My Favorite Things

“Growing up, I imagined all linen closets smelled like sandalwood. Whenever my mother would return from Kolkata, her suitcase would have bars of Mysore soap. I asked Farrar, Straus and Giroux to try to replicate the Mysore rose for my book’s title page.”

“I have a couple pairs of these loafers, which meet every pant length with approval. They are the most compatible shoe.”

“This book reads like a Filofax. Or like a catch-all with photos and letters and very funny anecdotes. There are memories of Anaïs Nin, Andy Warhol, Andrew Sarris, Joan Crawford, Maya Deren, and so many others. I love the parts that mention Jonas’s daughter, Oona.”

“A good small gift option that feels personal and uncomplicated. Playing solitaire with a deck that’s illustrated with a still life is so satisfying. This Picasso one is very playful.”

“I have tubes of this in every drawer, bag, and jacket pocket. It does the trick!”

“Fun, sharp, wonderfully sneaky and absorbing, Kincaid’s ‘Talk of the Town’ pieces are a clinic in tone and spirited accuracy. Her sensitivity to mannerisms makes for such a pleasing reading experience. I love a clear snapshot. I love a confessional mood that isn’t too profound.”

“I go on long walks with my son (in his stroller) every day. I’m never thinking about this bag when I wear it. Having one less thing to think about is my version of well-being.”

“The photographer Marcelo Gomes suggested I use this putty because it doesn’t leave a mark. I recently used my Tack-It to put Luigi Ghirri postcards on a wall in my son’s playroom.”