Sunday 23 December 2012

Happy holidays

Happy holidays · Lisa Hjalt


As I write this, I'm taking a short break from preparing for tomorrow. The rest of the family is cuddling in the TV room enjoying a film. From the music coming from above they are probably watching Harry Potter. Earlier today I was arranging the books on the coffee tables and thought to myself that I would use this last post before Christmas to talk a little about books. To me Christmas is about reading ... and eating too, of course.

I have finished reading Grace Coddington's memoir, which I talked about on Tuesday. As I said in my post, she doesn't dig deep into things. The book is no autobiographical masterpiece and because of the fast-paced writing style it lacks a certain depth, but overall I enjoyed it. She describes her work in the fashion industry and talks about the people she has worked with, so there is plenty of name-dropping. I have to add that she's no gossiper, which makes me like her even more. My favourite parts of the book were the chapters where she allowed herself to show more emotions. This is a woman who has been through quite a lot and I only wish she had shared more on how she survived the difficult times. Her style is more like sharing difficulties in 1-2 sentences and letting the reader imagine the rest.

After our festive Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow we will open the presents and then, for me, it's reading time and dessert a little later. I'm looking forward to starting a book that was in my Amazon package from A, Balenciaga and Spain by Hamish Bowles. For a long time I have wanted to read about the fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972) but I didn't know which book to get until my dear blog friend Ada of Classiq came to the rescue and highly recommended this one. I'm not interested in books on fashion unless they are also cultural and this one is filled with Spanish art and culture. It's a wonderful addition to my coffee table books. There will be more reading over the holidays, as I plan to finally finish Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and I intend to reread Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which I borrowed at the library the other day when I saw it.

Now it's time to get back to the preparation. My dear blog friends and readers, I'm wishing you all a

*
* *
God jul
Gleðileg jól
Joyeux Noël
Feliz Navidad
Zalig Kerstfeest
Merry Christmas
Fröliche Weihnachten
Buone Feste Natalizie
||


... and I will finish with a song that to me is the ultimate Christmas song, here performed by Coldplay.



photo credit:
Lisa Hjalt


You Tube: Coldplay / Have yourself a merry little Christmas

14 comments:

  1. Gleðileg jól Lísa. Alltaf svo gaman að kíkja í latte til þín hér í netheimum.

    Agnes

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  2. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Lisa...another book for my wish list...Balenciaga sounds a very interesting read; I will be reading Grace over the holidays ;-)
    Have a fabulous time.
    With my love,
    Catherine
    xx

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  3. Merry Christmas to you too, Lisa. xxo

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  4. Merry Christmas, dear Lisa! I like your Christmas tree made of books. It couldn't be more you. :)

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  5. Joyeux Noël et bonnes fêtes de Paris mon amie!

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  6. A lovely way to spend the Christmas Holidays Lisa... sending you Christmas wishes from all the way over here; Happy Christmas :) Helenx

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  7. Have a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your family Lisa. All of your books are lovely, I hope you enjoy your holiday reading xx

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  8. Merry Christmas to you and your family Lisa! May it be joyous & magical!

    Rowena @ rolala loves

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  9. Dear Lisa,
    wish you a merry x-mas too!
    Hugs
    Yvonne

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  10. Bókalestur og góður matur .....hljómar vel !!
    Gleðileg jólin Lísa
    auður

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  11. Thanks for the wishes, Happy Holidays to you!

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  12. Lisa, I'm just getting to read your Christmas post. I hope yours was lovely, the music is so beautiful--I will have to add that to my playlist for next year. That Balenciaga and Spain book sounds wonderful. I am wanting the new Bottega book and then will have to read this one. Well hoping to wish you Happy New Year in person!
    xo Mary Jo

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