Mailbox Monday: Elegance, Toasts, and Colette

I got a handful of new (to me) books when I stopped by the Cat Thrift Store last week. What books came into your house last week?

Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro. This is her first novel, published in 2003. It’s the story of a woman inspired to makeover her life when she finds a copy of a French guide to style by Geneviève Antoine-Dariaux.

I haven't read any of Tessaro's books yet, but I snapped this up because back in college in the 1980s I found and devoured a copy of Dariaux’s 1964 Elegance: A Complete Guide for Every Women Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions. I still have it and love it.

Toasts: Over 1,500 of the Best Toasts, Sentiments, Blessings, and Graces, compiled by Paul Dickson, illustrated by Rollin McGrail. I grabbed this one for fun.

Break of Day by Colette. I read a lot of Colette in college and have her earlier novels sitting on my shelves waiting to reread them, maybe. This is a later novella that I may or may not get to.

I wonder if Colette should only be read when young? I don't know if my 50-something self can tolerate what I think I remember Colette books to be like. But maybe I should give them another try. Or maybe I should start with the Keira Knightley movie about Colette to get in the proper frame of mind.

I found all three at the Cat Adoption Team thrift store, which is one of my favorite Portland book haunts. They keep a rotating stock of used books that are always in excellent condition.

Thanks for joining me for Mailbox Monday, a weekly "show & tell" blog event where participants share the books they acquired the week before. Visit the Mailbox Monday website to find links to all the participants' posts and read more about Books that Caught our Eye.

Mailbox Monday is graciously hosted by Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, and Martha of Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.