My Current Favorites – [April 2026]: Books, Curator, Lord of the Rings
April marks our move to Tahiti (French Polynesia), so I’ve been more into boxes than books, but I still managed to carve out some time to recharge.
Books
Calligraphy: The Complete Guide by Julien Chazal
After borrowing several calligraphy books from the library, I came to the conclusion that this one was the best for beginners. It has few fonts, but the info is super comprehensive for learning. There’s a lot of information on the different types of pens, papers, and historical contexts of each font. I brought very few hobbies with me to Tahiti, but calligraphy is one of them because it doesn’t require much space or weight, and it’s very meditative.
North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Folio Society edition
I watched the BBC miniseries and loved it!
I wanted to read the book, but it took me a while to find the best edition of North & South in English. In the end, I went with the Folio Society one, which is slightly illustrated.
It’s always a huge pleasure to discover a text for the first time in a beautiful edition. I prefer this novel to Pride & Prejudice; I find Lizzie from Pride & Prejudice a bit silly, whereas Margaret is intelligent, cultured, mature, and not afraid to change her mind. Mr. Thornton is much more of a gentleman than Mr. Darcy. I believe this novel isn’t very well-known in France, but trust me, it’s really better than Pride & Prejudice.
You can find it in French in pocket format (Amazon link)
Taoist Philosophers Volume 1, Pléiade collection
I love this book so much that it’s one of the few books I’m taking with me to Tahiti (Amazon link, Fnac link). Note, however: there are two editions, and you need to make sure to choose the most recent one (2022), recognizable by the mention “I” (volume I) on the cover. Among the many French translations of the Tao Te Ching I’ve consulted, none really convinced me (including this one). On the other hand, the introductions in this book are remarkable, and the translation of the Guodianversion, the oldest of the Tao Te Ching, is a major asset (though I recommend reading the canonical version first). I use it as a reference for my own translation of a book dedicated to the Tao Te Ching/Dao De Jing. When I’m tired, I read a page or two and it gives me a lot of energy and optimism.
The other major asset of this work is the translation of two other Taoist authors, Zhuangzi and Liezi, whose text is more explicit and vivid than Laozi’s—the notes allow you to link the three, for example, if there’s an idea expressed in the Tao Te Ching but also expressed by Zhuangzi, the notes will point that out. Moreover, the notes are at the bottom of the page, unlike other Pléiade editions where the notes are often 800 pages further.
There are several schools of Taoism; the esoteric school is well-known for its longevity methods, but this book deals only with the original Taoism of the three founders.
If the texts seem too obscure, read and reread the introductions because the essence of the texts is there. I’ll quote a few passages that I really liked:
“Philosophical Taoism is a wisdom; if it’s not a method, it’s a project: to extract oneself from the social and political to turn toward one’s root (the return movement is the essential characteristic of the dao). […]
Taoists favor emptiness where any reasonable person aims to fill themselves (with knowledge, wealth, pleasures, occupations, and other distractions) […]
If nature is what the sage takes as more than a reference, but a model, it’s because it is exemplary in that it provides perfection, since it is perfect by essence. “To perfect oneself” is therefore to cultivate in oneself this native perfection conferred on things by heaven / dao from all time” […]
Taoist thinkers value intuition as a privileged mode of apprehending phenomena. […]
There is no greater misfortune than not knowing how to be content
By being content with what is enough,
one always finds oneself with enough […]
The wise man […] places no value on goods that are hard to obtain“
Book lovers are going to be shocked to see me highlighting a book from the Pléiade collection, but with a very fine, not too hard pencil (I use the HB from Faber-Castell), it doesn’t damage the paper, doesn’t mark the paper, and you can even erase if needed. The Taoist writings can be, for some, the first step towards the studies of the I Ching.
I’m taking some online courses from a Vietnamese philosopher who knows his stuff when it comes to the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching, and the art of war… just topics that interest me. I think philosophy is important because you find answers there that you can’t find with ordinary logic; and it elevates us spiritually.
The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition special edition
I read on Reddit that the ideal man was the one who had the extended versions of The Lord of the Rings on DVD at home ahahha, now I understand why. These DVDs are great! I have the 12-DVD version (you can easily find them for €12-€15 on Vinted), but I think the 15-DVD version (i.e., with 3 extra documentaries) will be even better. I bing watched all 12 DVDs in almost a week and I learned so much about these films (e.g., in 2000, they were already using AI and agents to simulate the battles on screen). Watching the 3 films back-to-back is more interesting because there are details you forget if you watch them months apart. The bonus features are always organized the same way for each film: the book, the script, the special effects, the sound, etc., so you can easily compare the effort and difficulty of making each film. I admit I didn’t have the courage to watch, for each film, 3 audio commentaries, but a day will come when I’m bored and I’ll chain 3×3 films. Anyway, if you’re a fan, you absolutely must watch all these bonus features. The extended version is better because there’s better logic and you avoid all the nonsense of the theatrical cuts.
I think rewatching The Lord of the Rings right now is more than fitting, because the current context matches quite well with what happens in the films. It will allow people who are anxious about the future, or who are already in despair, to see a small light at the end of the tunnel.
Silk
I’ve been living in silk day and night for several months now, and I can say it completely changes my mood. From the moment I wake up, I put on my silk robe, I touch the softest, most luxurious material in the world (after having slept in a silk pajama all night), and it puts me in a good mood, I’m instantly zen. I’ve already written a buying guide if you want to find them on Vinted (brand new!). By checking regularly, you can find gems for €35.
If you’re not a fan of Vinted, I took a little trip to Printemps to check the labels for you, and you can find something to satisfy you at Simone Pérèle and Aubade. If I insist so much, it’s because I so regret not having opted for silk in winter earlier.
Silk goes very well with pearls; both have an incredible vibe of softness. I fixed my bracelet and my necklace (the silk thread gave way at the clasp) and I think I have a better technique now, I hope it lasts.
Curator
I discovered the Instagram account of Amilus; she’s what you could call a “curator”. She has a concept store in Paris, and an online shop that sells very cool clothes to Taiwanese people. She speaks 4 languages fluently, has an inimitable style, and always finds superb clothes, brands, and works of art.
I’ve always had a hard time finding my silhouette for winter, so when I watched her OOTD videos, I liked seeing how you could dress like an onion without piling on and becoming too bulky, by creating a vertical line with a long scarf. I also invite you to watch her Home Tour and see how paintings dress up the space by creating texture and depth. Until now, I move too often to have beautiful paintings with me, but I think I could have a foldable paper cutout, or use silk scarves for decoration. If you find it lacks color and accessories, you can check out the Instagram account of Carla Rockmore.
I really liked this article in ELLE that explained how to “sharpen your eye and cultivate your preferences” and become your own curator.
Financial Independence
Before leaving for Tahiti, I had lunch with two friends who had a financial independence (FIRE) project, and we talked at length about the strategies of those we know near or far, and theirs. I made a little summary here if are you interested.
French Polynesia
I’ll have other opportunities to tell you about French Polynesia. We don’t have a vehicle at the moment, so we’re staying in downtown Papeete, but as soon as we get our scooter, you’ll see a few more pictures of the sea and the fish. In the meantime, you can check out this little video taken last weekend:
