A Rare Books Library in Paris and Other Reads This Week
By Wim Langedijk for HURS
A Rare Books Library in Paris and Other Reads This Week
HUR Reads is our definitive shortlist of the most prominent articles from around the web.
By HURS Team
1
Angela de la Cruz Breaks the Frame
Angela de la Cruz’s Upright at Ikon Gallery presents 30 years of sculptural, distorted canvases that evoke bodies balancing between poise and collapse. Arranged like a choreography, the Spanish artist’s works blend tension and fragility, inviting a visceral response. Through forms that suggest strain and resilience, the exhibition reflects on vulnerability and the capacity to transform pain into a powerful expression of survival. Upright runs until 6 September.
FRIEZE
Nancy Walecki explores how prediction-market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are rebranding betting for women through influencer culture, “girl math” memes and lifestyle-driven ads. Framing wagers as casual “investing,” these campaigns aim to broaden appeal beyond a male-dominated base, even as the article questions their effectiveness and warns that playful marketing can obscure financial risk and regulatory scrutiny.
THE ATLANTIC
Kelly Bonneville’s Parisian Librairie 1909, located in Dover Street Market and the 11th arrondissement, is a haven for rare and forgotten publications. The shop reflects Bonneville’s philosophy of choosing books with a character in mind and creating a space for discovery and connection. Drawing on her lifelong love of literature and writing, she curates with curiosity and care, hunting for treasures near and far. This spring, 1909 releases its first in-house publication, Gabriel Akira Santos’s poetry collection If You Hold Your Tongue Long Enough Pearls Will Form Inside Your Mouth, marking Bonneville’s first foray into publishing.
ANOTHER MAGAZINE
Lillian Crawford reflects on Jeanne-Pierre Jeunet’s Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain as a groundbreaking portrayal of a neurodivergent woman. Through Amélie’s intense sensory moments and social anxiety, the film visualizes autistic experiences decades before widespread recognition of female autism. Crawford highlights how Jeunet’s whimsical cinematography, heightened sounds, tilting camera angles, and fantastical sequences—immerses viewers in Amélie’s inner world. Even 25 years on, the film remains a singular, empathetic depiction of a neurodivergent female perspective.
A RABBIT’S FOOT
In the latest episode of Aspire, Bobbi Brown reflects on building a beauty empire, selling her name, and being pushed out of the company she created. After a 25-year non-compete, she launched Jones Road at 63, embracing a lean, independent approach. Brown discusses the costs of selling her name, how losing control became a turning point, strategies behind her new brand, and ongoing lessons in leadership and confidence, offering insights on starting over and reclaiming ownership of one’s work and identity.