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The Interview
January 21, 2025
On The Subject Matter of a Really Good Book
Deena's library of tomes has no contest, and not even movies match a good read
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Nina Westervelt/MCV Photo
BOOKS have often been referred to as one of the few things you can buy that make you richer. With a feverish love of tearing through a brilliant work of fiction, Deena shares the tomes that have stayed under her skin long after turning over the final page.
Deena: Books are super important to me; not to mention that I have been blessed. I thank my father for this. I have been blessed with the gift and bliss of what reading does to me. It is actually the last frontier that enables me to feel completely immersed and lost in imagination. It used to be that movies did that as well, but not as much as a book. I think that books are more powerful because, as the reader, you get to be the star, you get to be the director, you get to be the screenwriter, you get to be the costume designer. You make it your own and that is such an amazing thing.
This is why, for instance, no matter how good a film adaptation of a book is, it rarely ever matches the original written novel or book. And I'll give you an example of that, the book Atonement. It made me cry reading it. And although the movie was gorgeous, the book still profoundly affected me in a way, because I got to do all those things in my mind.
Which books are my favourites? Oh, okay, well, well, you know, first of all, there are many, many, many, many, many books on my personal GOAT list, so it's very difficult to pinpoint.
The first book that springs to mind is perhaps controversial, The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell. Then there’s, The True Believer by Eric Hoffer: it truly explained the concept of mass movements, why they happen and what they attract. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion explained the grief process and death to me in ways that moved me deeply.
Writing that really entertained me? All of Dominick Dunne’s books! They are super gossipy and fun. In general I find myself drawn to biographies: currently I’m reading one called Citizen Newhouse which is about the late Si Newhouse. Barbara Hutton’s biography was just delicious.
And, this may shock you, so do sit down: The Da Vinci Code was a joy to read. Look, I know it’s classed as not cool or chic to admit that but I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I read it in three hours.
I got so immersed and lost. Say what you want but those three hours were intense and brilliant. Delivering what only a book can: making reality around oneself disappear whilst one remains in the room.
READ Deena’s curation of perfumes ideal for layering, or deep-dive on why Arab designers don’t want you to refer to them as ‘Arab’
Look 38/63, Carolina Herrera Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 22/45, Richard Quinn Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 32/42 Nensi Dojaka Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 8/30, Roksanda Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 8/47, Erdem Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 32/71, Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 26/50, Prada Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 4/52, Simone Rocha Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 27/49, The Attico Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 27/49, Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 49/49, Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 24/54, Gucci Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 43/60, Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 27/58, Loewe Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 16/58, Giambattista Valli Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 8/44, Yohji Yamamoto Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 67/77, Chanel Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Look 7/14, Harris Reed Spring/Summer 2025. Shutterstock
Deena By Larroudé Pump
Look 31/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 42/49, Thom Browne Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 4/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 48/62, Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Dior Haute Couture
Look 28/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture
Look 30/31, Schiaparelli Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Schiaparelli Haute Couture
Look 33/47, Zuhair Murad Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 11/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture
Look 17/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture
Look 29/33, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture by Courrèges’ Nicolas Di Felice Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier Couture
Look 10/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 14/29, Ashi Studio Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 3/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 22/32, Stéphane Rolland Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 20/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 32/35, Giambattista Valli Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 39/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Chanel
Look 43/46, Chanel Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 26/42, Alexis Mabille Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 46/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 69/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 89/90, Armani/Privé Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 22/65, Elie Saab Couture Autumn/Winter 2024. Shutterstock
Look 28/39, Balenciaga Autumn/Winter 2024. Courtesy of Balenciaga
Taif, Saudi Arabia. Shutterstock
Gulf waters. Shutterstock
An oasis in Saudi Arabia. Shutterstock.
King Fahd Road in Sarawat mountains near Al Baha, Saudi Arabia. Shutterstock
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2022. Shutterstock
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at night. Shutterstock
Neom desert in Bajdah, Saudi Arabia. Shutterstock
Jabal Daka in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Shutterstock.
Sophia Loren looking into mirrors at home, 1957. Photographed by Sanford Roth
Natalie Wood, 1966. Photographed by Curt Gunther
Elizabeth Taylor, 1952. Photographed by Philippe Halsman
Judy Garland backstage in her dressing room at Carnegie Hall, 1961. Photographed by Milton Greene
Romy Schneider, 1967. Photographed by Luc Fournol
Marilyn Monroe, 1955. Photographed by Sam Shaw.
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Deenathe1st & Larroudé shoe collection is out now. Photographed by Kevin Tachman. All Rights Reserved.
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Deenathe1st & Larroudé shoe collection is out now. Photographed by Kevin Tachman. All Rights Reserved.
Deenathe1st & Larroudé shoe collection is out now. Photographed by Kevin Tachman. All Rights Reserved.
Deenathe1st & Larroudé shoe collection is out now. Photographed by Kevin Tachman. All Rights Reserved.
