Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists charts the downward spiral of a Herald Tribune-esque newspaper based in Rome from its creation in the heyday of newspapers to today’s circulation-reduced, digitally-oriented times. Each chapter features a different employee of the newspaper and their personal and professional lives. As a journalism grad who ended up working in marketing and business, I get a bit sentimental about what my life would have been had I followed that path. This book was fascinating to me for that reason but I think just anybody who loves a good novel would love The Imperfectionists. What I especially loved were the characters and how well-developed and interesting they and their stories were.

I pictured the outfit as something a busy reporter would wear; practical without being plain. I mean, after all, the book is set in Rome, one of the fashion capitals of the world, right?

Get the book: The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

Get the look: Topshop shirt, Kate Spade iPad cover, Marc by Marc Jacobs watch, Topshop skirt, Topshop shoe boots & Ileana Makri earrings

Stop trying to be perfect and start being remarkable. Seth Godin is an extremely popular business inspiration writer and with good reason. A spin-off of his book The Purple Cow, The Big Moo is his collection of 33 inspiring stories contributed by successful entrepreneurs. It’s about the simple insights that can be gained when you think outside of the box. Don’t be like everyone else; find a way to be different, to be remarkable. The Boo and I were reading a lot of Seth Godin in 2008, when he launched his agency Remarkable (or Remarquable as we call it in French).  The name is no coincidence.

I highly recommend this book, even if you don’t usually read business books: above all it’s about creativity and taking risks, which can apply to all aspects of life. Ever the digitally savvy guy, Godin provides a free excerpt of the book so you can see what it’s all about before you buy.

Get the book: The Big Moo edited by Seth Godin

Get the look: Acne shirt, Mulberry satchel, Topshop cardigan, YSL ring, Miu Miu pumps & Jenni Kayne skirt

Mary Gaitskill is a discovery for me. Truth be told I’m only three-quarters of the way through this book of short stories, but it’s enough to say that I want to read all her other books.  Bad Behavior features dark, twisted, sordid affairs. People lost in their thoughts and struggling with their memories and perversions. Her writing is very tight and free of any embellishments. Raw and to the point. Love love love this book!

And I love the outfit.  I love long, baggy sweaters over skinny jeans. Simple handbags and shoes. It’s classic and simple. Would you wear this outfit?

Get the book: Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill

Get the look: Joseph tunic, Givenchy bag, 3.1 Phillip Lim necklace, Vince skinny jeans & Marc Jacobs oxfords

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan is the first book I finished on my iPad.  So I didn’t get to physically feel a book in my hands, glance at its lovely cover every day. But I found it super comfortable and convenient to read a book on the iPad. I highly recommend it (or the Kindle, or any other e-reader really).

This is the best book I’ve read in many months. It’s about rock n’ roll. The circuity of relationships. Technology. Ageing. And it’s funny: really funny and quirky. One of the chapters is a Powerpoint presentation. What’s not to love?

And so here’s the book cover in outfit form. It’s a “going to a show” outfit. Something one of the characters would wear. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t wear leather shorts myself. Not that I don’t think they’re nice, it’s that they take guts to wear. But this outfit would make them easier to pull off, no?

Get the book: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Get the look: Zoe Karssen t-shirt, House of Harlow ring, Alexander Wang leather shorts, Matthew Williamson belted cardigan, Alexander Wang wedges, Alexander Wang bag & House of Harlow earrings