Hi pretty persimmons,
Today we’re giving our high-anxiety dog, Darcy, a haircut, which means Mozart is playing at full volume. Darcy is high on CBD dog biscuits and licking a plate of peanut butter on the kitchen counter. We’re giving him affirmations and reassurances for why he shouldn’t bite us or run away. IT’S NOT IDEAL. I’m hiding over here at my desk writing to you which is much more fun. Don’t worry, we have a bottle of wine and a warm couch prepped for when it’s all over.
A phrase to describe this week's recs and inspirations: out of this world. 👽🌎
The weekend newsletter is meant to be an entertaining source for book recommendations but with extra stuff. Consider this a free sample? For all ye subscribers who would like to get more of the weekend newsletter, here’s the button.
1. Los Angeles. You’re air and water is poo-on-a-stick, but you’re sunshine and people are pretty special. There’s a hunger in the atmosphere. I can’t tell if it’s from being closer to the equator or to the stars of Hollywood Blvd.
2. Exhalation by Ted Chiang. The audiobook offered an entertaining and thought-provoking listen while I was making my way through LAX.
Pick this up if you enjoy weird short stories, but with the intellectualism of a novel. From AI animals to parallel universes to strange beings, Chiang writes about the extraordinary but somehow reveals more about human behavior instead.
My favorite is “Omphalos,” because it causes you to ask big questions about the nature of the universe and our place among it. After each sci-fi story, Ted Chiang discusses the scientific and cultural issues that inspired him to write them. I loved these moments in the book! He provides a porthole for you to peer into the future, and into his brain.
3. “For Black Archaeologists, the Atlantic Ocean is an Ancestral Graveyard” by Omnia Saed, with STUNNING photos by Vanessa Diaz and Caroline Castro.
4. Short story “The Birdcage” by Nardine Taleb on The Rumpus: “Cairo started—very rapidly—to change me. My voice became stronger. When relatives asked me things, I answered louder. I made clever remarks that made everyone erupt in laughter. I felt different from the passive girl I was in the States, who observed what people were doing and followed.”
5. A re-published interview from 1996 between Fargo actress, Frances McDormand and Willem Dafoe, on BOMB magazine.
6. A heartfelt reunion between my housemates and I, who were my closest friends while living in San Francisco during my 20’s, having an absolutely wonderful time going through our hardest years together.
7. An affordable Japanese fountain pen by Pentel, which I got for $8 in a shop. It has a unique nib! I found one online to show you here.
8. Dresses! I avoided wearing dresses in my 20’s but now I’m all about it in my 30’s. (Do you relate? Maybe we need a think-piece about it.)
I tried on a few at a shop called Astrior and was blown away by the fit of the bodices. Let’s be honest there’s a lot of shitty faux corset dresses out there right now. Though still made of polyester-cotton blend, I was impressed with the reliability of Astrior’s constructions. I should probably wash it a few times first then report back before dying on this hill! Besides the material, I’m loving the one I went home with. My bff Amber said my “boobs look incredible” in it, which clearly put a pep in my step. (The dress I got isn’t online, but I tried on this cherry dress and liked it: Bianca dress.)
I’m starting to feel grateful I didn’t spend all my travel money on this vegan leather button up dress on my first night in LA, tipsy on Aperol spritz’ and card games.
If you own a shop next to a wine bar, keep it open late! 😆 The shopkeeper laughed with us as we pretended I was a librarian dominatrix: “You’re library book is two weeks late, naughty girl!” *cracks whip*.
9. The hit series The X-Files (HULU) starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. I’ve never called myself a “stan” before, but for Gillian we stan. You may call me Gillian Standerson. After rewatching The X-files with Amber and Jett, in Jett’s bed eating donuts at 10PM, chatting and imitating Transatlantic accents for fun, I’m reminded of how great the show is. We ended up watching it all week, perfect to throw on when you’re feeling tired and casual.
For the un-inducted, The X-Files is about two FBI agents named Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, who investigate mysterious and supernatural events. Aliens are real and abducting people! Monsters are hiding in the sewers! Folklore is made true and horrifying and poetic. But underneath it all, the show is a romance, sensual and simmering. Scully and Mulder slowly fall in love, and hot-damn their chemistry is great. You wanna watch them catch a monster and then kiss a little!
10. The pilot to season two of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power!! Happy to report it holds up to the first season, so far. The drama is jaw-dropping! The nostalgia is nostalgia-ing! Didn’t even realize it was released yet, and neither did my fellow fantasy lover friends, so here’s your notice if you’ve been looking forward to hearing actors speak in made-up languages again. The Rings of Power series is an example of how not to ruin a franchise. They stay true to the world while delivering something new and delightful.
11. New-to-me Mexican band called, Leonora Post Punk, and their EP “Eternos.” I was captivated by the song of the same name, Eternos, while driving in the hot LA sun. Something about the glaring metal of traffic, hard cement, and punky music that belongs together. (Spotify, Youtube)
12. The podcast episode “It’s All Connected with Toni Adeyemi” by the podcast Black and Published (Spotify, Apple, Website). The host Nikesha Williams interviews YA fantasy legend, author of Children of Blood and Bone.
Nothing is more inspiring than listening to two smart creative women talking about the world. Adeyemi discusses serious topics and how she uses writing as a method to transform trauma into art. A find, thanks to
who writes the newsletter Our Understanding of Reality, an incredible source for Black history.This week’s quote: “Women were Gifted with the ability to create life, and you can use that ability to create the life of your dreams.” Tomi Adeyemi
What are you loving this week?!
Ooo amazing recommendations here!!
Terrific recs … TXF foreverrrrrr!