Five Fine Things....
*me inflicting my taste on you, dear reader
Photo: basking in autumn vibes, Kent (Rhea Thierstein, 2024).
Dear reader,
ahoy there! It’s almost the two year birthday of this newsletter 🎂! So for those who haven’t been here for the past two years then allow me to point you in the direction of some fiction here and here and some personal essays here. And finally a lucky-dip pick right here - dare you click!
Thank you old and new readers for your time and energy. Without further ado here’s some bits and bobs I’ve been enjoying lately…and do, please, share yours below…
Love,
Emma
x o x o
p.s. ever wondered why I always sign off X O X O? Well, eagle-eyed fans of Gossip Girl know why. Dear Reader is of course Jane Eyre’s thing. Let’s mix the high with the low!
Listening! to eclectic, talented super-band Thievery Corporation, specifically this song - The Richest Man in Babylon, recorded at Red Rocks amphitheatre (what a venue!). I love the atmosphere of this recording, its gently powerful defiance. I think of it as a kind of hex against Trump, Musk, and their whole greedy, corrupt, (ultimately very dull) crew.
Watching! the Salaryman (2021) documentary which explores the grinding work culture of Tokyo, Japan. Fascinating, horrifying stuff. Told through the lens of a gaijin (non- Asian foreigner or outsider).
Reading! Never Play it Safe by Chase Jarvis. This seems all a bit self-help-y and is not my usual recommendation -genre, it’s written by kind of a (nice) bro- dude too, but actually I have to admit I really enjoyed the empowering message of this little book. It’s focused on creativity, effort, using our attention and energy well, and yes, not being scared (by society, our well-intended families and friends, most of all our selves) into making safe and often utterly dreadful, life-denying life choices. I listened to Jarvis on the Rich Roll podcast first and was then inspired to buy the book.
Teaching! A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, in which four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading and Life by George Saunders. An excellent writing guide, source of inspiration, warmth and solace. Great for educators, writers, and general humans alike. Lessons (creative and life ones) are explored through the lens of some of the great Russian story-tellers including Chekhov, Gogol and Tolstoy. Also, only George Saunders, I feel, could get away with such a lengthy title and still sell a ton load of books, bravo to him👏. (Thank you long-time reader and dear friend Becky for the recommendation!)
Encouraging! You to adopt a turkey this year via Good Heart animal sanctuaries Here are some thoughts on turkeys, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Never Play It Safe sounds like something I need to read.
I've been wanting to read A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders for a while now. But, sadly, haven't gotten round to it. Thank you for remining me about it.