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Book Club Reminder

Kat_Siddle-The_Lady_and_the_unicorn_Sight

On June 23, we’ll discuss our next book, The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier. You can read the first chapter for free on the author’s website.

This historical novel is inspired by six famous medieval tapestries. Now over 500 years old, these works of art hang in the Musée National du Moyen Age in Paris.

The Lady and The Unicorn imagines the people behind the tapestries: the noble family who commissioned them and the weavers and artists who created them. Chevalier’s story is well-researched, fast-paced, and much sexier than a novel about weaving should be. If you like HBO’s historical dramas, you’ll like this novel.

Here’s how it works

Step One
Find a copy of The Lady and the Unicorn at bookstores or at your local library. It’s also available for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, as a Overdrive library ebook (in some regions), and an audible.com audiobook. You can read the first chapter for free on the author’s website.

Step Two
Read the book. If you want to chat about it while you’re reading, use the hashtag #colettebookclub on Twitter or Instagram.

Step Three
Come back to the Colette blog on June 23 to talk about the book.

The Asylum

Our discussion of The Asylum by Simon Doonan was quieter than usual. It looks like many people couldn’t find a copy of the book. What a shame!

Those of us who were able to read Doonan’s memoir found it illuminating. Susan wrote, “Reading it felt like a guilty pleasure, but was also thought provoking.”

Skye said, “I’ve fallen really hard for Simon since the beginning of this book club and I really enjoyed this book. I think what surprised me most was that realization that fashion really laughs at itself. I know I’ve always laughed at its more ridiculous Zoolanderish moments, but I really thought that most of the designers were taking themselves very seriously.”

Finally, Sharon shared her personal experience with us. “I worked at Barney’s New York at the 17 street store in the early to mid 90s. It was a bit of a scene and I loved working there. The personalities and temperaments were as dramatic as the clothing. I had regular dealings with Simon and he was lovely.” I was so glad to hear that Simon is as delightful as I imagine!

Upcoming books:

June 23rd The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever by Terri Agins.

How did fashion change from an elitist business tightly controlled by French designers to the mainstream market it is today? Agins explains in a book that won’t bore you, even if you’re the kind of person who would fall asleep in a business course.

August 4th The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, a Son, and a Suit by JJ Lee

When journalist and amateur tailor JJ Lee decides to re-makes his late father’s suit, he starts a journey into his family’s past, the history of suits, and the meaning of masculinity.

The Colette Book Club is an online book club that explores the meaning and making of clothing. If you want to recommend a book, email kat@prettyscavenger.com.

Kat Siddle

Kat Siddle is a librarian and fashion school dropout from Vancouver, B.C. She blogs about beauty and sewing at www.prettyscavenger.com.

Comments

Lacey

June 17, 2016 #

Ahh…I was wondering about this! I thought that the initial book announcement said June 16th, so I really confused when I checked in yesterday and there wasn’t any mention of the book club discussion. I look forward to reading what everyone thought of the book. :-)

Lori

June 17, 2016 #

I have yet to participate in the discussion, but I have loved every book that was recommended.

Happytoby

June 23, 2016 #

Great choice of books. The variety, historical fiction to current commentary, makes this an interesting book club.