Made up baking and two good books

I love to follow recipes exactly, maybe because there's so much to learn about good cooking. But lately I feel totally fine winging it in the kitchen, which is how we ended up with this apple galette one Sunday night. I found some leftover shortcrust pastry in the freezer (maybe from this summer pie), had half a jar of butterscotch sauce and we always have apples (and lately, ice cream).

We're trying a weekly produce box again, in an attempt to go to the shops less and eat what's in season. It's been the best excuse to consult my cookbooks and make some meals that aren't work related! I've also learnt that this is potato and pumpkin season. I have so many potatoes and am going to make gnocchi tomorrow night.

Normally I try to read books on my Kindle or get them from the library to save money and shelf space but this period (pandemic + job stress) seemed like the very best time to buy Kevin Kwan's new book Sex & Vanity. I remember reading the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy during periods of disruption. I listened to the first book while driving between Wagga Wagga and Canberra when Tony was doing an artist residency here and I was waiting out a restructure at work. I carried the final book of the series, Rich People Problems, to solo dinners in Adelaide, while travelling for work. It kept me company all the way home from Darwin to Canberra. 

I managed to make his latest book last a little over a week and loved how escapist and funny it was. I really hope to watch it as a movie one day. I'm now reading Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, who also host the Call Your Girlfriend podcast. I've never wanted to hold books more than I do in this mostly stay at home time, when it feels like there's very little time spent off screens.

Today has been especially nice because I took the day off work. It still feels strange to take a day off when there's no where to go but I'm really glad I did. This past month has been intense and I needed a day to decompress and not be accountable to anyone. So I slept in, made my own teriyaki sauce (I'm suddenly addicted to Adam Liaw videos and highly recommend this chicken and egg oyakodon) and listened to Michelle Obama's new podcast. 

A couple of other things to share:

We loved watching Indian Matchmaker on Netflix and maybe got through it too quickly.

Julia Ostro's Italian-inspired sausage tray bake is so comforting. Slightly spicy sausages bake on top of potatoes and a lemony tomato sauce. Here's a video of me demo-ing the recipe! 

I've been listening to Coronacast most days, it's a 10 minute podcast from the ABC that helps me understand the latest coronavirus news. After listening to a few episodes about masks, I reckon these look good because they have three layers, including one water resistant one. 

We rented Greed last weekend, which stars Steve Coogan and Isla Fisher. It's funny and a bit dark. 

John Lewis wrote this beautiful essay before he died and it was published in the NY Times on the day of his funeral. "Though I am gone, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe."

Also in US politics, AOC's notes that shaped her viral speech this week. "What is there to say to a man who isn't listening?" Her caption on being accountable to herself (and for yourself) stayed with me. 

Have a lovely weekend.

X

Favourite books 2018

Did you read anything great in 2018? I read a mix of new (and hyped) novels, memoirs, graphic novels and essays, and managed to finish more than 40 titles (I didn't have a goal but totally counted!). My favourite place to read is in a cafe, because I'm less distracted by my phone and... all the things I could be making in my kitchen.

Cafe reading usually happens about once a month, often when I'm travelling for work and getting breakfast out on my own, or if it's a really great book, I'll ride to work extra early and stop for a coffee midway and squeeze in a chapter or two. It's one of my favourite things to do on holidays, with Tony usually excited to sit and draw. But most days, I read right before bed :)

I shared my faves from the first half of the year but wanted to make an updated list of my overall highlights. With books, my biggest win for 2018 was relying heavily on the library for most of my books, including new release cookbooks. I reserve lots of titles, as early as I can, which means something new is waiting for me most fortnights.

Novels

If you're looking for something entertaining that's also heartfelt, I really enjoyed Less by Andrew Sean Greer. It was one of the funniest books I read last year that was scarily relatable in parts. I also loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

When it comes to epics that take you into other cultures, families and relationships, I'd recommend An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. I've also just finished If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim, which reminds me of Pachinko in some ways and Grave of the Fireflies too.

The Female Persuasion was my first Meg Wolitzer book, and will definitely read more. I could totally relate to the main character's understanding of feminism changing and evolving - especially as she enters different life stages.

Non-fiction

My all-time favourite non-fiction book was Alone Time: Four seasons, four cities and the pleasures of solitude by Stephanie Rosenbloom, a travel writer for The New York Times. Each chapter focuses on a topic, like the art of savouring food or how we often feel the need to capture solo experiences with our phones. The writing moves effortlessly between Stephanie's experiences as a traveller and academic studies and theories. I liked it so much I bought a copy after retuning a borrowed one to the library.

I read a lot of Obama related books this year! To Obama, With Love, Joy, Hate and Despair by Jeanne Marie Laskas tracked the two terms of the Obama presidency through the thousands of letters sent to his office, and interviews with the staff who organised and read them (as well an interview with Obama himself).

We Were Eight Years in Power was a denser and more difficult read but it broadened my understanding of African American history as well as contemporary US politics. There's an essay in it about Michelle Obama that touched on what it's like to grow up in a neighbourhood surrounded by your own kind, which helped me understand what I only encountered racism later in my life. I also read his earlier book Between The World and Me, that's written as a letter to his son. It's excellent and if you're picking between the two, I'd recommend reading it first.

The Year of Less by Cait Flanders helped solidify my approach to spending money, and buying things more consciously if at all. It was also a revealing book, and wasn't just about minimalism as an ideal.

And in the lead up to Christmas, I listened to Leigh Sales read her latest book Any Ordinary Day. I am very easily spooked by tragic accidents and terrorist attacks, and could relate to how being in a newsroom can make you hyperaware of all these things and more. Each interview in the book seemed intimate, happening at her house of the individuals, so it was extra special to listen to this as an audio book.

Memoir

I love love loved Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love because it's very much a book about finding out who you are (often the hard way), the beauty that comes with close friendships and the comfort that can come with being alone.

I listened to Becoming by Michelle Obama, because she reads the audio book. I may have written this here before but I found her book so affirming, and looked forward to listening to it after work and on weekends. I am trying to hunt down a copy of the book so I can look at the pictures :)

I also enjoyed two NYC-themed books, Sloane Crosley's Look Alive Out There, which is actually a book of very funny and surprising essays. Also Mari Andrew's Am I There Yet? was the perfect book to read in a transitional year, and before starting a new job.

Let me know if there's anything great that I missed!

Favourite books: a mid-year recap

Somehow, I've managed to read 20 books this year. Relying on library books has definitely helped - they come with an inbuilt deadline, which can be as short as two weeks if it's a new release. Reading also helps me wind down, so I always have something on the go. Here's a quick look at what I've read and loved:

Fiction

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman was funny, totally relatable in parts, and heartbreaking too. I read it over Easter and was devastated when it was over - I loved the main characters so much.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee was my first epic of 2018. I found it all-consuming in the same way that A Little Life was, only far less traumatic.

Our Town by Thorton Wilder is a classic play that I read for the first time this year. I am fascinated by the minutiae of other people's lives and the beauty of everyday life, so this play felt profound. (This podcast is an excellent companion piece and introduced me to the play in the first place).

(I also read Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng but didn't find it as captivating or believable as these three).

Non-fiction/Memoir

And Now We Have Everything: On Motherhood Before I Was Ready by Meaghan O'Connell. The most expensive book I've ever bought on my Kindle but I was desperate to read it after sampling this excerpt. It was totally worth it. I am still researching life with kids and found it raw and honest. I only wish it had been longer.

Am I there yet? by Mari Andrew. I follow Mari on Instagram and love her observations of life, its challenges and the crazy ways we relate to each other. This is a memoir with her classic illustrations and written essays and it's great. It's also one of the few books I've bought this year.

Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu. Tony and I are trying to share household chores more equally, especially as our jobs change. We've made a start, and while I didn't always relate to the author, this book helped me consider some of the things that've stopped me from doing less. One example: I'm fussy about what I eat, so have made most of our work lunches. Now we take turns, swapping every other day, and I eat what I'm given (and am grateful!).

Talking To My Country by Stan Grant I've mentioned here before. Having spent some time in the Riverina region of New South Wales, I had a strong sense of the places he wrote about from his childhood. The writing is powerful and the book showed me how much I have to learn about the history and experiences of Australia's first people.

Poetry

I whizzed through Rupi Kaur's two poetry books, The Sun And Her Flowers and Milk and Honey. Poetry normally intimidates me but Rupi's poems are both simple and powerful. They come with a good dose of feminism and insight into what it's like to be a woman of colour today.

The Uncommon Feast by Eileen Chong. I often feel conflicted about my identity, being Chinese Australian. I worry that I'm not Chinese enough because I don't have any language and know very little about holidays and traditions. Eileen's poems, essays and recipes made me feel like I had more culture than I realised, and not all of it is food related :)

And books I've reserved...

Small Acts of Disappearance: Essays on Hunger by Fiona Wright
Staying by Jessie Cole
You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (I loved her Death, Sex and Money interview)

P.S Let me know if you're read something great - new or old.

Recent reads

Did you read much over winter? I'm usually a very slow reader but lately I've been blitzing through books. Here are three I especially loved:

The Lonely City by Olivia Laing

My friend Irini gave me this book for my birthday last year, and I wanted to make sure I finished it before my 32nd year was up! It took me three chapters to really get into the book and after that, it travelled with me everywhere.

Its full title is The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone, and each chapter explores loneliness through the work of an American artist, while also touching on the writers experience of a break-up shortly after relocating to New York from London. It was a fascinating way to get into art history, and even though the theme is loneliness, I came out of the book with a strong sense of what it means to be part of a community.

Goodbye, Things by Fumio Saski

I've read a handful of books about minimalism, two favourites being The Art of Frugal Hedonism (hilarious and wise) and Simple Matters (especially good for homebodies). This one is practical, logical and challenging too. I am fascinated by Japanese culture and loved the layout of this book. The first section profiles a few Japanese minimalist households in pictures - including a family and a frequent traveller. The author also shares how he came to pare down his belongings, and the final section of the book is filled with quick and easy tips. Bonus points for a beautiful cover :)

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway 

My sister-in-law is a dedicated reader and I asked her for a novel recommendation earlier this year when I was in a reading rut. The Old Man and the Sea was recommended quickly, and she added that it should be read in a short period of time, if possible. It's a skinny book, with no chapters, and I finished it in a day. It's a beautiful story about a surprising relationship that features some very surreal scenes.

Three more books that I've mentioned before but wanted to re-recommend -
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan for something entertaining and fun,
Things That Helped by Jessica Friedmann for thoughtful and beautiful writing, and because it helped me understand my own brushes with depression in ways I'd never considered.
And I still smile at Insomniac City by Bill Hayes whenever I see it in a bookshop, I'm keen to re-read it before the year it out.

P.S - Tony gave me a Kindle for our third wedding anniversary. The theme was leather, so it came in a leather case :) I've been curious about Kindles for ages but wasn't sure whether I could make the switch from real books, which I love to collect. The verdict: I've had it for a few weeks and love it. It takes up hardly any space, which is great because I try to have a book on me at all times. I adapted to using is almost instantly, and my first purchase was an older book that has to be ordered at the book shop, which I was stoked to get for $10.

New books

I packed a bunch of new books for my trip to Sydney and I'm getting through them. On the weekend my friend Sarah gave me a copy of The Little Book of Slow, which is a pocket-sized book about simple living and slow cooking.

So far I've made two pies from the recipe section - a hearty meat pie and an apple and cinnamon pie - both for my parent's freezer. It's been such a sweet reference book to have in my holiday backpack. Bonus points for colour coordinating with my notebook and novel :)



I'm also flicking through Note to Self, which I stumbled across in a Melbourne bookstore. It reminds me of the blogs and zines I read in my uni days - some of the chapters are diary-like and there are beautiful photos of everyday life and the occasional poem too.

It's an easy one to dip in and out of and it's partly about living more mindfully. I can whiz through dozens of pages in the time that I might spend scrolling through Instagram.

P.S I also bought the latest Haruki Murakami book but I thought two hardbacks might be a little much for a week away. It's waiting for me at home.

Three everyday reads

I would love to read everyday but most weeks, time gets away from me. For ages, reading meant always having a novel on the go but lately I've been enjoying books that are easy to dip in and out of. Here are three that fit the bill:

How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh

I read a page of How to Love each morning as I'm climbing out of bed. It takes me two minutes. Each entry touches on a practical aspect of love from a Buddhist perspective - from how to communicate in an argument to ways to be more comfortable in your own skin. While I don't agree with all of the entries, I find myself mulling over the great ones over the course of the day.

Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups

This was a Christmas present from my sister Carla. It's an anthology that's meant to put you to sleep. It's filled with short stories and poems from greats like Roald Dahl and Haruki Murakami as well as more contemporary writers like B.J Novak. It's a thoughtful compilation that makes it possible to read something satisfying even if 10 minutes is all you can manage.

In the Company of Women

Do you read Design*Sponge? My friend Sophie introduced me to it when I was living in Wagga Wagga (her kitchen was featured!). This book comes from the blog's founder, Grace Bonney, and every time I flick through it, I end up scribbling quotes in my journal. It profiles over a hundred creative women who share their approaches to life, work and creativity. The photography is beautiful, the interviews are illuminating and most profiles are just a couple of pages long.

What are you reading at the moment? I started Pond the other day and it's unlike anything I've ever read.

Audio books - an introduction

Do you listen to audio books? I'm normally a podcast listener but every now and then I love having something longer that I can really settle into - especially if I'm travelling lots or home alone.

Finding one you like though, can be a little bit tricky. It took me a little while to adjust to being read to but I've since listened to lots of great audio books, and really respect the special craft that is reading books out loud. Right now I'm listening to Helen Garner's latest book Everywhere I Look, and it's excellent because she reads it herself. Here are two more audio books read by their authors:

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

As for fiction, I often listen to books that I've been meaning to read but never got around to or use it as a way to try out new authors. Here are a few I've loved in the past:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (which my friend Kristy recommended. It was a lot of fun)

And one more thing - I use BorrowBox from my local library, which I think most Australian libraries have. It's not the easiest catalogue to navigate but I've found and reserved lots of great titles for free.

Do you have a must-read book?

My friend Maayan just lent me a copy of An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, which she's been raving about since Christmas. It got me thinking about my must-read books - I have two. They are...

Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed.
I read this around about the time Tony and I got engaged. I remember carrying it with me everywhere while we were on holidays in Sydney and reading bits whenever I could. To me, it was a really empowering book but I've since found that it's a book that divides people, they either love it or are totally frustrated by it.

Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami.
I remember hearing about the Tokyo subway gas attacks when I was in school and this book is a fascinating and chilling account of what happened that morning, according to the people who were there. Each chapter of the book is someone's memory of the event, until it switches to focus on people who used to be involved in the cult that orchestrated the attack 

I'd love to know if you have a must-read book or two. I hope you can share yours.

Photo: Cheryl Strayed on the Pacific Crest Trail

What will you read next?

I can't decide what is more exciting - finishing a book or choosing a new one. I'm hoping to finish my third book for the year (!) this week and have already picked out what I'll read next.

I'll be reading Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking. It's on loan from the library and ready to go. I first heard it mentioned by Annabel Crabb on her podcast and have also become curious about Joan Didion who pops up as a frequent reference on this style blog.

This year, aside from trying to finish a book per month, I'm also trying really hard to read more broadly and sample authors and titles I might not ordinarily. Currently I'm reading Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which appeared on my desk at work last month just as I was finishing up a novel. My friend Larry loved it and passed it on.

P.S Here's what I was reading in January and here's how to find more time to read.

Just read: Worn Stories

Every year my friend Vanessa sends me a book for Christmas, just in time for the holidays. This summer she sent Worn Stories by Emily Spivack. In it, ordinary people and famous folk share the story behind a special item of clothing and the memories it holds, inevitably revealing something about their past.

You get to see what people wore when they were invited to meet Barack Obama and what they happened to have on when they picked up an unlikely hitch hiker en route to the Grand Canyon.

The book is curated very cleverly and does a really great job of telling bigger stories about life in America, from stories of migration (and the acquisition of someone's first pair of Cons), to the impact Super Fly had on the every day street fashion of Harlem.

It is such a fun book to read and I tried to savour it as much as I could.  As I read, my eyes kept darting between the item of clothing and its story. I'm already itching to buy this book for friends, if only their birthdays would hurry up!

P.S Last year, Vanessa sent Letters of Note for Christmas and I loved it so much that two of the letters ended up becoming readings at my wedding.