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Dressing Renaissance Florence: took me awhile to get through this one, but it was due to lack of time rather than lack of interest. It is extraordinarily well researched but not intimidatingly academic, and touches on not just the clothing but related subjects as well - clothing as display of wealth and status (and the different expressions of men and women), the effort/expense/social significance of wedding trousseaux, the role of both professional tailors and the women of the house in clothing manufacture and embellishment; also some discussion about the weaving/textile/dyeing industries. Illustrated (regrettably in black and white, but detailed). Recommended :)

Can't Stop, Won't Stop: a history of hip-hop and the context(s) in which it was created, popularized, and commercialized. I didn't know much about hip hop/rap culture before I read this, which is why I picked it up. It's not just a listing of record releases or interviews with major stars (though there is that), but also background about why, where, and how hip hop culture arose, and what it was before it was co-opted by MTV. Even if you have no interest in the music at all, it's worth reading for the political and social history. Recommended.

Practical Demonkeeping: I enjoyed Lamb and had dawdled about picking up more Christopher Moore, and wish I hadn't - this isn't as consistently funny as Lamb but serves as an excellent novel to "break up" chapters in the heavier tomes I've been reading. Will likely pick up more of his, if only because I like the titles :)

The Long Summer: picked up because I've been eyeing The Little Ice Age for awhile, and I thought this might be a companion piece about the "medieval warm period" so I was eager to check it out before the Medieval Congress. Turns out that this is more about prehistoric climate shifts and changes, but is still interesting. I think this would be useful to read alongside any of Jared Diamond's books about geography and culture - despite all human effort and ingenuity sometimes success really comes down to geographic place and climactic time.

Best Bondage Erotica: heard good things about the editor and borrowed out of curiosity; not very far in but there is tastiness here for most orientations :)

The Tudor Tailor: Just received yesterday so I haven't had a chance to take a good look yet, but a flip through seems promising - lots of color photos and tiny, detailed text!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have "The Long Summer" on my own must-read list and had also assumed it was about the medieval warm period. Still want to read it though, and will hope that a medieval volume is on the author's must-write list.

"Practical Demonkeeping" was the first Moore book I ever read, so reading "Lamb" was, for me, an "Oh boy, Catch's past" thing (along with enjoying the entire ride). Really must get 'round to reading more of him ...

P.S. Have a yummy modern Japanese fashion history in the notes for the next "Desktop" :-)

It's been awhile since I read Lamb - is Catch in it? If so, I might need to reread, because I'm SERIOUSLY missing something :P

Japanese fashion? [perks ears]

Yes, Catch is the guardian demon in the fortress that's inhabited by one of the magi ... Biff and Jesus have a very narrow escape from him.

Because I'd already read "Practical Demonkeeping" (which was Moore's first novel), I recognized Catch immediately when reading "Lamb." One of the reasons I have to read more Moore ... to see if this demon is in all the novels. :-)

Yes, Japanese fashion. With a section on Miyake. :-) If I remember to grab my notes on Friday when leaving work, I'll be doing a "Desktop" post this weekend.

If you're enjoying "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" you might like Nelson George's Hip Hop America. It's one of the first books written about hip hop's beginnings.

I just finished "Reading The L Word". It's a book of essays about the Showtime television series. It's funny how reading about The L Word is more enjoyable than watching The L Word.

I also read Bait and Switch by Barbara Ehrenreich. That book's moral is basically this: career coaches and networking seminars are a scam for mid-level white collar workers as are most of the pseudo-psychological tests given to potential employees.

Thanks for the tip re: Hip Hop America - local library has; when I have the time I know I can get it :)

And I should really try to see a bit more of the L Word, at least to have some idea what people are talking about!

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