Apologies for being absent this week. I wish there was a solid reason, but really I disappeared into a novel. I think a great book is better than anything. So, I know this is a fashion blog, but I’m going to branch out a bit and give you a book recommendation here and there from now on.

If you read the book, please come back and let me know what you thought of it. Similar and opposing viewpoints are completely welcome, but abusive comments will be deleted.

Now that’s out of the way, here’s my first book recommendation: Uprooted by Naomi Novik. It won the Nebula Award, the Locus Award and the Mythopoeic Award. It’s a classic hero myth – young, ‘nobody’ person finds they are special and posses power. The novel is set in a fantastic, and magical fictitious Poland in a medieval period. Our heroine is a young woman who lives in a small village in a valley near the edge of the dark and evil Wood. Every ten years the Wizard who lives in the tower and guards against the encroachment and attack of the Wood chooses a young woman to take. She never returns. This time, it was Agnieshka.

That’s the start of the book. What I love, besides the classic hero story a la Star Wars, is the fact that Agnieshka risks her life over and over. She goes to extreme lengths and pushes herself beyond her boundaries not for some guy, not for true love, but for her best friend, and for her family. Yes, there’s some love in the story, but it’s not about the love. It’s about her journey, and about friendship.

Anyway, I love it. If you read it, I’d love to here what you thought too.

Below, your dose of fashion inspiration *hopefully* – a maxi dress that I made a knee length dress. It just seemed to sit wrong as a full length gown. Now it feels more playful and carefree.

Sweater – Ruche
Dress – Lulus
Scarf – street stand
Necklace – Etsy
Socks – Free People
Boots – Aldo