Sometimes you’re overtaken with enthusiasm and want to share discoveries, old or new, with friends. Well we’re all friends on The Contender, so here are some current favorites in my orbit.
(Just a reminder that Just a reminder, I receive nono money from these links. These are just things really I really like!)
-Wythe New York. I’ve always enjoyedenjoyed this menswear brand, which that makes really good moleskin Western shirts. Now they’ve opened a fantastic store on Orchard Street, (which we discussed on our latest podcast). I love the world they’re building, which includes incredible outerwear and smart accessories. Think independent RRL and you’ve got a good idea.
-The Shooting Party. I don't recommend novels often and generally don’t like them recommended to me. They’re a big thematic commitment. But when Darrell Hartman (whose new book I’ve praised before) gave me a copy of this 1981 novel by Isabel Colegate, I politely added it to the stack. When I started reading I couldn’t stop. A historical story of a—wait for it—shooting party, at a stately home. This is finely observed and damning and human at the same time. All at a tidy 200 pages, which you don't want to end. Fantastic. (As usual look for a good historic edition, I just link to Amazon for ease, synopsis, etc.)
-Sake. Now we all like sake, but generally it’s for restaurants. It’s hard to commit to a bottle and drink it at home. How do we choose? What if we’re wrong? What if there’s a better bottle we don’t know about? These are all good concerns, but don’t let your fear of expertise keep you from getting into a good thing. I look for a dry Junmai Daiginjo and usually do pretty well. Compare a few and if you find one you like less then that tells you you’re learning something. Don’t be fussy about it, but definitely feel free to buy a ceramic bottle and some cups for your new hobby.
-Slow Horses. This Apple TV show about the British secret service starring Gary Oldman is not exactly under the radar, but it’s just about the perfect equation. Season Three comes in December, so it’s a good time to catch up with engrossing, hysterical and not self-serious show based on Mick Herron’s novels about washed-up spies that solve crimes (or make them worse), in tidy 6-episode arcs. Occasionally violent but mostly cerebral and viscerally exciting.
-Buying Flies for Next Season. My love of Discountflies.com has been documented in such august publications as The New Yorker. They just had their big annual sale and let’s say I took the opportunity to order…many flies. Will I be fishing with any of them until next April? I will not. But I like to restore my (ahem) library of fly boxes while I look forward to next spring. I’m sure this works for other hobbies besides fishing. You might start getting your advanced wardrobe tidied up—linen repaired, bucks re-soled, sweaters darned—it’s a way to extend your passions (low-grade obsessions? life pursuits?) that much longer.
-Re-Listening to Audiobooks. Now this is about as inefficient a use of your time as there is. And that’s all right! Not everything has to be logical or even constructive. I was on a road trip and wanted to get in the mood by hearing the excellent Malcolm Hillgartner read the even more excellent E.B. White’s Essays. Now I’ve read these many times and now I’ve listened to them a few more times. What does this mean? Well, it helps me get inside some of my favorite writing. And, on a broader level, it’s just reassuring, especially when the world feels upside down. If you love a great writer why limit yourself? Why not go all the way?
-Indulgent Shoes. I was talking to an Italian friend who’s in the clothing industry. He’s of course beautifully dressed and all the rest. He was talking about his favorite pair of Alden’s. And, honestly, the passion he felt for those shoes was impressive (Cordovan just sounds better with an Italian accent). He’s a young guy and he wistfully said that they cost so much. Yes, I said, they certainly do. But of all the things you wear and spend money on I think a pair of shoes that you love should be at the top of the list. Already have your dream shoes? Then get that dream overcoat.
-The Habit of Gifts. Being back in Tokyo reminded me just how wonderful the Japanese are at giving gifts. We all know it but it’s still something to witness. One key is to make it a habit. Seasonal food is the best, but also small things—paper goods, flowers, why not a sake glass (which can be used for anything), linen napkins, really good toothpicks. These are all great. So let’s make it a pattern this season and every season.
Curse you Coggins, I’ve bought another book!
I remember asking the salesperson at Waterstones for a recommendation after finishing the Patrick Melrose novels. I asked for more stories about depraved British aristocrats, she gave me The Shooting Party and I loved it!