Poor Things

Yes, it's a book

First book… so much pressure. If you’ve had a conversation with me the past two months, there’s a big chance that I mentioned the film Poor Things and how much I loved it. I didn’t want to see the film at first, as I read this article on The Guardian about how the novel, written in 1992 by Scottish author Alasdair Gray was set in Glasgow, and the film adaptation decided to fully rid Glasgow from its storyline and instead, set it in London. My husband’s from Edinburgh and completed his undergrad at the University of Glasgow so this was a punch in the gut for the people of Scotland. I attempted to boycott the film. 

That didn’t last long. I went to see it with a couple of friends and fell in love with Bella’s character and Yorgos’ interpretation. I desperately wanted to read the book first, as one usually does, but it didn’t arrive in time (don’t come after me avid readers)!

All that to say - I’m obviously going to focus on the book v. the film. The novel is just as rich with comedic energy as is the film. I personally loved all of its references to Glasgow and the author’s adoration for his city. As Bella develops, she travels from 18 Park Circus in Glasgow to Odessa, Alexandria, Gibraltar, Marseille, and Paris, discovering herself and the ‘poor things’ that come with our society and where it stands. Not every book will focus on its protagonist as ‘the host’ but Bella is so fantastical and complex as a character that I couldn’t not imagine this from her perspective.  

Bella’s Drink of Choice

Wine and alcohol make Bella giddy! She prefers cups and cups of chocolate, but, since the book is about her development and road to sophistication, I’m going to say an espresso martini would be her go-to from her bar cabinet. Rich and zingy, just like Bella. This recipe from NYT Cooking is a good one.

Bella’s Menu

She loved her time in Paris the most. She got rid of Wedders, (Duncan Wedderburn) and felt like she was making her way through society as an independent woman. Since she loves to live a full life, I went for a bold French dish: coq au vermouth. Taken from Rebekah Peppler’s À Table. You can also cook a more classic coq au vin, but I prefer this recipe for its brightness. Tastes great with a side of boiled potatoes and a simple greens salad. You can find the full recipe here.

And for dessert: cups of chocolate. My take? Chocolate coupes. If we were going by the movie’s standards, I’d change this to pasteis de nata. But alas, we’re sticking to books only, folks! I love this recipe for chocolate pudding layered with cream from Claire Saffitz’s What’s for Dessert. You can watch her make it, here.

Bella’s Tablescape

Living at 18 Park Circus quite literally feels like a circus. It’s wild and there’s experimentation happening everywhere you look. There’s lightness and darkness in the book, so I let that dictate my color palette, featuring soft and moody tones for florals and squiggles, stripes, and overall imperfection for the décor.

1. Wyat Candelabra, Hawkins New York

2. Vino Venezia, La Soufflerie

3. Lilac and Pomegranate Napkins, Heather Taylor Home

Featured flowers: saltbush, calla lilies, lilac, hellebores

Bella’s Outfit
I love this line from McCandless on page 44:

“Her eyes were golden brown, her dress crimson silk, with a jacket of sky-blue velvet. She wore a purple toque, snow-white gloves and the fingers of her left hand twirled the amber knob of a parasol whose slim shaft, slanting over her shoulder, spun a buttercup-yellow silk dome with a grass green fringe behind her head.”

The film clearly took direction from her wacky pairings noted in the book, inserting voluminous sleeves to show Bella’s assertiveness. You can go in so many fun directions for this. I couldn’t just limit myself to one outfit, so I gave you two. Here’s me trying to tone it down so it’s not too costume-y but also, celebrating the Victorian era’s love of a statement sleeve.

Outfit no.1: Dress, Earrings, Bag, Shoes, Sunglasses
Outfit no.2: Top, Pants, Shoes, Scrunchie

Bella’s Playlist
She’s discovering herself, she’s empowered, and she loves touching herself.

The Poor Things Mood Board

Credits from left to right: Poor Things (2023), Cecilie Bahnsen, Poor Things (2023), Thank You Ok, Coveteur, Parasol from Pinterest, Ferm Living, Poor Things (2023), Park Circus via Glasgow Story, Ladies at a Party via Art.com, Pinterest

Ah, there we have it. I hope this inspires you to read the book - and watch the film! Tell me what you think in the comments. What book do you want to see at the booth next?