Krystal Carty – The Concordian

Zombie apocalypses, dysfunctional families, some horror and a really old guy

World War Z- Max Brooks

World War Z, written by Max Brooks, documents the events of “The Crisis,” a virus outbreak that kills victims and then reanimates them as destructive and murderous zombies. What makes this book so unique is the style in which it is written. Brooks divides the book into sections, starting with the warning signs of the outbreak and ending with the rebuilding the world as it becomes livable again. Brooks shows how the world and different countries handle themselves in crisis, how people fight back, how they survive and move forward. The entire book is told through interviews conducted by a nameless narrator, as survivors of “The Crisis” from all over the world recollect their personal experiences. The stories told are by different people, from all around the world and all walks of life. No two stories are the same. It is a fascinating read that will leave you uncomfortable, emotional and wondering what you would do if zombies took over the planet.

By Rebecca Luger

The Nest- Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s debut novel, “The Nest,” tells the story of a wealthy and dysfunctional New York family. The story follows the four Plumb siblings as they anxiously wait to receive their inheritance, referred to as “the nest”. The Plumb family consists of Leo Plumb, the former millionaire playboy whose upcoming divorce and list of legal woes has him down to his last dollar; Jack Plumb, who is married to a successful New York lawyer, but can’t seem to become successful through any of his own financial investments; Melody Plumb, who devotes her life to her twin daughters and ensures that they are received as the wealthy socialites she wishes them to be; and Beatrice Plumb, the once-successful author-turned-shut-in. Together, these siblings turn lying into an art. You root for them, yet are repulsed and embarrassed by many of their decisions.

By Krystal Carty

Lisey’s Story- Stephen King

This book is the perfect blend of horror, unexpected romance, family tension and other worldly fantasies that only Stephen King could conjure up. The story follows a widow and her struggle to finally put her late husband’s memory to rest. Her journey takes her through intense physical and mental strain. The book doesn’t focus just on the horror side of the story, or on the more personal family side of it—both elements balanced well. Drawing from stories of the past to decorate and enhance the intensity of the present, King solidifies Lisey’s Story as one of his most captivating books I’ve yet read. King should also be praised for flawlessly sewing a fantasy world into the story in a way that, surprisingly, seems effortless. I’d highly recommend this book as one of King’s crowned jewels.

By Sarah Jesmer

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Jumped Out the Window and Disappeared- Jonas Jonasson

This book was a bit more of a drag than the title spells out, but a pleasant read all the same. The main storyline of the 100-year-old man, Allan, is interesting enough. It’s a well-written, detailed and fast-paced adventure that features running from gang members and accidentally becoming a wanted fugitive. The story captivates readers by switching back and forth between the present and the past to tell the story of Allan’s life, and how he ends up witnessing historically significant events seemingly by accident. This book is good reading material to break out on the subway when you need a bit of a distraction.

By Sarah Jesmer

Onore designs bring a new edge and classiness to menswear

Francis Palumbo and Giuseppe Novello always knew they wanted to work in fashion, even though they didn’t have a technical background in the field.

Onore designs reflect themes from upper and lower class cities. Photos courtesy of Onore.

“I could not see myself doing anything else,” Novello said in an email interview. “I saw fashion as a manner of expressing my style, my beliefs, my philosophy and my complete outlook on the world.”

Palumbo describes fashion as an outlet that allows people to express themselves in ways that go much further than just spoken words. “Fashion is more of an emotional thing. It’s supposed to make you feel something,” he said.

The two Montrealers chose to team up to start their own clothing brand of menswear, Onore. While Novello said he was purely influenced by his own love of fashion to enter the industry, Palumbo said he felt that there was something missing from what he was seeing other designers produce. “I strongly believe in high quality and I am completely against cheap labor,” said Palumbo. “I want to bring transparency and social consciousness to an industry that believes in cheap labor and cheap clothes, all the while giving people trendy and yet still timeless menswear pieces.”

The duo traveled through both Montreal and New York City in search of inspiration for their first collection. They found themselves drawn to both the poorest and the richest areas in both cities. They developed the theme of their first collection through these travels, which they call “The Rich and Poor.” The duo took inspiration from art, music and architecture in the cities as well.

“Our colors, patterns, trims and fabric all reflect the collection’s theme,” Palumbo said. Balancing two different extremes, in this case, rich and poor, is a formula Onore uses to design their clothes, said Palumbo. They produced 12 separate items for their first collection. The pieces are structured and strong, opting for classic shapes and fits rather than trendy ones. For colours, they chose to stick with dark neutrals, such as blacks, greys and browns, reflecting the darkness of the broken down cities they sought out but also the structure of the upper class counterparts.

The team had a lot on their plate when they launched their first collection. They were in charge of not only designing their products but also marketing them, developing them and starting their own online boutique.

Their second collection is currently in the works. They have begun conceptualizing their theme, though they remained firm on not letting any details slip until they are ready to launch. Their social media accounts and blog will be the first to start releasing bits of the theme. The collection will likely be launched in the summer.

“We definitely hope to have an impact on the fashion industry in Montreal. We hope to bring some life and inspiration to the city,” the designers said in an email. “It is sad to see how our city has struggled to strive in this field. But, we’re determined to represent our city and hopefully revolutionize the perception of Montreal fashion.”

To stay updated on what’s next for Onore, check out their Instagram page, @onorenyc and their website onore.me