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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

Pretty, pretty earrings.

This is a post dedicated to pretty earrings; these earrings aren’t innovative, they don’t have storied pasts, and they may not be the belle of the ball, but they’re all beautiful and I’d be thrilled to wear any of them.

Amethyst and diamond earrings, set in platinum and each suspending a pear-shaped faceted amethyst drop. Via Diamonds in the Library.

These amethyst and diamond earrings might be my favorites of this pretty earring roundup. The lines are so lovely, with the gentle antique-inspired texture and subtle curve of the diamond-set links and the dreamy pear-shaped faceted amethyst drops.

White gold, diamond, and kunzite earrings with kunzite drops totaling 51.23 carats. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Oh, kunzite. How wonderful you are. These glamorous white gold earrings each feature a curcular-cut diamond line that ends in a large, pear-shaped kunzite. These beauties measure 3 1/2 inches long and the kunzite drops total approximately 51.23 carats.

Lovely diamond and pink coral drop earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

These lovelies remind me strongly of the Tiffany and Co. conch pearl earrings that Daisy wore in the recent Great Gatsby movie. These earrings are made with coral drops rather than conch, but the softly sparkling pink and diamond effect is very similar.  The edges of the diamond-set parts are millegrained, which lends a lovely texture.

Kunzite, pearl and diamond earrings. Via Diamonds in the Library.

These pretties boast kunzite drops as well, dangling here in good company with diamonds and pearls. Lovely.

Coral and diamond dangle earrings by Michele della Valle (featured carved coral feet!). Via Diamonds in the Library.

I thought I’d test to see if you were paying attention. They’re pretty earrings, objectively speaking, but it’s undeniable that it also looks like they’re adorned by tiny detached baby feet. Coral feet suspended from 3+ carats of diamonds, but still.

Which pair of earrings is your favorite? What do you think of the feet!?

These pretty earrings were all listed in various auctions. Please see individual descriptions for links to listings.

Turquoise and diamond necklace in gold, 1970’s.

This 1970’s turquoise and diamond necklace is a bit of a departure from my usual style, but I find myself loving it.

1970's turquoise and diamond pendant necklace with a 30 inch gold chain. Via Diamonds in the Library.

It’s fabulous, isn’t it? The long, textured links of the chain, the golden openwork pendant, the restrained smattering of gemstones. That chain is 30 inches long, so this would be quite a statement piece, despite its relatively delicate feel.

Pendant detail: 1970's turquoise and diamond pendant necklace with a 30 inch gold chain. Via Diamonds in the Library.

The closer in you go, the more details become apparent. The pattern of the openwork has a serene organic feel, like the leaves of a bonsai tree or ripples in a pond with turquoise stepping stones across its waters. Look at the smooth, raised edges of the gold shapes, the textured inner surfaces, the graduated turquoise cabochons.

Is it totally 1970s? Yes. Is it fabulous? Yes.

Or I think it’s fabulous, anyway. Are you with me on this one, or have I fallen off the wagon?

This 1970’s turquoise and diamond necklace was listed in a December 2013 Sotheby’s auction. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.

My review of The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, which follows the adventures of a a sassy supernatural teenage heroine who is good at beating people up. Via Diamonds in the Library.

The Vampire Academy series (1-6) by Richelle Mead.

This book (series) is: marvelously entertaining.
Other elements: ass-kicking ladies, vampires, world-saving, star crossed lovers, misunderstood teenagers, political plots.
Read it: if you like the idea of a sassy supernatural teenage heroine who is good at beating people up.
Overall rating: 7.5/10

This is a review for 6 books of The Vampire Academy Series all at once, both because I read them in less than a week and they melded together and because I have the same primary things to say about all of them.

I’m feeling a surprisingly strong urge to apologize for liking this series or justify the fact that I liked them, but I’m trying to resist because I firmly believe you should never apologize for what you enjoy reading. And I really did enjoy these.

I picked up the first book because I had to undergo an unpleasant minor medical procedure and I wanted some brain candy to cheer myself up. Next thing I knew, I had bought all 6 and was plowing through them.

The world has an interesting premise: our main character, Rose, is a teenager in the hidden world of the Moroi – which are basically good vampires. Rose is a Dhampir: a member of a half-vampire race who is expected to dedicate her life to protecting the full blooded Moroi she is assigned to. Then there are Strigoi: the bad vampires, who Rose is supposed to defend her Moroi against.

The main characters are all teenagers who spend the majority of the first few books at boarding school, so there’s lots of (highly entertaining) hormonally-fueled drama. Parts of the at-school books feel a little like Gossip Girl but with fangs.

The heroine, Rose, is a fun character. She’s sassy, impulsive, and conventionally beautiful, but she’s also very strong and trained in physical combat. I wish the books emphasized her beauty a little bit less, but you know I love a heroine who can punch her enemies in the face. She’s no Bella Swan, sitting around waiting for life to happen to her.*  Rose makes things happen.

My least favorite part of these books is the fact that Mead felt the need to make every single one of the main characters remarkably beautiful. My feminist sensibilities were pleased by both the physical power and assertiveness of the main female character (main characters, really) but annoyed that there didn’t seem to be anyone in this universe who didn’t look like a supermodel.

That said: I still had a great time reading these. The romance started to feel a little representative, but that’s probably because I read all 6 books in 7 days and there’s only so many times to make the lovers star-crossed and then happy and then star-crossed and then happy again. Still, I read them all and I’ll probably reread them. Hopefully while on a beach.

* It’s okay if you love Twilight. I don’t. But I do love the Vampire Academy series!

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