Le monde de Tokyobanhbao: Blog Mode gourmand

The books I read in 2022

Sat 25 Feb, 2023 · Art, Culture

After my fashion shopping review of 2022, in another theme, I thought it would be interesting to list the books I read in 2022.

Even if I consider that opinions/feelings can differ from one person to another (as for the cinema) and that my opinion is far from being universal, it might give you some reading inspirations.

REDISCOVER THE PLEASURE OF READING

For the past 2 years, I’ve been reading progressively and I notice that I take more and more pleasure in it, as I always had trouble concentrating.

Since my schooling (during which I used to read more by obligation), I started to enjoy reading again with easy to read Japanese novels (by Ogawa Ito for example) by reading every day at breakfast about twenty pages.

Then, as time went by, I learned to concentrate more and I can now read much longer and almost at any time of the day (except in the evening at bedtime because I fall asleep quickly after 2 pages, whether it is captivating or not). In the end, I read 24 books last year.

The idea is not to read as many books as possible and make a performance out of it. I am simply happy to have opened a door that I was closing with the excuse of lack of time or lack of attention. I realize that when you can find themes that you like, reading becomes more natural and diligent. And for the lack of time, it is ultimately a question of priority (reading allows me to get away from the screens, which is not bad).

In this article, I will try to classify my read books by categories. There is a thin line between “favorite” and “good reading moment” but the idea is to mark a small difference in appreciation among my list.

If you have read some of these books, please let me know your feedbacks in the comments: I’m always curious to read common or divergent opinions on books, like a movie debrief.

MY FAVORITES

These are books that made me feel a lot of emotions and that I was looking forward to reading every day. I may read them again in the future.

LE JARDIN ARC-EN-CIEL by OGAWA ITO
Maybe my favorite book of the Japanese author Ogawa Ito. An ode to tolerance, love and the sweetness of life in a cocoon atmosphere, following the life of this homoparental family told in turn by each of its members.

THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES by HIRO ARIKAWA
I didn’t really know what to expect when I read this novel which involves a cat in the narration. This cat tells his daily life and his life as an adopted stray cat. As the reading goes on, we get attached to the characters. Without revealing too much, this story will certainly touch your heart, because of the sincerity of the relationships described and its sensitivity.

PACHINKO by MIN JIN LEE
I had already talked about it in an instagram post if you want to read a more detailed review. I really enjoyed this Korean family saga that takes place over several generations in Korea and Japan. I even preferred the novel over the series (which approaches the story in a different order) even though the latter is still of high quality.

MY GOOD READING MOMENTS

STRANGE WEATHER IN TOKYO by HIROMI KAWAKAMI
I have read the novel as well as the comic book illustrated by Jirō Taniguchi. I also told my opinion on this instagram post.

LE GOÛTER DU LION by ITO OGAWA
The last novel of Ogawa Ito translated in French, again I had a good time reading it. This time, the end of life is approached with an incredible serenity, in a paradisiacal Japanese island. My full review can be read here.

THE MEMORY POLICE by YÔKO OGAWA
A novel about an imaginary island where objects disappear little by little while fading from the memories of its inhabitants. Secret police, clandestine refugees are present in this metaphor of totalitarian regimes which sometimes becomes oppressive but gives food for thought. This story will obviously be adapted into a feature film soon and I understand why. While reading, I had the impression of being embarked in a movie.

LE POIDS DES SECRETS (TSUBAKI, HAMAGURI, TSUBAME, WASURENAGUSA, HOTARU) by AKI SHIMAZAKI
This pentalogy includes 5 novels to read in a row: Tsubaki, Hamaguchi, Tsubame, Wasurenagusa, Hotaru. The first one, Tsubaki sets the basis of this tormented family story and the 4 others describe a narrative point of view of 4 other characters, allowing to discover new secrets. Even if the sequence of the 5 works is sometimes redundant, I still enjoyed reading these books that reveal the underbelly of a Japanese family during the 2nd World War, while highlighting the social pressure and intolerance that can result from it.

A ZOO IN WINTER by JIRŌ TANIGUCHI
Another comic book that was in my library and that I never took the time to read. Always a good time to read a work of Jirō Taniguchi. Here, it is an almost autobiographical story about the beginnings of a young mangaka.

THE MIRACLES OF THE NAMIYA STORE by KEIGO HIGASHINO
I liked the fantastic side of this story on the background of time travel and stories cleverly interwoven. A very pleasant reading.

CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN by SAYAKA MURATA
A short and easy to read novel about Keiko, a 36 years old Japanese woman with an atypical personality, working in a konbini (local supermarket). This book questions society’s expectations, our uniqueness and what can bring us our own happiness.

L’ÂGE BÊTE by GÉRALDINE DORMOY
An honest and unfiltered look at adolescence, this period full of doubts but also of discoveries and carefree spirit. Géraldine tells her story by illustrating it with musical, advertising and cultural references of the time (90’s) while confronting it with her adult point of view and that of her relatives.

LES ENFANTS SONT ROIS by DELPHINE DE VIGAN
I was surprised by the “suspenseful” turn of this book that allows us to reflect on our presence on social networks and those of our children. It is sometimes annoying or even chilling, but the story is well-paced and will allow some introspection for Instagram addicts and will convince the uninitiated to stay away from it.

CHARLOTTE PERRIAND UNE ARCHITECTE FRANÇAISE AU JAPON by CHARLES BERBERIAN
A comic book to know the Japanese part of the life of the architect Charlotte Perriand. The story is quite short but it makes you want to know more about her life, her work and the interview with her daughter is very interesting and inspiring.

EN ATTENDANT BOJANGLES by OLIVIER BOURDEAULT : I had done a review of my reading, coupled with the viewing of the movie on this instagram post. I admit I preferred the movie to the novel, which I found disturbing at times, considering the narrator was a child. I had much more emotion with the movie and Virginie Efira’s masterful performance.

THE BOOKS THAT I LIKED MODERATELY

The following books were not unpleasant to read but they are stuck between “I liked” and “I didn’t like” so I put them in this category.

TOKYO VICE by JAKE ADELSTEIN : I wanted to read the story before diving into the TV series. The action in the book takes quite a while to set up, unlike the series. It’s more like the diary of a young American journalist in Japan describing his dealings with the police and the yakuza (Japanese mafia). The darker side of Japanese society is revealed in detail, which is still interesting, but I found that the reading was not very easy or fluid: Everything drags. I would prefer the series if I had to choose.

LA CONFIANCE EN SOI, UNE PHILOSOPHIE by CHARLES PEPIN
Lent to me by a friend who praised its merits, I read it more out of curiosity. Not that I consider myself to be very self-confident, but as I am not very familiar with personal development books, I was especially curious to read the advice given by Charles Pépin. Some inspiring and useful tips to put into practice, despite some repetitions (the book could have been summarized in a few pages) may help some of you to believe more in themselves.

TROP INTELLIGENT POUR ÊTRE HEUREUX : L’ADULTE SURDOUÉ by JEANNE SIAUD FACHIN
This book was recommended to me because my way of thinking (tree-like thinking) or of interacting with others may suggest an HPI type profile. Well, at the same time, it’s a bit of a trend at the moment: everyone discovers that they are HPI and/or hypersensitive when this is not necessarily the case. It’s like reading the descriptions of your astrological sign, there are bound to be characteristics in which you recognize yourself. But to be sure, you’d have to go to a psychologist (and that costs a certain amount of money: between 200 and 600€ apparently). I’m not sure that I want to invest this amount of money right now, especially since it doesn’t particularly handicap me in my personal or professional social relationships.

So to begin with, I wanted to look at this book, which focuses on the characteristics of the gifted adult. I recognized myself in most of the examples but did not find any practical advice (it often goes in circles). Even though I didn’t expect a revelation or that it would change my life (it’s not a substitute for a real HPI test), my reading ended up being half-hearted.

THE BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE

Here are classified the books that I continued to read until the end but without real passion and sometimes with a certain boredom, even annoyance.

LA TRACE by RICHARD COLLASSE
An autobiography (obviously a bit fictionalized) of the boss of Chanel in Japan. We follow his first steps in the land of the rising sun during his youth and his experiences as a Westerner discovering the East. I hated the condescending tone throughout the book. Add to that a somewhat homophobic remark at the beginning of the story and a romance that I didn’t believe in (in which the author brags rather unsubtly). In short, this novel made me roll my eyes, even if some geographical descriptions of Japan brought back memories.

TOUT LE BLEU DU CIEL by MELISSA DA COSTA
This best-selling book was given to me by a friend who was particularly touched by the story. The story is about a young man condemned by early onset Alzheimer’s, who decides to go on a road trip without telling his family, but by announcing that a stranger will also be part of the trip. I found the scenario absolutely predictable and expected, as well as the construction of the characters too much copied on a cliché “trend of the moment” as if the author had wanted to check the boxes of a bingo of well-being, good mood and good feelings. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel much emotion (even more so when I feel that someone wants to make me feel it at all costs) and I had the feeling that I was faced with a rather mawkish television summer saga.

CHANGER L’EAU DES FLEURS by VALÉRIE PERRIN
A bit of the same syndrome as the previous book in my opinion. I didn’t manage to get into this story of a cemetery janitor flayed by life at all. The character of Violette Toussaint and the overall story seemed to me to be too full of clichés: a lot of misfortunes, secondary characters too original and nice to be credible and good feelings forced. A few small hooks (a plot makes you want to unravel its mystery) but it wasn’t enough. This book kept me at a distance from the emotions.

PS : The pictures were taken at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (rue de Richelieu) a place I recommend for the beauty of its reading rooms (Salle ovale and Salle Labrouste) but also for the choice of books listed. It is also possible to visit the exhibitions of the museum part. (English translation by Quiterie)

My 2022 fashion review

Sun 8 Jan, 2023 · Fashion

This is the 3rd year that I’ve been doing this fashion or shopping assessment. It’s a perfect way to review my way of consumption and to realize if what I bought in my dressing room was useful/qualitative.

As for the previous times, I list the acquisitions I made this year, either through gifts or purchases. Here we go!

9 NEW ITEMS IN 2022: 5 PURCHASES AND 4 GIFTS

If we compare with 2020 (=8 acquisitions including 3 purchases) and 2021 (=13 acquisitions including 7 purchases), we can say that I remain constant and rather moderate in my consumption of clothes/accessories.

My purchases this year are not the most exciting in terms of style, but they are in the area of usefulness or the satisfaction of a passion. So I’ll start my listing with the gifts I received, from friends and family who know my tastes well, to finish with my more basic purchases.

THE SCARF FROM ATELIER PARTICULIER

Pale pink scarf Atelier Particulier

Gift date: March 2022 (late birthday gift from my friend Lionel)

My daily use : This alpaca wool scarf is soft, warm and of very good quality. I wore it mostly at the end of last spring and will wear it with as much pleasure this winter. The choice of the pale pink color is quite judicious because it allows me to enhance my outfits with a certain sobriety, while matching the chromatic palette of my wardrobe (mainly grey, beige, off-white, khaki).

THE L/UNIFORM CAP

Cap L/UNIFORM

Gift date : January 2022 (for my birthday from my SO)

My daily use : Since I have medium-length hair, the cap is one of my favorite accessories to make my outfits more “Sportswear-chic”. This one is perfect because the tone of colors present (khaki and beige) also harmonizes with the majority of my clothes. I like its “American College” look. Special mention to the 100% French manufacturing in Caussade (Tarn-et-Garonne) and to its composition (linen/cotton) very pleasant in summer.

THE SÉZANE EARRINGS

Earrings “Juan” Sézane

Gift date : January 2022 for my birthday (from my darling = definitely, I was spoiled !)

My daily use : I wore them during the whole year 2022. I’ve been looking for a pair of large/wide hoop earrings for a while and these are perfect. They are gold plated and slightly hammered, which gives them a not quite classic touch. So far, they’re staying nice and gold and not turning black. That said, if you have any tips on how to maintain or recover the gold plating on a piece of jewelry, I’m all ears!

THE “TADAO ANDO” TOTEBAG FROM BOURSE DE COMMERCE

Totebag “Tadao Ando” Bourse de commerce Pinault Collection

Gift date : June 2022 during a private visit of the Bourse de Commerce

My daily use : Unlike a few years ago, I wear my leather bags very occasionally. On a daily basis, I prefer totebags, which are lighter and more all-terrain. I can store much more stuff in them (compartmentalized in pockets) and don’t have to worry about taking care of them… What a joy it was to receive one with a printed sketch of my favorite Japanese architect Tadao Ando on it. It’s a grey color and matches my wardrobe (it’s a nice change from the off-white and black totebag).

THE ISSEY MIYAKE SUNGLASSES

Sunnies EL-2 Round Issey Miyake

Date of purchase : August 2022

Why I bought them : As I’ve already explained in this article, I’ve been looking for years to invest in a pair of quality sunglasses in a fun, sleek and modern style that’s more classic and less massive than my Carlina from Chloé. I came across them during a walk in the Marais, tried them on and adopted them.

My daily use : I wore them mostly during my vacations in September and I’m delighted that they match most of my outfits while remaining light and original. A long term investment (I hope).

THE BASTILLE T-SHIRT

Tee-shirt “Club 57” Bastille

Date of purchase : May 2022

Why I bought it : I had seen a special edition of this teeshirt, sold at a London concert of my favorite band Bastille, and when its general public version was released online a few months later, I couldn’t help but fall for it. You know my love for this band… and going to see them live last November was the impetus for me to adopt this shirt in anticipation of wearing it that night!

My daily use : I don’t regret this purchase, more guided by the heart than by the reason… even if I appreciate the design inspired by Keith Haring (in connection with the song “Club 57” of the band Bastille) and the colors. I only wore it twice so as not to damage it too much but I plan to take it out again when the weather is nice (the touch of red allows me to make coherent dress combinations) or at a future concert of the band.

THE LOTSO TOTEBAG

Totebag Lotso Miniso and an overview of the type of outfit I can wear at Disneyland Paris (+ an attack by Lotsos)

Date of purchase : May 2022

Why I bouht it : Once again, the heart more than the reason guided this purchase. I fell in love with this totebag (far from being a basic, haha) while visiting a Miniso store (which is, admittedly, the devil in terms of useless gadgets and as eco-responsible as a fast-fashion store… but hey!). The fact is that I love this character Lotso from Toy Story (who is far from being known for his kindness, but that’s another debate!) and that I already own a few accessories with his likeness reserved for my trips to Disneyland. I found this totebag pretty, practical and clever (with its little fluffy tail on the back), so it was naturally adopted!

My daily use : This accessory is one of those that I consider useful for going to Disneyland. I don’t wear it at all on a daily basis (although I could, if I were in the mood) because I reserve it to add a little magic to my visits to the park. When I go there, I like to dress up according to a character (I wore this totebag on a Halloween day) so it allows me to bring a bit of fantasy to my outfit while allowing optimal storage of my stuff (unlike the little plush Lotso bag I bought in Japan, with almost purely decorative functions). In short, a purchase I don’t regret either, which won’t be understood/loved by everyone but still useful (sporadically, but useful anyway).

MUJI SEAMLESS PANTIES

Panties MUJI

Date of purchase : April 2022

Why I bought them : Reason more than heart this time! Simply because almost all my panties gave out on me at the same time and I wanted to stock up on comfortable seamless panties (these are made in Japan). They are not sexy at all (the shape and the color are very basic, however they remain invisible through light clothes) BUT am I known to be a sexy person ? 😉 And then being comfortable in your clothes is also being better in your skin and by extension, it’s sexy, right?

My daily use : I bought low waist “midi” models and “High rise” models (By the way, I only counted these panties in my fashion balance sheet for 1 garment because of the unfunky side of the thing). After several months of use, I would recommend more the midi shape because the high rise is less comfortable (…on the buttocks, go figure!). But apart from that, I am satisfied with their fit and comfort.

MUJI SOCKS

Socks “Right angle sneaker socks” MUJI

Date of purchase : April 2022

Why I bought them : Another unglamorous purchase to replace my short socks that I usually wear with sneakers in summer.

My daily use :They have a perfect length (you can hardly see them when I wear them with Converse) AND they don’t slip under the foot when walking (who else has experienced this problem with too short socks?). In short, I totally validate them.

THE AVOIDED PURCHASE

THE REPAIR OF MY NEW BALANCE 420

Sneakers NEW BALANCE 420 (I have from July 2014)

Date of repair : July-August 2022

Reasons of the repair : The back of the sneakers were all torn up after several years of service (they are from 2014), le sole unstuck and the upper was dirty/worn. I was tempted to replace them with a new, more fashionable pair, but my instinct was to get them repaired since the sole was still intact. It cost me almost the price of a new pair (80€).

My daily use : I’m satisfied to have resisted the temptation of the novelty (even for this price) because after this small blow of nine, I think that my sneakers will hold some more years. That’s what we call an avoided purchase via an extension of the life of your shoes and I’m pretty proud of it.

MY ASSESSMENT

My fashion consumption is still quite frugal, especially if you compare it to my early days as a fashion blogger when I had a lot of stuff. I have everything I need in my wardrobe (I still have rain boots on my radar but I’m taking my time in this quest) and my body type and style remain pretty much the same from year to year so that helps a lot. I might have skipped the fancier purchases (Lotso or Bastille type) but as long as I get pleasure or lasting use out of it, I consider it a successful acquisition.

I am still very excited to put together an outfit with what I own or to admire new clothing combinations in shop windows or on networks but the need to own something new is no longer essential for me. I had given some explanations on this instagram post.

Age, self-awareness, a certain confidence, ecological concern, the slightest desire to be trendy or to position my physical appearance at the forefront help to channel me on purchases.

But as I say every time, this path of reasoned consumption is very personal and depends on multiple social, economic, morphological (weight gain or loss) and mental health factors. The idea is not to feel guilty if you continue to buy 20, 30 or 50 items per year. The idea is to know if these 20, 30, 50 purchases really satisfy you. The goal of this type of annual fashion assessment is to question your desires, your needs, the image you have of yourself in order to be able to approach a more serene consumption and why not more reasoned.

Did you evolve on this level by doing your fashion assessment? (English translation by Quiterie)

Happy new year 2023 !

Sun 1 Jan, 2023 · Art, Illustration

I started this ritual 5 years ago in 2018 and always look forward to this little get-together to personally send you my best wishes. This past year has been closer to normal in terms of my social interactions (considering the previous 2 years under the sign of distancing) and I am infinitely grateful to have been able to experience these precious and warm moments. Let’s hope it will be the same for 2023!

SERENITY AND HAPPINESS FOR 2023!

More than ever, I wish you a year 2023 filled with good health and energy to allow you to achieve whatever you wish to undertake and this, in all fields.

Since experience has taught us not to picture ourselves too far into the future either, may you savor the small and great pleasures of everyday life, in the most serene way possible, so that 2023 will keep its most beautiful promises!

MY GREETING CARD OF THE YEAR

I wanted to stay in the winter and snowy atmosphere with this snowball containing this scene of life reflecting what can make me dream in terms of small and big happiness: A Japanese atmosphere, calm, nature, a cozy place …

This imaginary place is inspired by what I saw during my winter trip to Japan in 2018: Onsen, traditional wooden house, snowflakes. I just added a frozen lake for skating, although I’m not sure it’s very credible to have it next to a hot spring… but you get the idea 🙂

A little nod to the 2023 lunar year which will be under the sign of the cat (or rabbit) with this little “Mizuhiki” bow surrounding the snowball.

A SIGNED CARD FOR YOU

As usual, the principle is simple to try to receive one signed by me in your mailbox. You have to:

Leave me a comment below
Tell me if you prefer to receive the blue or green card
Tell me about your wishes for 2023 (you never know, writing them on this blog may have the power to make them come true?)
You have until SUNDAY JANUARY 8th at midnight to do so!

I will choose 20 people to whom I will send my wishes by mail. Thank you for being here and participating … and once again, happy 2023 to you! (English translation by Quiterie)

EDIT : Thanks for your best wishes and comments below : Once again let me wish you a happy new year full of serenity ! Here are the people who will receive a greeting card by mail (check your mailbox and spams) : thanks again for entering my annual contest and happy new year !