Bringing Home the Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World s Most Coveted Handbag
CDN$ 17.61
WITTY AND WINNING - Many of us probably have an idea of what a dream job would be. How about one that takes you to some of the most beautiful cities in the world where you stay in the finest hotels and dine only at 5-star restaurants? Plus, when you re not in Paris or on Capri you don t even have to go to the office, you simply work at home in your pajamas. Sound too wonderful to be true? Well, it surely is for most of us but not for Michael Tonello who tells us all about it in the highly amusing, can t-believe-he-really-did-this memoir Bringing Home The Birkin. As the affluent know a Birkin is a handbag made by Hermes with retail prices in five figures and more than difficult to obtain. Evidently the two-year waiting list makes a Birkin even more desirable. Tonello had already seen a good bit of the world as a beautician who traveled about prettying up the already pretty for commercial photo shoots. He was happy with his current home but had grown weary of the unfriendly Cape Cod winters. A recent assignment has taken him to Barcelona where he found he loved the people, the food, the sunny clime. When an opportunity to take a job there surprisingly appeared, he packed his designer duds and moved to Spain. His euphoria was short lived because almost as soon as he had unpacked his job vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. What to do, how to make ends meet and keep wine at table? On an impulse he listed one of his Hermes scarves on eBay and it sold - at a nice price. Further, he was the recipient of emails from those who had lost out on his auction and wanted to know if he had more. Tonello soon realized that these were serious collectors, and that there might be a great deal of money involved. As he writes, I didn t let my ignorance get in the way of my avarice. I intimated that this was only the tip of the iceberg. Well, I ve always been a strong believer in the power of positive thinking - I really wanted it to be the tip of the iceberg. For Tonello wanting made it so. It wasn t a great leap from scurrying around, finding and buying older patterns of Hermes scarves for his burgeoning list of clients to buying and reselling (at a healthy profit) the extravagantly priced, impossible to get Birkins. How could he possibly climb to the top of the daunting two-year waiting list? Where would he find the funds to purchase these more than pricey handbags? He is one dauntless, determined fellow and his story is a carousel of chuckles, costly cuisine, and luxurious lodgings. Michael Tonello really brought home the Birkins and lives to tell his fascinating story while still enjoying Spain where, as he puts it excuses to celebrate include getting out of bed in the morning and the ability to breathe for long periods of time. This reader doesn t need an excuse to celebrate the refreshing honesty, wiles, and wit found in this memoir . - Gail Cooke
Great Fun for Fashionistas! - I can relate to Michael Tonello s obsession with all things Hermes, especially the coveted and elusive Birkin. While I am not a Birkin aficianado myself, nor do I own any item made by Hermes, I do admit to having an obsession with leather goods from Roots Canada...especially their gorgeous handbags and totes. Tonello s global romp through Hermes stores in Europe, South America, and Japan is filled with clever wit and charm. His categorization of Hermes sales staff and his winning formula to get the goods certainly produced a good chuckle while I devoured this highly readable memoir. Tonello writes for readers who love fashion...those who disdain it will probably not enjoy the book. [Amy MacDougall]
bringing home the birkin - I ve been hearing about this book for awhile. good sources told me it s a very funny read and should be made into a movie. they are right. I bought 3 copies and keep one in my Birkin just in case...a good stress buster.