The Modern Materialist : books

The 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately (20-16)

Alex Zalben — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:05:00 GMT

Shaun kicked things off yesterday with our countdown of the 25 Mother's Day Gifts You Should Buy Immediately, and here's the big difference between yesterday's list, and today's: you now have one less day to buy presents for your mother. You are a bad child. Herewith, five more chances to make things right, so don't screw it up, or wait for tomorrow... Get these things now:

[$59, Ruby et Violette]

20. Ruby et Violette Cookies

These are easily the most delicious, and tasteful cookies I've ever had in my entire life. And I've had a lot of cookies. Ruby et Violette hand makes each and every one of their delectable morsels, and lucky for you, child of a mother, ships them out in gorgeous gift packs. You can choose from a number of options, but why not go for the Chenonceau, which comes with 18 cookies, or 9 brownies. Your mom deserves it.

[$95, MOMA]

19. Luna Watch

Nothing quite says, "Mom, thanks for all your years with this company, and by company, I mean giving birth to and raising me," like a classy watch from the MOMA store.

[$59, Williams-Sonoma]

18. Recipe & Entertaining Journal

All kidding aside, one of the things I remember best about growing up is cooking with my mom. Making everything from big dinners, to cookies, to breakfast, recipes and being in the kitchen has always been a part of my life. That's why I think my Mom at least would love this Recipe and Entertaining Journal, to keep her (and our) favorite recipes in a leather-bound journal, to last for the ages.

[$100, Food Network]

17. Barefoot Contessa All Chocolate Basket

I don't know if I've mentioned yet that my mother and I liked cooking together. Probably not. Also, I don't think I've put anything on this list about food, or dessert. But for the sake of argument, say I had, what would make this basket special? Well, first off, Barefoot Contessa stuff is delicious across the board. Second of all, a chocolate sweet tooth is something that my mother, and my grandmother both share with a passion. So yeah, this would be a good gift.

[$99, Zoombak]

16. Zoombak, so your mom always knows where you are

If there's one thing I've learned in my time here at Modern Materialist, it's that women over the age of fifty love gadgets. Kidding! But even with my grade school days far behind me, I'm betting my Mom wouldn't turn down the chance to know where I was at all times.

Bought, and Other Sexy Summer Reads

Steph Auteri — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:00 GMT

[$10.19, Amazon]

Bought, by Anna David (one sexy sex writer), comes out in mid-May, offering readers a quick read about questionable characters. Emma, a celebrity event journalist, thinks she's found a big break in a story about modern-day courtesans who trade sex for gifts. Unfortunately, in seeking out the meat of the story, Emma finds that she's losing herself. It's tough finding a single redemptive quality in any of the major players here, but trying to pick sides is all part of the fun, as is asking yourself: What would you do to get what you want?

I practically devoured this light read, which means you probably will, too. Which means you'll need a few backups to take you through the rest of the summer:

[$11.86, Amazon]

Here's another one I've already read. Still Life with Husband by Lauren Fox is about a 30-year-old woman married to her college sweetheart, who somehow slips into an affair with a sexy young reporter. It's a wakeup call on how easy it is to do the wrong thing.

[$18.96, Amazon]

Sex and the City is so overplayed, but this doesn't keep me from wanting to read this similarly-constructed novel from Liz Tuccillo: last summer's How to Be Single.

[$26.40, Amazon]

And because I loves me the Nerve.com, I have to mention Nerve: The First Ten Years, which just came out in December. This collection includes some of the best from Nerve, in the realm of essays, interviews, fiction, and photography. Um...why haven't I been sent a copy?

Sale Alert! Lectus's Pile of Books

Steph Auteri — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:05:00 GMT

I've previously lusted after the booknerdish nightstands above, lamenting that I could never afford them (I never even found out the price of the one on the left; the one on the right was available for $1,386).

Well. I've just been informed that a bedside table, with a similar design, has just gone on sale.

[WAS $6,174.85/NOW $712, Pid.se]

Okay. So there's still no way in hell I could ever afford this, but that's quite the price drop, no?

Furverts!

Laureen Mahler — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:01:00 GMT

[Photo via Michael Cogliantry]

Furvert: (noun) A combination of the words furry and pervert, a furvert likes to have sex while dressed up as an animal. Not to be confused with a classic furry, who does not necessarily get off on the animal costume but just likes to wear it (apparently the difference is a fairly controverial issue).
Furverts: (proper noun) A book devoted to chronicling the phenomenon of furverts.

Peek inside Furverts after the jump. Come on, you know you want to:

For starters, Furverts sports a very apropos cover. None other than a furry peeks out from a ring of fur, giving just a taste of what is to come...

[$13, Chronicle Books]

Inside, Furverts is a veritable lovefest of fuzzy animals in every position and setting imaginable. Now that's definitely not something you see every day. But what truly sets this book apart is the combination of artful photography by Michael Cogliantry and clever design: the book itself is made in the board-book style, so it's got super thick, colorful pages that set a tone of playful delight.

p.s. Alternate post titles, for your perusal: "When a Coffee Table Book Becomes a Dare," "Fur Will Fly," "Bunny Love Me Baby One More Time," "Fur Whom the Bell Tolls," "A Fur, Fur Better Orgasm." In the end, it was just all too overwhelming.

[via swissmiss]

Related: Impress All the Furries

Syrian Lingerie Seduces the World

Laureen Mahler — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:03:00 GMT

In an article recently published by Der Spiegel, the mysterious world of Syrian lingerie is revealed in no small detail. It turns out that Syria has become a hub of all things exotic, lacy, feathered, musical (yes, musical) and otherwise. Here are a few scintillating samples:

Lingerie is made from everything imaginable, including wire and vinyl,

feathers and cell phones,

and birds and leaves.

Salon.com also gives some insight into the relatively new phenomenon of edible underwear in Syria, which is nothing like the cheap candy stuff made in the States. These panties are made from pure fruit and sugar, cooked and rolled out into a wafer-thin fabric. Now that's a test drive I can get behind.

The styles and concepts behind Syrian lingerie are truly endless: they include everything from musical knickers to remote control undergarments that fall open at the push of a button, and they cost anywhere from $3 to $20 per piece. Talk about bang for your buck!

So why, you might ask, is Syria the new lingerie paradise? According to a lingerie seller at the Hamidiyeh souk in Damascus, "In a culture where there is always the danger that the man may find a second or third wife for himself, wives want to make sure their husband stays loyal to them... mothers believe their son-in-law will be less interested in other women if his wife surprises him with more and more new gimmicks at home."

While the world of Syrian lingerie may be out of reach beyond marketplaces such as Hamidiyeh, you can get your hands on a book devoted to the topic:

[$25, Chronicle Books]

The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie intersperses vivid photographs and interviews with women who, I have no doubt, possess a far more varied unmentionables collection than I ever will.

Books in Every Nook and Cranny

Steph Auteri — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:07:00 GMT

For all of us desperately seeking out exra book storage space in our tiny apartments, the bibliochaise captured our imaginations.

The Home Key has taken things even further with all sorts of furniture designed to hold your books while it simultaneously holds your booty...your meals...your...

Here's their cut table.

Their cut chair.

Their cut armchair.

An an actual cut bookcase.

For all sales info and orders, e-mail the company here.

[Via Design Milk]

Holy Crap, This Is Awesome!

Laureen Mahler — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:07:00 GMT

In the same way that I can never get enough David Shrigley or Scott C, I am completely infatuated with Marc Johns. Well, make that an infatuation with his illustrations, though I'm sure the man behind the pen is lovely. Johns finds this perfect balance between colorful whimsy and deadpan humor, and now his first book is about to hit the market:

[$14 presale, Amazon]

Serious Drawings collects Johns' work in sets, which include everything from "Drawings on Regular Paper" to "Drawings on Sticky Notes," and it's lovingly put together by arty publishing house teNeues. Check out more sneak peaks of the book here.

Is it gushing too much to say H is for Holy Crap This Is Awesome?

[via Swissmiss]

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Laureen Mahler — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:01:00 GMT

In the long-standing battle between pirates and Abraham Lincoln, there is much more than beard style and hat choice at stake. The real fight goes much deeper, into the annals of underground comics and Etsy treasure lists and hipster innuendo. Have our hearts been captured by Captain Jack's scintillating disregard for hygiene, or have we instead been hopelesly captivated by Lincoln's mysterious presidential smirk?

I think we can count this just-announced project as a win for Lincoln's side:

Publisher's Weekly recently announced that Seth Grahame-Smith (of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies literary fame) has agreed to pen Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It's rumored that Smith agreed to a publishing deal worth $575,000, due in no small part to the unexpected success of what is now affectionately known as P&P&Z, which has more than 100,000 copies in print since its April 1st release.

Of course, we here at MM could have told you that Jane Austen and zombies would be a big hit. And while there isn't a release date or press packet for AL:VH yet, we imagine that it will look something like this:

... with concentrated garlic bullets in that chain gun, of course.

Rest assured we'll be keeping a close eye on AL:VH developments; in the meantime, may the war of cool rage on to new depths of hilariousness.

Thanks to Diana for the tip!

Kurt Vonnegut Speaks from Beyond the Grave

Steph Auteri — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:55:00 GMT

According to pieces in Publishers Weekly and The New York Times, Delacorte Press will be publishing a collection of previously unpublished pieces by Vonnegut, due out in November.

Delacorte will also be issuing new editions of 15 Kurt Vonnegut titles, complete with artwork from the author.

For the type of art you're sure to be in store for, check out this shop's screenprints of Vonnegut's pieces:

[$375, Vonnegut]

[$500, Vonnegut]

Related: Class Up Your Fridge Art

Style Statement Contest Winner

Steph Auteri — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Last week, many of you entered the contest of win a copy of Style Statement.

lotusflower85, please step forward. E-mail me with your mailing address, and I'll have a copy sent directly to you.

As for axemgreen's mannequin conundrum, I used to have a mannequin in my old Boston apartment as well. We kept her in the corner of our living room, and dressed her up in hats and wraps. Definitely a statement piece!

Secret, Secret, I've Got a Secret

Alex Zalben — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:36:00 GMT

If we learned one thing from National Treasure II: Book of Secrets, it's that there's something about treasure that makes history so interesting. If we learned two things, it's that secrets are power:

This book has nothing to do with the movie, by the way. However, it does include secrets about everything... And they're all true.

[$6, Think Geek]

Book Review: Style Statement + Contest

Steph Auteri — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:19:00 GMT

[$16.49, Amazon]

Since beginning to blog here a little over a year ago, I've started to look at my surroundings with new eyes...and have come away disappointed. My fashion...my decor...there's no cohesiveness.

Which is where Style Statement comes in.

A book designed to help you "live life by your own design," the authors provide readers with introspective questions covering every aspect of their lives. These questions are then supposed to help you come up with a personal Style Statement, two words by which you then live by.

A lofty goal. I merely wanted to pick a style for redecorating purposes.

Still, I ended up surprised by how the questionnaires throughout the book spurred me to self-analysis.

Anyway. If you're looking for your own sense of style, this book is a fun way to find it. My Style Statement? Comfortable Nostalgic. Below, the living room I'd design using this statement as a guide:

I'd start with a pretty green couch of sufficient smooshiness, like this one, from Williams-Sonoma Home ($3,550-$7,450).
Then I'd start surrounding it with objects passed down from my parents and grandparents. Like the antique side table from my grandparents' living room, similar to the one above from JCPenney ($199).
And those pressed flowers in a frame that used to hang in my grandparents' basement, like this one from Etsy ($15).
And I have a ton of porcelain pieces, with sculptured flowers, that used to sit in my grandparents' china cabinet, like these vases above from Velocity ($68-$96), previously blogged about here at MM.
I also have a round, velvet pillow in deep purple that my mom used to have in her dorm room (p.s. they have round, velvet pillows at PBteen ($35)!).
Right now, it's sitting on my green, wingback chair, also from my grandparents' house. It has green, velvet, damask upholstery, sort of like the upholstery on this bench featured on Apartment Therapy, except that my chair is a much deeper green. You can see it with the pillow right here!
And finally, my mother gave me a gorgeous, purple carafe, that sort of reminds me of these vases from Z Gallerie ($22.95-$29.95).
I'd probably also spring for some gorgeous purple wallpaper, or at least some purple paint. Do you think I could get my husband to go for this?

Decorating with hand-me-downs is a great way to keep costs down, while also keeping pieces of your past intact. Do you have similar pieces handed down through your own family? Share in the comments! One of you — chosen randomly — will win a copy of Style Statement!

Pet (Owner) Product: Pretty and Pet-Friendly

Steph Auteri — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:33:00 GMT

[Photo via]

Quite often lately, people have been stopping mid-conversation to exclaim — out of the blue — "You have cats!"

And no, it's not because I walk around wearing a giant cat sweater.

I'm starting to feel...dirty. You can only imagine what my condo looks like.

[$11.55, Amazon]

Perhaps this book can save me?

[Via moderncat]

The Sweet and the Low: How to Get into Debt

Steph Auteri — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:03:00 GMT

[$9.95, Knock Knock]

You may think that $9.95 is a pretty good deal for learning how to get into debt. In fact, it even gets you part way there! But what if you're just considering getting into debt, and are not yet ready to take the plunge?

I totally offer get-into-debt consulting for free.

Book Of The Day: The Choice

Alex Zalben — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:03:00 GMT

Look, on the surface, there's nothing out of the ordinary about this romance novel. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't stop reading the description:

Poppy Miller is an exceptionally bright and ambitious student at a top British university. Determined to make her mark in politics, she has her mind set on finding a husband with similar aspirations to herself.

Stephen Mitchell, a second-year law student seems to fit the profile and the young pair begin a tender love affair and plan a future together. But then Dr James McLean, a rakish don, appears on the scene.

Poppy can't help feeling drawn to the older man, and the campus stories about his colourful past and masterful character only increase her fascination. She knows that a liaison with the darkly seductive McLean will change the course of her life, but perhaps deep down that is what she wants after all? Poppy has to make a choice: should she go with her head or with her heart?

Reasons I think I like this:

1. The names are totally generic, to the point of parody.

2. It's been a long time since I've ever met anyone in real life who is a "rakish don." And by long time, I don't think they exist outside of romance novels.

3. This is not a very good choice. Or at least, they don't do a really good job of selling it, as it sounds like she's choosing between a nice guy who completely fulfills her emotionally and sexually, or a gross old man who will destroy her life. It's like choosing the tiger (between the lady and the tiger), because you think it might be funny to have sex with a tiger.

Am I wrong? Doesn't this seem like a hilarious good time? I dunknow, I may also just be extra sleepy this morning.

[£8, LoveHoney]

Fellow Blogger is (Casserole) Crazy

Steph Auteri — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Apparently, while I've been sitting here for the past year, surfing through Etsy, Fred Flare, and all of my other favorite online shops, one of my fellow bloggers has actually been making something of herself.

[$5.99, Amazon]

Emily Farris of Nerve's Scanner blog has been publishing books and shit! I am so behind at life.

Enough Books To Fill Up a House

Steph Auteri — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:28:00 GMT

I have been out of bookcase space for quite some time now, and can merely dream of wall-to-wall books while I remain in this cramped one-bedroom unit.

Another option? Bookcases that double as decor. Because I totally have room for that. Right?

[$3,446, Normann-Copenhagen]

LOL Cats Sell Out

Laureen Mahler — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:38:00 GMT

[Image via]

A little while ago, Alex told you about the true origins of the LOL Cats: how their fuzzy shenanigans (not to mention priceless diction) actually started way back in the 1920s. Well, now you can have the original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats at home with you...

[$10, Amazon]

... with the new compilation of classic LOL comics. Selling out has never been so freakin' adorable.

And here's an image from A. Koford's blog, to give you a taste of what's inside that there treasury of cute:

[via Boing Boing]

The Most Disgusting Thing You Will Ever Buy [NSFWish]

Alex Zalben — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:02:00 GMT

You may be wondering why there's a picture of a cartoon cat under the post tite "The Most Disgusting Thing You Will Ever Buy," and that would be a good question. As you probably know, that's the Cheshire Cat from Disney's version of Alice in Wonderland. Well, what if it existed in real life?

I'm warning you, this is really, really gross:

Conceptual artist Alex CF created the piece, with a fascinating alternate history of how the cat was "acquired," which you can check out here. If you want to vomit every day for the rest of your life, you can purchase your very own cat corpse with case by contacting Alex at skinned_bunnies at yahoo.co.uk.

[Via Neatorama]

Related: Alice in Dinnerware

Like Bookshelf Pillows? Then You'll Love This...

Alex Zalben — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:05:00 GMT

Early today, Shaun posted the above pillowcase. As we all know, pillows go on beds, and beds need a good bedside table, right? May I suggest this:

Why not get a bed made of books, too, and then you'll go from "avid reader," to "some sort of library monster?"

[35€, Bonkarma]

[Via CribCandy]

How to Heart Your Geek Right

Steph Auteri — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:29:00 GMT

[$22, One Horse Shy]

How much do you heart your geek? Enough to sit down and watch The Universe? Enough to sit still and remain conscious while he talks about web coding? Enough to learn about what he loves, and then love it too?

Here. Let me help you.

[$9.95, Amazon]

i heart geeks is a handbook for all you geek freaks out there, desperate to learn more about video games, comic books and graphic novels, manga and anime, and other geeky pasttimes.

[Via Outblush]

Related: How To Date a Geek

Modern Proverbs

Diana Vilibert — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:21:00 GMT

I'm in love with graphic designer Nikki Farquharson's book of modern proverbs--there are a ton of witty ones in there. A few of my favorites after the jump. Finish this sentence: Keep your friends close and your enemies...

[via My Modern Met]

At-Home Education

Steph Auteri — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:19:00 GMT

Things I'd Like to Learn:

the ukulele
hang gliding
how to make all my favorite dishes
better photography techniques
crocheting

Things I Can Learn Just By Buying Show Me How:

how to create pressed flower artwork
how to boil an egg
how to fry an egg
how to make guacamole
how to make classic fried chicken
how to get the smoky eye look
how to choose a color palette for my home
how to create a memorable photo, take a steady shot, & create professional effects
a number of other things I never realized I needed to know

[$16.47, Amazon]

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Laureen Mahler — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:03:00 GMT

[Photo via]

[$13, Chronicle Books]

"The Classic Regency Romance—Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!"

What's this? Pride and Prejudice gets a zombie makeover? I have to admit, I am beside myself with excitement about this... preordering as I type...

DIY: Sexy Start-Up

Steph Auteri — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:36:00 GMT

[Photo via]

So I've been hanging around my condo, feeling like a drain on society, and trying to figure out what to do for some extra cash.

I mean, I blog here, but one cannot live on blogging alone.

Or rather, you can, but at the moment I'm not.

So I took a careful inventory of my interests (shopping and vibrators) and decided to open a sex shop.

[22.95, Self-Counsel Press]

As I'm not the most savvy businesswoman there is, it was obvious I needed help. Luckily, this book (with accompanying CD-ROM) actually exists.

Bedinger's book asks of me the usual questions for those planning a startup business, but then dives right into the nitty-gritty of the sex industry:

researching the market: adult video stores, adult bookstores/superstores, & women- and couple-friendly shops
location and market research
developing a business plan
financing your business
merchandise inventory and packaging
marketing and advertising
etc.

The CD-Rom goes further, including a resource guide (vendors, industry literature, and more) and printable worksheets.

In short, it's the startup business guide you'd want if you were starting any business, fleshed out with specifics for the industry at hand. For example, a section on customer service and sales techniques touches upon the comments you may hear from particularly obnoxious customers ("Will you model this for me?"), and tells you how to handle them. It also advises you to keep locks on your dressing room doors, so no one sneaks in there for nookie (hehe). Another section goes into every type of adult product you could ever think to stock, ensuring that you know your inventory like no one else.

Looking to get into something a little less...risque? Self-Counsel Press has a ton of these guides, including ones for bed & breakfasts, coffee bars, daycare, event planning, and more.

Boundless riches...here I come.

Playing Dress-Up With Your Man

Steph Auteri — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:55:00 GMT

[Photo via]

Aside from the winning combination of dark-wash jeans + blazer, male fashion is a mystery to me. In fact, I typically just buy my husband snarky T-shirts every Christmas.

Judging from the way he dresses on his own, male fashion is a mystery to (most) males as well. (My friends Dan and Matthew are exempt from this judgment, as they look perpetually like Ken dolls.)

Give a guy a hand:

[$13.45, Barnes & Noble]

I think I have to trust Esquire's judgment re: male fashion more than my own.

[Via MadeByGirl]

All Work And No Play...

Alex Zalben — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:02:00 GMT

This is the best movie to book tie-in I've ever seen:

Yup, this is a real book. Yes, it's actually 80 pages long.

[$24, Blurb.com]

[Via The Vault of Horror]

Famous Last Words Jewelry

Diana Vilibert — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:32:00 GMT

I wish I knew an English teacher to give one of these Famous Last Words necklaces to. More last words after the jump.

[$20, Etsy]

Gifts Under $50 for Media Nuts

Shaun Seneviratne — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:32:00 GMT

[photo via]

For the friend whose media center looks like this:

Movie Collector

If you currently keep track of your DVD collection with an Excel file, you may be in need of this. This program lets you manage your extensive library in a very organized way. You can also sort and search every field in the database and view statistics! What more could an obsessive-compulsive DVD collector ask for? Also available for music, books, comics, games, and mp3s.

Thanks to Mike for sending this in!

[$30+, Collectorz.com]

The Dark Knight: Limited Edition with Batpod [Blu-Ray]

One of my favorite movies ever. This version comes with a mini Batpod. I don't even have a Blu-Ray player yet and I'm going to buy this.

[$47, Amazon]

Rock Band 2

Because it's way more fun that Guitar Hero (though Guitar Hero World Tour looks pretty sweet). From Alanis and Blondie to Sonic Youth and The Replacements, this game boasts a song list that can incorporate everyone, no matter what music you like.

[$50+ (depending on platform and peripherals), Amazon]

All Consuming Images: The Politics of Style in Contemporary Culture

Some more academic reading. Another great look at media, the meaning of image, and how style has overtaken substance.

Thanks to Sara for sending this in!

[$21, Amazon]

This Book Has A Secret

Alex Zalben — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:36:00 GMT

This book has a beautiful secret, can you guess what it is? It's...

...a music box! Jennifer Khoshbin takes old books, and builds crankable music boxes right into them. They're not cheap, but this is such a lovely idea, it's completely worth the money.

[$165, Etsy]

Related: Judging a Book By Its Cover