That Weekly Edit
The gift of gratitude, respect the turkey, beautiful blooms, and possibly pathological practices
This coming week brings my favorite holiday of the season: Thanksgiving.
Now look, I fully understand this holiday has dubious origins, at least the way we learned about it growing up cosplaying Pilgrims and Indians, but Thanksgiving is a holiday all about taking time to appreciate the good in our lives and enjoy a meal in community. Considering the lack of related consumer goods and gratitude being the gift that keeps on giving I am super in. Plus, I’m a huge fan of pie.
Having said that I’m sure it comes as no surprise I am a strict no Christmas before Thanksgiving kind of person. I absolutely don’t begrudge what brings others joy in their personal lives, we’re all just trying to survive out here, eeking out joy wherever we can, but Christmas seeps into the general culture earlier and earlier every year and it bums me out. Black Friday has become Black November, this year’s trending Christmas decor and gift displays began appearing in stores in October, and I’ve been assailed with gift guides from every corner of the internet for the last month.
Though there are many traditions I do enjoy and look forward to during the winter holiday season it is neither winter nor winter holiday time and I wish more than anything we could all agree to slow down and enjoy the present moment rather than rushing on to the next thing.
Tell me:
What are you feeling thankful for?
Do you have a favorite kind of pie?
Anything, let’s chat!
What I’m…
Reading
Erasure by Percival Everett. I was first introduced to Everett through The Trees by way of the 2022 Booker Prize Short List. I was totally blown away by this book and knew I wanted to read more Everett. I of course did not until reading James earlier this year, right around its release date. I think this is the fiction book of the year, and so do others considering it just won the National Book Award for fiction and was also named Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year. All this to say, I finally circled back to Erasure, which hit my radar by way of the film adaptation. I very much enjoyed Erasure. I just love Everett’s writing style and creativity. Looking forward to finally watching American Fiction, which I saved for after I read the book! Bookshop | Libro.FM
A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck. A philosophical and thought provoking existential horror novella about a man cast into an afterlife of unfathomable dimensions taking the form of a unknowably vast library. The only way out is to find the book containing the story of his life. I found my way to this book by way of Marcus Kliewer, author of We Used to Live Here, which I adored! (Obviously, if I’m bothering to take book recommendations from him!) Bookshop
Listening
It’s Non-fiction November!
There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib. Part memoir, part cultural critique, this lyrical and profound memoir is undoubtedly among my favorite books of the year. Don’t worry if you’re not into basketball, I promise this is worth the read! Bookshop | Libro.FM
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin. An interesting blend of memoir and history, Doris Kearns Goodwin (historian) recounts her relationship with husband Dick Goodwin (political writer and advisor) and their involvement with pivotal characters and events of the 60s. This was actually the perfect time to revisit an especially tumultuous but ultimately progressive time in our nation’s history and I loved the blend of politics, personal, and public, as well as behind the scenes of events that loom large in our collective identity. Bookshop | Libro.FM
Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics by Elle Reeve. I have this coping mechanism by which I seek out information on the most horrifying topics as a way to, I don’t know… confront them head on, or arm myself in some way. (Feel free to dissect this pathology if qualified.) That is to say this book from a journalist who embedded with the online alt-right in the lead up to, and through the movement transitioning from trolling chatrooms to infiltrating our politics and becoming mainstream with violent consequences is incredibly informative and well done, but not at all for the feint of heart, especially at this moment in time. As I deeply believe the internet is a huge problem without a clear solution to (including, but not limited to) our politics and more generally the stability of our society, this is the kind of thing I want everyone to read. Understanding what we’re dealing with is the first step in fixing it. Bookshop | Libro.FM
Autocracy Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum. Informative account of how modern autocracies organize against democracies. Ditto everything I said above. This was a quick and worthwhile listen. Bookshop | Libro.FM
This week in podcasts:
Offline: Why Democrats’ Media Problem is Deeper than “Liberal Joe Rogan”. The internet meets politics post-election discussion I’ve been waiting for.
Book Talk, Etc.: Gateway to Nonfiction: A Chat with Traci Thomas from The Stacks. Love Book Talk, Etc., love Traci Thomas, love Non-fiction November. This really is a great episode with tons of excellent recs!
Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams: Plotting Our Way Forward by Looking Back at History (with Heather Cox Richardson). Another collab with people I admire offering smart conversation and really important tidbits about our past, present, and where we go from here.
Watching
Hope Floats (Hulu). I’ve seen this many times, I did a knee jerk re-watch when I couldn’t decide what to do with my TV life. I just love 90s era Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. is kind of a hunk.
The Diplomat, Season 1 (Netflix). Season 2 recently dropped and although it’s only been a year and a half (side note: why can’t we have reliable TV seasons anymore?! And yes, I understand the practical excuses, but honestly, it’s disrespectful. I digress…) the 2 minute recap of season 1 did nothing for me. Season 1 is only 8 episodes (ditto the above for these mini-seasons we’re subjected to after our long wait) and it’s really good so I’m glad we did a re-watch. Hyped to start season 2!
Eating & Drinking
Beef and Noodles that I made with leftover Soul Warming French Onion Pot Roast + Egg Noodles + Peas. I love to repurpose leftovers.
I also love a slowcooker soup! This Jalapeno Popper White Bean Chili is one I’ve made for many years now.
I strongly encourage you to roast a chicken with some carrots and serve it alongside mashed potatoes on a chilly evening.
These Pumpkin Snickerdoodle cookies were a nice mid-week treat. I discovered the recipe last year and they’re just as good as remembered!
Still Baked Oatmealing.
Links + Loves
Thankful for this mug warmer on chilly days! I use it daily for my hot beverages and it’s still going strong 4 years later. This would make a great gift for the coffee/tea drinker in your life!
S/O hot beverages, I use one of these universal lids when I’m on the go. And yes, I realize I could just use an insulated mug (I have those too!), but I like to feel the warmth of my mug and I have a mug collection I really enjoy using! These lids help keep the heat in and prevent liquid from sloshing.
2024 National Book Award Winners have been announced!
The best books of the year lists have begun. Time and Barnes & Noble have already spoken.
Ann Patchett on Annotating Her Award-Winning Novel Bel Canto Twenty Years Later (LitHub) I purchased a signed collector’s edition of Ann Patchett’s annotated Bel Canto. As a big Patchett fan I’m so happy to have a copy for my shelves. It’s intimate and informative seeing Patchett’s handwritten notes in the margins (despite writing previously about not understanding the draw of pre-annotated books - it’s different when it’s Ann Patchett, ok?!) I appreciated this peak into the backstory of the annotated edition from Ann herself.
ICYMI
This week’s posts:
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Until next time!
I’m strict on no Xmas before Thanksgiving. Xmas, in the season I’m in, has become my least favorite… trying to please/accommodate everyone and it’s become a dread of mine, which is so sad because I just want to have fun and enjoy it. With that said I hold on to all things November 😂 oh and pie! I love cold cherry pie with black coffee
So many good recs here! For me, I typically require some combination of chocolate, peanut butter, caramel in pie, but my dad’s lemon meringue is my favorite. Pumpkin pie is by far the worst, but I will still eat it if it’s the only available pie.