Brain Splurge

I am facing a crisis. I am reading approximately 1,000 books right now and don't know how to finish any of them. I have this problem where I like reading so much that I think I can read everything all at once. This is a problem because, well, it's impossible. Especially with the "required reading" that comes with college. Fact: I would like to read Vanity Fair. New Fact Number One: Not gonna happen in two weeks. New Fact Number Two: I WANT TO READ WHAT I WANT TO READ!!...get me out of college.

I also have another problem where I love books so much that I buy them in bulk. If I walk out of a bookstore without a purchase I have just exhibited extreme self control and deserve a book as a reward! I just got back from New York where I obviously went to Strand Book Store...twice. Don't look at me with your judging eyes!18 miles of books = me in bliss. And I visited a lovely little book store named Shakespeare & Co. (how could I not!!). I controlled my massive book spending boner (gross?) and only bought five books. A Single Man, Of Mistresses, Tigresses and Other Conquests,  Nothing: A Very Short Introduction, Shakespeare: A Very Short Introduction and some book that I can't even think of right now. The cover looked neat and the back sounded interesting...short stories concerning cake? Meh.   

So because of my crazy desire to read everything ever written all at once I have resigned my self to reading short things that I can read quickly and stressing about all the other things I "should" be reading. Ugh! Why am I so stressed about reading. Also I should be doing homework right now....BUT I digress.


I just finished reading the play Proof by Chicago native (I think...too lazy to look it up) David Auburn and the first book in the Sally Lockhart Mysteries by Phillip Pullman - God among authors (weird because he hates God). Anyways they were both fantastic.

Proof makes me want to be a mathematician and makes me hate myself a little for not having done math in four years. And now Catherine in that play is on my short list of "want to play" (not so short a list...). Also as my good friend Torie pointed out Hal is hot. (There is clearly more to this play that the previous statements, but my brain is melting so deal with it. I gave you a link!)

The Sally Lockhart mystery: A Ruby in the Smoke was very clever, set in England in the Victorian period, written for young adults, wonderful and readable in a day. I subsequently ordered the whole series and will, theoretically, write a whole blog dedicated to all of them...and the Billie Piper miniseries.  


While in New York I started A Single Man (even though I brought 5 other books) which is so beautifully written that it blows my mind!! I will defiantly write a blog (that is well thought out and not a brain splurge) about it, but do yourself a favor and just go fucking read it. The two opening paragraphs are heart breaking. And then I started Nothing: A Very Short Introduction which is also blowing my mind in a scientific, I have to read everything twice, why am I not a scientist, so interesting, why do I have to read Vanity Fair instead of this kind of a way! I am literally 20 pages in and I have had to reread every section - it has taken me an hour to read 20 pages! SCIENCE!


Bleh. So there is my weird book rant. Hopefully I will be able to post something more "substantial" in the near future. 


Currently Reading: Oh Gods just kill me already.


Disclamer: I don't actually hate Vanity Fair. In fact it is quite good. I just hate reading on someone elses schedule and then having to prove that I read it....it was suppose to be read two weeks ago. :/ If you see me give me a hug...or a kiss ;-) to make me feel better.



seeyakthaxbyefuck

Lady Alexis

To Die for Dita

Hello Campers!!

So this is my first official blog post, but before I begin on the Queen of NeoBurlesque I want to give a tiny bit of background for the blog & what you should expect in the future.

I had the original idea for the blog (groan at the self promotion) because most of my good friends are avid readers like myself & a lot of our conversations evolve into discussions about what we are reading or what we just finished or what we think the other just HAS to read. Laaaadies (and books) is meant to be a kind book promotion & sharing blog – the actual “review” part of our blog is not actually very important to us at all; you will find no academic reviews here. What I mean by that is that instead of (or rather in addition to) telling everyone I meet about the fantastic book I just read I want people to know why they should actually pick it up. Because lets face it the majority of the time when a person tells you to read a book, even if it sounds interesting, you will not read that book. But now we have a forum & a discussion & a wide variety of books that we think that you should check out. & we would love Love LOVE it if you have some suggestions of your own. None of us has really written in a blog before (except Lady Aly. Go check it out!) but we are ladies who love books AND sharing.

That being said I introduce you to 

 My love affair with all things Dita began about two years ago when I stumbled across a documentary call A Wink & A Smile: The Art of Burlesque. Although Dita doesn’t appear in this film it sparked my interest into the history of burlesque & the neoburlesque movement of which Dita Von Teese is the reigning queen. & since my discovery I have become a bit obsessed & look forward to the day (coming soon I hope) when I might try my hat a little tease & strip. And who better to learn from than Dita herself.

The book is Fetish/Tease. Although what one might normally call a coffee table book (a particularly risqué type of coffee if you ask me) it is worth more than a quick glance. The book is comprised of two components Fetish & Tease; depending on your mood or your curiosities all you have to do is flip the book over & choose your adventure. I bought the book for the Burlesque initially so naturally I started there.

Tease is comprised of large glossy photos of her modeling some of her burlesque costumes, couture dresses & homage’s to past eras which are gorgeous naturally, but the best bits are the stories she tells & the gems of advice she gives. In chapters like Titilation & Tights in Time and A Time of National Undress Dita retells stories of the history of burlesque & the fabulous, dreamlike lifestyles they lead. Laced within these stories one can find boxes of counsel guiding the reader on the looks of particular era’s & the best songs to tease to. My favorite is the Burlesque Costume Musts! in which she list the items that “Every Exciting Enchantress Should Own!” Pasties & Stockings & Garters & Oh My! If you come for the pictures you’ll stay for the stories & vice versa. And when you’re feeling more dangerous…

Flip to Fetish where you can peruse Dita’s fetish photos. These include rubber, dominatrix, bondage, tight lacing & a particularly beautiful shoot in the fabulous Pere-Lachaise cemetery in Paris (my personal favorite photos of the entire book).  Like in Tease, Fetish is laced with stories & tips to the budding temptres. Unlike Tease, however, Fetish is a bit more personal & less focused on history (although there is some smashing info on Bettie Page). I love Fetish because of the honest & impactful way it addresses the fetish culture. It is complete respectful & sex positive. Dita dishes on how she made her way into fetish & her own personal favorites (tight lacing & damsel in distress topping the list). Not to mention the pictures are beyond hot & are super creative.

So although not a novel Fetish/Tease is defiantly worth more than a glance. Even if you are not particularly interested in Burlesque or the Fetish scene this book is so much more. Dita is the embodiment self awareness, acceptance & extravagance. She certainly does her own thing & she owns it on a level that is rarely seen today, especially in this world where our beauty standard is so fucked. (I love that she does her own makeup and hair before her shoots taking her beauty and image literally into her own hands.) She is a true inspiration and her passion & vivacity for life & the things she adores is inspiring in and of itself. So do yourself a favor & pick up (or peruse at B&N) Fetish/Tease. Buy the book for the stories & the priceless counsel on how to live a glamorous, kinky sex positive life & keep it out in public to entice others with the gorgeous glossies of Dita herself.

If you want more Dita I would suggest picking up Striptease featuring three flip books of her burlesque acts. Not to mention the many magazines that feature articles about her including this months Instyle which features a fantastic article that takes us into the eclectic home of Dita Von Teese & sheds a little light on what this Queen is like at home (the kitchen is AMAZING. Super envious). & keep a look out for her up coming DIY book in which she will teach us how to achieve that flawless red lip & vintage curl. I for one cannot wait!!

Explore your wild side.

Yours Exceptionally,

Lady Alexis

(Currently Reading: Eleven Minutes, Wuthering Heights, Jane Sexes it Up, Lolita, & The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance --- I have a short attention span. With me you never know what you’re going to get…blog wise anyways ;-)