Book Review: The Valentino Affair by Colin Evans

It is hard to believe this is a true story
and not a fictional novel.
The story sure is the stuff of fiction
and sometimes unbelievable that it is true.
In fact, I would have blasted the author
saying the story was not believable if it was fiction.
I guess I have to reconsider that parameter in the future.

Blanca Elena Errázuriz Vergara (April 9, 1894 – March 20, 1940)

Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - 

hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.15628 Call Number: LC-B2- 3008-6

The book is written in two parts.
The first part is the telling of the story.
Wow, what a story it is.
It was hard to put the book down.
If you like crime novels,
you'll enjoy this true story.

John Gerard Longer de Saulles (May 25, 1878 – August 3, 1917)

Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DeSaulles_4525453659_41dcfc8198_o.jpg#/media/File:DeSaulles_4525453659_41dcfc8198_o.jpg

The second part of the book follows the trial.
It was not as engaging as the first part
but still interesting.

I am not sure how the book deserves the title it has,
Valentino plays a role in the story,
but is certainly not the topic of the book.
It is almost like the author started writing a book about Valentino
and found a better story to chase
but included unrelated aspects of Valentino's life
just to fit the title.

Rudolph Valentino (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926)

Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rudolph_Valentino.jpg

Finishing the book, I felt
I would like to know more about the aftermath of the trial
and what happened to the de Saulles son.

Oh, legal files are released in 2017
so there will be more details coming out soon.

I review every book I read on goodreads.com
I gave this book 4/5 stars.

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Living With the Things You Love

I never intended to collect things.
When you buy things you like to look at,
somehow duplicates and triplicates
are nice to look at too.
And thus a collection is born.

Vintage Ladies' Handkerchiefs Displayed as a Bouquet

If you bought those things because you like to look at them, 

then you need to display those things 

so you can actually look at them. 

Ain't that the kicker? 

That's where this book comes in:

Collected: Living With the Things You Love.

My goodness, 

there are collections in this book 

you would have never even thought of. 

But they sure are fun to look at...

Danger, Danger! 

{Sirens are going off in my head.}

The last thing I need 

is more things I like to look at.

How about you?
Do you collect?
What do you like to look at?

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Seeing the Beauty Swirling Around Us

Such a
sweet,
little,
completely unexpected,
delightful
surprise
I found on the shelf of my public library
in the form of a borrowed book.

L is for Lemons 

I really didn't know what I had found
until I opened it at home
and out popped
inspiration
in the form of
lovely images and inspiring ideas,
presented in a book
that feels more like
perusing someone's scrapbook
than reading a library book.

"This book aims to show, 
through example,
 how to look at things differently 
and how to see them through a creative eye."
-Ted Kennedy Watson

 N is for Nests

Style and Simplicity
by Ted Kennedy Watson
inspires through
enticing images
simple recipes
 creative vignettes
 vintage collections
 ted's tips
inspiring quotes.

A is for Apple 

My hope [is to] open you, 
the reader, 
up to seeing the beauty swirling 
around us always: 
The way a light hits an object, 
the way a flower stem bends, 
the smell of the air when you 
first step outside in the morning. 
-Ted Kennedy Watson

Oh, Ted has a blog too,
check it our for some inspiration today.

You might also like this similar post.
http://thedustycellar.blogspot.com/2015/01/discovering-wabi-sabi.html

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Discovering Wabi-Sabi

Something clicked.
After 50+ years of living, I've discovered it.
Now I feel defined, emboldened and free.

What is it?
wabi-sabi 
Not to be confused with wasabi 
which I also love.  :)


Be Still My Heart: Cobalt Blue Glass 
iso 1000, 50mm, f 2.8 1/80 sec

It's been there all my life,

but my life had never met wabi-sabi before.

And now, I know what I have loved,

and my love is justified.

What is wabi-sabi?

It is a Japanese world view of 

finding beauty in the imperfect 

and embracing the humble. 

A life where old and battered objects

are preferred over the new and pristine.

Teapot by Hall (USA) Teacup by Copeland-Spode (England) 

iso 1000, 62mm, f 2.8 1/30 sec

This explains why,

when you come to my house for dinner,

I won't have a new, matching dinner set on the table.

Rather,

each place setting will have a unique piece

of {mostly} vintage ironstone transferware

that I searched for and found

one at a time.

(And do you know,

no one has ever commented on this.

Ever.

It is unnoticed. )

Maybe that is why I felt so alone in my wabi-sabi-ing.

Keys to Unknown Doors

iso 500, 70mm, f 2.8 1/4 sec

I have collected my dinner glassware,

French, red, retro,

the same way - although this is a matching set.

A few pieces here,

a few pieces there.

And now, I have enough for a party.

Each glass is special.

I found it and

 it became part of my life.

Vintage Red French Glassware {Luminarc}

iso 1000, 55mm, f 2.8 1/15 sec

I haunt thrift stores, flea markets and the like.

I bring home the old, battered, unloved

and give it a home.

Why?

I like to look at it.

Something about it is special in my eye.

It stimulates my imagination.

How about you?

Do you wabi-sabi?

Good Riddance Martha Stewart

(or More Reading on Wabi-Sabi)

iso 500, 63mm, f 2.8 1/20 sec

Until next time,

wabi-sabi on.

Photo Editing with Topaz Impression
They offer 30 day trials. 
Here is a $10 off link 
you can use if you find something you like.

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Book Impressions

I've read a lot of books...a lot. 

Let's just say, if I don't remember reading it,

it probably wasn't worth reading.

Some books leave a lasting impression, 

these are some of them. 

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls 

This is no ordinary memoir, Jeannette walls has a story to tell 

and her life story no less. 

From surviving life in abject poverty 

with completely dysfunctional parents

to becoming an editor, journalist and writer. 

I found it hard to put the book down, 

in fact...I don't think I did until I finished it. 

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

A single mother with only a 3rd grade education 

raises two boys alone in Detroit. 

This is the story of one amazing woman 

and the self determination of her troubled son. 

What she and both her sons did to open the doors 

to become highly successful men. 

Today, Ben Carson is a world renowned neurosurgeon. 

I am a big fan of Ben Carson.
You can meet him in this video.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A novel narrated by the character Amir.

Amir spends his youthful days Kite Fighting, 

something I had never heard of before. 

Race, class, culture, love, career, abuse, life and death: 

A rich story beautifully woven together. 

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara 

I don't typically read war stories, 

but this one was an exception. 

The writing is stellar. 

The author had a unique gift of packing 

so much meaning into a singular word 

and I read every word. 

The Help by Kathryn Stockett 

If you haven't read it you really should. 

Entertaining and amusing 

yet tackling some heavy issues. 

Very well written.  

Devil in the Windy City by Erick Larson

Chicago, The World's Fair and a Serial Killer. 

A true life mystery, graphic. 

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Powerful.

And here are some Honorable Mentions:

Girl With the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier 

The Count of Monte Cristo  by Alexander Drume 

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 

Under the Tuscan Sun by France Mayes 

(The book not the movie, of course!) 

The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 

Love reading too?
Look me up on http://www.goodreads.com/

Photos from my Phila Flower Show Gallery

For more book interpretations visit

Also linking to 

Katherines Corner 

Ready to Waltz

Little by Little
Favorite Things

Now excuse me while I get back to my book.