Monday Miscellany: Catnip for my sentimental ass
Notes from August 26 - September 1
Hello, and welcome to September! Everything feels possible again! I’m embracing the surge of motivation and potential that usually hits this time of year and hoping it stays as long as possible. Seasonal transitions always have a “fresh beginning” effect on me, but summer to fall is especially potent—maybe it’s the new school year vibes? the weather starting to cool off? the anticipation of beloved autumnal activities and holidays? Whatever the case, I feel like I can breathe again. I’m grateful. Let’s go.
Currently reading
My book club met this week to discuss Bright and Tender Dark by Joanna Pearson, a slowly-unfolding mystery set in 2019 about the murder of a college student back in the late nineties. Most of us agreed that we liked it but didn’t love it.
Every chapter is written from a different character’s point of view, which illustrates just how many people are directly affected by an act of violence like this and how the impact trickles out into the community, sometimes across a span of years. But no one’s perspective is repeated in the novel, meaning that many of the side character arcs don’t see closure, and interesting tidbits that come up in one section are simply left hanging at the end.
Someone in book club mentioned hearing that this novel started as a short story collection, which tracks with my reading experience. In my ideal version, I would have preferred maybe four or five character’s voices; that way we’d still get the kaleidoscopic, communal feeling, but there would be more space to fully tie together all of the different narratives.
What I loved most about this book was the setting: Chapel Hill, North Carolina! Just down the road from my hometown (Durham) and a place with which I am intimately familiar. As someone who sometimes has trouble visualizing the worlds of the novels I read, I was delighted to have a mental map already drawn up in my head. I felt a thrill of recognition at each local landmark mention, especially Carrburritos, Cosmic Cantina (whose Durham location makes my all-time favorite burrito), and Pepper’s Pizza (an iconic spot that my boyfriend used to take me to circa 2004 and that sadly closed in 2011). Fittingly, we met for our book club discussion at a brewery on Franklin Street, and it was perfect.
There’s even a UNC classroom scene where a snobby student speaks up, the narrator mentioning that he went to Durham Academy (a private local high school), and oh my gosh that shorthand was just for me. I knew some DA kids in my day, and almost all of them were just so… eye roll. Is this how New Yorkers feel reading the billions of books that are set in their city?? The familiarity! The nostalgia! What a delight. Have you ever read a novel set where you live?
On the nonfiction front, I finished Write it All Down by Cathy Rentzenbrink, an instructional book about memoir writing. Though publishing a book isn’t currently a goal of mine, I thought some of Cathy’s advice might translate well to a newsletter format, and I was right.
Her tone is encouraging and pleasant, with a sprinkling of humor. Here are some of the most memorable specific nuggets I took away:
Visiting significant locations and buying presents for your younger self are some helpful and fun ways to unlock memories and get in the mindset of past you.
The most challenging part of writing is just doing it, so don’t be too hard on yourself when you’re writing a first draft. You can and will polish it later.
You don’t need to include every detail. Focus on what is necessary to the story you’re trying to tell and the point you want to make. (This one is so hard for me!)
And here’s a quote that really punched me in the face:
The danger is that we become bland in the pursuit of being all things to all readers, that we are miserly in what we give of ourselves if we are frightened of being judged. (168)
Dang, Cathy! I try to write this letter every week like I would catch up with a close friend, honestly and in my own voice, without thinking too much about who might be reading. I never want to consciously (or even subconsciously) censor myself or change my writing style or topic choices. And that’s hard—the overthinking and second-guessing are kind of constant! My intention here is to talk about what I’m reading, listening to, and thinking about, and it’s normal and expected that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But, says Cathy, if you are unapologetically true to yourself, the right people will find your work and it’ll be okay. (Yelling at myself): IT’LL BE OKAY.
If you’re a writer in any capacity, I bet you’d also find something helpful in these pages.
A legally-required heads-up: if you purchase a book through the bookshop.org affiliate links in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. ♥︎
Currently listening
A recent email from Cat’s Cradle about their upcoming concerts reminded me that The Staves exist and led me to check out their newest album, All Now (2024). They’re a band of harmonizing sisters, previously a trio and now a duo (the eldest sister is currently busy momming), whose folksy music I’ve enjoyed in the past.
This album has the beautiful layered vocals that I remember, but overall it’s a bit more upbeat and poppy. The title track, which opens the album, especially grabbed me, because life right now feels transitional in an exciting, new beginning way, and that’s what “All Now” is about:
Do what you want, just be aggressively free Be aggressively free, be aggressively free It’s all now, isn’t it exciting? We can stick it to the man and come out fighting
The next song, “I Don’t Say It, But I Feel It,” is another favorite. It sounds like sunshine and nostalgia, and you know that’s catnip for my sentimental ass. The combination of dreamy lady harmonies and these chorus lyrics—are you kidding me?
You got the magic, I think I missed it Homesick for a place that never existed Oh, but I feel it
Other standouts include “Make a Decision,” by which I feel personally victimized, “I’ll Never Leave You Alone,” which is soothing as hell, and the back-to-back combo of “After School” and “Great Wave,” each of which is fully a jam and a half.
If you’re into bands like First Aid Kit, Lucius, The Wailin’ Jennys, or Joseph, definitely give this album a listen.
I’ll leave you with their Tiny Desk Concert from May of this year. The four-song set includes a couple of my faves, their live performance is just lovely, and you get some sweet English accent banter between songs!
And another thing
September 1 is the day when I officially allow myself to get excited about the onset of my favorite season, and if this makes me basic, I CARE NOT. I usually mark this occasion with a list, featuring books I want to read, films and shows I want to watch, and things I want to do during the autumnal months. Some of the activities here are pretty specific to me (unless you, too, have a backyard poison ivy problem, an overflowing closet, and a maxed-out photo roll on your phone), but mostly it’s just good fall vibes, baby. Until there is an actual seasonal crispness to the air, I shall imagine one into being, thank you and good day.
As someone who relies on tips for a significant portion of my (barista) income, I found this New York Times article (gift link) about what’s going on with tip culture fascinating.
I also bookmarked this story to tell my Lego-loving nephew about. “Nearly five million Lego pieces plunged into the sea in 1997. The pieces are still showing up—on England’s coast, in Ireland, Belgium, France, and possibly at the beach near you.” Wild!!
Finally, here is Vulture’s list of best upcoming fall book releases (I have my eye on Danzy Senna, Sally Rooney, and Daniel M. Lavery in particular) and Pitchfork’s guide to new music coming this season (a few that caught my attention: Blink-182, MANU CHAO (who else listened to them in high school Spanish class??), Yasmin Williams, The Linda Lindas, Laura Marling, and Soccer Mommy).
Haiku round-up
Monday, August 26
Busy feels better when you’re steering your own ship, choosing for yourself
Tuesday, August 27
I’ll talk for hours about crossword mechanics Don’t get me started
Wednesday, August 28
The crew is gathered, all gleeful interruptions and rambling tangents
Thursday, August 29
Start your next orbit surrounded by friends and with belly full of cake
Friday, August 30
Emerge in sunlight the heat exciting, buoyant Harness that feeling
Saturday, August 31
Sounds from the kitchen: cheerful, muted industry I exhale, at ease
Sunday, September 1
Arbitrary, yes, but new month energy is undeniable
Until next time
My lettering and design business was my full-time job for about five years right after graduate school, and lately I’ve been feeling motivated to prioritize it again! Last week I mentioned framing a few photo pieces for an upcoming art show (there they are above—I’m so pleased with how they turned out), and I also got a small but noticeable bump in online sales over the weekend from a kind Reddit post about one of my locally-themed sticker designs. I don’t say this in a self-promotional way, but an eager and excited one; do you know the feeling of regaining momentum on something after a long time away? Isn’t it wonderful?? I’m hoping for more of it this coming week, for all of us.
See you next time, and until then, someone please tell me how to get this song out of my head!!
—Emily
If you have any feedback, or want to tell me what you’re reading or listening to, I’d love to hear it. You’re always welcome to leave a comment or reply directly to this email.