstein’s last year in his 30s through contemplation of the world’s weightiest questions: What is it about the McRib that drives people crazy? Can we replace extending an olive leave with extending an olive jar? And more. If you’re unfamiliar with this hilarious Canadian, we suggest you go download some of his podcasts.

10. Book Vase by YOY Design Studio

Maybe you’re not a book person -or maybe you’re looking to breathe a little life into your library (that obviously smells of leather and rich mahogany). “The Life of Plants” book vase by Japanese design studio YOY is a cool way to add some variety to your bookshelf.