I know you're looking at that parenthetical date up in the subject line of this blog post going "What? 2010? Is that a typo? Did she miss a '9' when she was trying to type 1902?". No, my friends, I actually have something from the twenty-first century to talk about this morning. Let's Bring Back might be my new favorite book! I finally got around to some of the titles in the summer reading list post I did earlier this summer, and this is the star of what I've gotten through thus far. The star, I say!
For starters, Lesley M.M. Blume is one of our tribe, readers. She writes a column for Huffington Post that's essentially "why don't we do this anymore" and "did you ever hear about...?" (two of my favorite interrogative statements, period). Two years ago, she distilled her wistful musings into one, pleasantly turned out volume (complete with book ribbon!), whose subtitle explains its purpose as "an encyclopedia of forgotten-yet-delightful, chic, useful, curious, and otherwise commendable things from times gone by". The gramophone and the Belle Epoque clip-art style scrolls and sparrows on the cover were a turn-off at first, but if you can get past the initial mustache-twirling art style, I promise there's plenty of stuff for us!
Equally versed in classic twenties' and thirties' Hollywood romantic comings-and-goings as in Edith Wharton, drawing room etiquette, the gal knows her oats. The book reminded me a lot of a grown-up version of Life's a Movie Starring You by Jennifer Brandt, one of the most influential texts of my middle school year. I wrote copious notes in a spiral about sixties' models and Brat pack style tips...I feel like I might have to do the same thing for some of the references that elude me in this book!
Some of the things I particularly get behind "bringing back" (all tapped from Ms. Blume's text, which you really should run out and get a copy of):
The Garden of Allah:
Source |
Coffeehouse Culture
Source |
Femme Fatales:
From the movie Morroco; not sure of the source. Look at how attractive these people were! |
Fruit Hats
Source |
There's also a wealth of words and phrases that have gone out of fashion that Blume suggests we bring back. Why don't you try on some of these for size in your everyday conversations? Here's your word bank; if you don't know 'em, look 'em up!
arriviste, bon ton, cooking with gas, dough, dungarees, floozy, frippery, hooligan, kerfuffle, luncheon, madcap, nothing to write home about, persnickety, rouge, scanties, seedy, stinko, swell, wisecracks, whippersnapper
You really should read the book; I can't bring all these things back singlehandedly!
What would you add to the list of things that should be around that aren't anymore? Which one of the four things I mentioned appeals the most to you in terms of resurrection? Read anything you couldn't put down so far this summer? Let's talk!
I'm off to finish the book (I'm only to "g"...there are so many more obscure things I need to learn about!); see you guys tomorrow!
Terrific post, dear Lisa. I don't think a single days go past that I don't find myself wishing that at least one element of the past would come back in a more mainstream way (or even an obscure way).
ReplyDeleteFrom elements of my own youth (yes, I sometimes get nostalgic for cassettes, VHS tapes, and scads more snail mail then we get today) to coffee clutches with friends in the morning, a much wider array of department stores, and neighbourhood that were a whole lot more neighborly, I doubt I will ever run out of things that I wish would make a big time comeback (and which I think society would benefit greatly from the return of).
♥ Jessica
I love this book so much. I ran out and bought it as soon as it was available and did not regret it one bit. I even bought a copy of The Picnic Book and had a milk bath on Ms. Blume's recommendation.
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