Book Review: Conspicuous

Conspicuous by Karina Vunnam

This book covers a lot of topics, like culture, consumer psychology, and business analysis to present a dual approach of immersive story-telling and pointed research. The whole discussion is presented as three Acts.

The first one of 8 chapters narrate the emergence of an emotional connection to business, and how it lead to heritage as a value in itself. The next eight chapters form Act II, which dwells into the journey we constantly make through the resulting path, and how the juxtaposing of novelty and our desire at  every step is giving birth to a constant stream of new ideas. Last eight chapters make Act III, which traces how, brands and consumers evolved from all this, like the inter-mingling of exclusivity, craft, and meaning.

I found it a vivid discussion and a page-turner. How our desires are made to associate with certain objects to create images and ideas of luxury that can install heritage as an end. How, elements of modern communication like instagram opened a new avenue for luxury marketing. And how, the meteoric rise in prices driven by inflation, artificial scarcity, and associated fluctuations stand to shape it all. The book also covers more recent developments like localization of luxury and its access, and re-validation and democratization of luxury, while highlighting certain contradictions that go along.

Book Review: Camouflage

 Camouflage by Heather Sweeney is an autobiography of one who wanted to be the heroine of her life, not a victim.
The book is in three parts. In the first part, there is dating, proposal, excitement of becoming a navy wife, getting lost and feeling deserted, and the struggles of getting accustomed to it all, not to speak about amazing weekends and getaways. But, as with all things that go with the military life, nothing stayed the same for long. Her life continued to crumble, and she was frequently getting messages of an impending divorce. Part II begins with a demand from her husband for divorce, and tells how, her life continued with a longing for anything other than the loneliness she often felt. Also, counseling sessions, visits for therapy, the realization that she is with a man she no longer wanted to be married to, and the preparation for legal separation. Part III chronicles the divorce, the travails of adjusting to a new life, and the joy of reclaiming her maiden self to become a heroine.
This book, a page-turner, speaks of it all. A military wife losing her identity while adjusting to a new lifestyle that demanded immense resilience. How she never compromised on what she thought she deserved, and how determined is her efforts to build her own space back from nowhere. Tastefully narrated scenes and events depict the emotional vortex, love can lead one to, and the courage it takes to chart one's own path.