leaning into memoirs (still selective) and tea and coffee on rainy days

loving this memoir so far...

 This week has started off in a rainy and contemplative way. I've been nursing copious cups of coffee and culling my BookTube feed to keep me connected to creators that aren't overly loud, and I pretty much avoid videos with lots of jump cuts. I like having a curated YouTube feed.

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair has started off very strong. I love Safiya's voice as she describes her parents origin stories. This set up is very much grounded in fact, but the emotional thread of the story is very strong. I absolutely love this. 

safiya sinclair

from safiya sinclair's website

I've been taking to making decafs in the early afternoon because I start my morning strong with espressos and reading The Letters of Gustave Flaubert (you can access them free in the public domain here) in the NYRB edition. 

"For me I can imagine nothing in the world preferable to a nice, well-heated room, with the books one loves and the leisure one wants."

"Think only of Art, of that and that alone, because that's all there is. "

these are still going... 

Wishing you a well-curated YouTube feed, lots of hot cappuccinos with oatmilk, and a peaceful end to your Wednesday.

Happy reading ☕️ 

weekend writing and

The pressure to do a ton in sunny springtime is a bit exhausting to my introverted soul. As a caregiver and a recent recluse (recovering from burnout), I find myself waiting for the day's chores/academics to be over so that I can sit with my books and journals well into the evening. 

I should work on better sleep habits right now (mid-life sleep changes are quiet interesting), but I have been finding myself desperate for quiet and the world is coming alive. Lots of neighbors having bbqs, family gatherings, etc. I yearn for quiet days.

typical morning stack

I write out my book list in this tiny hardback journal, it helps me to keep up with the titles of what I am reading. I keep a few going digitally (and it's easier to lose track), and my physical books. I don't attempt to finish them within a certain time frame, but I want to focus more on a few books so I may make a page count system for the next month or so.

Reviewing my list of novels I want to read this year I am reminded that there are a few reads and re-reads that I have planned on my list, and I am being called by Dostoevsky lately. His works just speak to a certain part of my psyche that other works don't reach as much. Victor Hugo also has the ability to do so.

I have read a lot of disability activism non-fiction this year, and aside from making me aggressively upset, I have learned so much. I have to temper this with deep fictional work otherwise I feel emotionally drained and ready to disassociate from the world. 

vegan creamer + hot coffee

I'll continue to let the hot days of springtime roll in as I settle into a rhythm with my novels and social science non-fiction. I will ignore the claw of FOMO while watching book vlogs filled with festivals, etc. I will honor this season of my life. 

If you're also wanting to sink deeply into literature and think that autumn is the only time you can, I urge you to renegotiate your relationship with spring. 

Happy reading ☕️ 

home lattes, fresh berries and dostoyevsky in spring

 It's a hard season in my life. I oscillate between re-reads of classic literature, philosophical literature and personal development neuroscience style books. This is the perfect set of reads for me.

My nighttime has been full of worry and anxiety, but I am working to make a change to my streaming habits so that I can read more at night. This is what i do when I am very stressed- I watch shows (that I don't even like) rather than read, but the class to the slow night schedule has called me back.

homemade oatmilk lattes

I've been making a few lattes each morning as I journal and read a few pages from The Letters of Gustave Flaubert. I've been reading so much slower this year and I am loving it 100%. I did a culling of my physical library. I will not buy more bookshelves or organize them in a way as to fit more titles. I only want to own books that I want to read and re-read repeatedly.

This is mainly classic literature and some scientific textbooks that I use for reference. I have a collection of beautiful hardback journals that I use one by one as well on my shelves. 

fresh strawberries in spring

Fresh fruit ushers in springtime for me. I've been enjoying the most perfect strawberries each night while reading and relaxing. 

this was life changing

Of course nothing quite pierces my consciousness like Dostoevsky. Notes from the Underground started as philosophical and quiet and turned into an exploration of loneliness, belonging, and the human condition. This is a short work, but I took my time with it. I absolutely loved it and I enjoyed this translation as well.

As I prepare for a calming weekend I am reflecting on how lovely it has been to keep zero count on the books I am reading and just allowing myself to sink down into what I am reading. I've also taken to having classics or cozy mysteries on audio to keep me company as I am caregiving and taking care of things around my house. It is so entertaining honestly. I can only put on re-reads or fun/funny books, but I am enjoying getting them from the library and having a few to choose between.

Wishing you a happy weekend filled with transformative or entertaining reads. ☕️