TRAVELERS BOOKCASE

There's this charming little bookstore called The Traveler's Bookcase on W. Third Street in Los Angeles. It was after a great tapas dinner at Celadon with my friend Zareen one night, that I walked several blocks down Third to this bookstore to digest and to find something for someone I owed an apology to. The salesgirl was super helpful and we decided on a sleek, black leather passport holder with nothing on it. "Masculine enough, right?" "Right," she affirmed. They even gift-wrapped it so nice that I almost wanted to give a tip.

While at Traveler's Bookcase, a book called The Hedonist's Guide to Life caught my eyes. Actually it was really hard to miss because they had it on one of those special stands on top of a low shelf, AND it was in front of the cash register as a POP. It's published by Hg2(??) and looked interesting.

They also had this wonderful photo collection from Reuter's photojournalists called Our World Now. It was glossy and pretty, with pictures from around the world. Je veux.

Last one, which was a gift from my new friend Lynette. The Best Things to Do in New York: 1001 Ideas. I love it.

One more bit of news: Drewbin (my brother) finally got Facebook.

currently listening: When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls

xoxo,
Claire (spelled Clair today by Starbucks barista)

SOME/THING(S) BORROWED

I took these books from your shelf, twin:

• "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. I always meant to read this. But I read "Freakanomics" and that put me off pop-economics for a very long time.
• "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov. Actually, this book is mine. I'm returning it to myself.
• "A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway. I should read the book in which your favorite quote comes in.
• "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Murier. I always thought this was a Danielle Steele novel because of the cover. But I saw this really old lady at the Oakland Airport reading it, and talking with another woman about how good this novel is. What a deceiving cover!

I'm reading "Brick Lane" by Monica Ali right now (I borrowed this from Sushma); it's good, I guess. I have a bad habit of comparing everything to "The God of Small Things" because I feel like everyone is trying to be like Arundhati Roy, which is ridiculous. But really, when I read "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith, I kept thinking, "oooh, I bet she just read Roy." Actually, my books is a little boring right now because the prose is wearing me out. I haven't gotten to the affair yet! Sigh. I just want someone else's drama! :)

currently listening to:
Powers
Blackalicious

xoxo tiff!

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HOME

I finally did it. No I'm not talking about getting inked, which did happen with Tiffany right there by my side, but my move out of Los Angeles after having lived, driven, loved, lost, dined, beached, schooled and worked in the city for the past six years of my life. I'm "home" now, i.e. at my parents house where I grew up, but it doesn't feel like home. It doesn't feel like home at all. My life is in boxes and there's a feeling of unease. Hopefully it passes soon. And as soon as it passes and I get settled, I'll be uprooting again to New York City in the fall.

Tiffany was there to help out with the move, and I assigned her my bookshelf to pack up. "Lots of chick lit," she commented - nothing better to get you through the days. She also set aside a pile that she was going to borrow. Which ones did you take, love?

currently listening: A Certain Romance by The Arctic Monkeys

xoxo,
Claire