Sunday Sundries 001: Best Books of the 21st Century, Shifting the Vibes, and Zac Efron's Confusing New Movie.

Plus, my bead necklace obsession continues and links galore!

Something new this week! Introducing: Sunday Sundries, the antidote to—or at least a distraction from—your Sunday Scaries. Seriously, why aren’t there more Sunday evening newsletters?

This format is somewhat of a test balloon. I’d love to create a weekly series to give us both some consistency. And, transparently (vulnerably), I’m not sure my monthly picnic posts—a recap of my month and what I’m doing, eating, watching, and shopping—are “working.” Between the podcast and Instagram, by the time the end of the month rolls around, I’ve often talked about these things in one place or another. So, *testing, testing* a new, more casual WEEKLY format. This one’s free, but they might not stay that way.

As always, feedback is welcome. Let me know what you think of this format and if you’d want more.

/end preamble

Was this past week a tough one for anyone else? It felt like I kept having the same conversation over and over. It starts like this: someone says they just CAN’T right now.

Can’t motivate to work. Can’t think straight. Can’t do anything but eat popsicles in front of their window A/C (I’m totally not speaking from personal experience on that last one… but also, have you tried mint chocolate chip Yasso bars?).

And how could we be expected to CAN, what with this heatwave on the east coast, this hellscape of an election cycle heating up, the haunted house of a post-holiday weekend.

And yet… I’m still trying.

I’m starting a fourth draft of my novel. Perhaps my most difficult edit yet. I’m guessing at least 50% of what’s there—words it took 14 months to get to in the first place—will get thrown out, and I’m hoping and praying they’ll will be replaced by something better. I spent last week planning. Actual writing commences Monday. I’m starting from a blank doc. Terrifying.

I’m also desperately trying to shift my mindset after a crappy Q2 that dinged up my confidence and my attitude. More on that in a min.

So, that’s where I’m at. Trying. And I’m pretty damn proud of that.

Onto a few other things on my mind. (Heads up: it’s a long one, you might need to open in a browser to scroll the whole thing!)

📚 The New York Times’ list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

This interactive list—voted on by 500 authors, critics, and miscellaneous book people—took over my feeds this week. Interestingly, most shares I saw had between 5 - 15 books on their “read” list (although my friend Morgan AKA @nycbookgirl had 37!). Instead of being the “BEST” books, it felt like these were the books most likely to impress your elbow-patch-blazer-wearing college literature professor.

Where was the genre fiction? Where was GONE GIRL that singlehandedly launched the bestselling domestic suspense genre that IMO defined the 2010’s? How the heck was HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi excluded? A LITTLE LIFE, too, for that matter? Who is ACTUALLY reading some of these dry door-stopping biographies other than your dad?

This list seemed to reinforce what is IMO one of the most insidious reading attitudes: that the only books worth reading are “important” books. “Screw enjoyment, eat your vegetables.”

If I’d been asked to weigh in, here’s what I would have voted for (no particular order):

• THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

• A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanigahara

• NORMAL PEOPLE by Sally Rooney

• THREE WOMEN by Lisa Taddeo

• HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi

• THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman

• RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles

• THE INTERESTINGS By Meg Wolitzer

• KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST by J. Ryan Stradal

• JUST KIDS by Patti Smith

🧠 Shifting the Vibes

Q2 was rough on my end. At one point I was simultaneously tending to work, family, friendship, and mental health situations. I spoke on the podcast about wanting a hard reset coming into Q3. The community came through with lots of suggestions, and here are the 3 that most appealed to me:

1. Change your phone case and background. I spend so much of my day glued to my phone that giving it an update really has served as a great reminder of my intention to change my outlook. I got this sparkly cloud case (it reminds me of the comforter I had as a teenager) and put this reminder on my background.

   

2. Mini-bed makeover. Another daily-use item to update: your duvet. Unfortunately for me and my champagne taste, the Liberty print one I want is $$$, but I’m keeping an eye out for a sale. In the meantime, I may settle for the cheaper thrill of these floral wavy-hem sheets from the West Elm X Rhode collab.

3. Add water. I’m headed to Maine soon and one of my top goals is to plunk myself into a body of water. Pool? Freezing ocean? Doesn’t matter. I fully believe in the healing power of water and am dead set on dunking away Q2.

A few other ideas in case those don’t appeal:

• “Organization! Clear my calendar; spend some time at home not traveling to get my home shit together. What’s been taking up space in my mind? Re-org the closet, kitchen. Once that feels settled. To do list. Meal planning. Getting things back in line really helps my find free up space for other stuff.” - Lara S.

• “This is for more of a longer commitment overhaul but The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron helped me with a big reset. I remember

  Leslie Stephens
  mentioning it as well as very helpful.” - Hillary L.

• “Volunteer! I’ve never left a volunteer event feeling worse about the world.” - Lauren H.

🛍️ Bead Necklace Mania Continues

Last month I wrote about my obsession with colorful beaded necklaces, and that obsession is still going strong between my splurge-y mixed bead necklace that makes me so happy every time I wear it and also the DIY version I made.

But there’s been two new breaks in the case: first, I discovered a new-to-me designer when shopping in London: Miami-based jewelry designer Martha Calvo.

I really love this glass bead and pearl version, this two-strand combo (pictured above), and this whimsical rendition.

But, I also discovered this incredible DIY hack on Honestly WTF to turn craft store beads into the donut-shaped beads of my dreams. I see a trip to Michael’s and one of those clear bead organizer containers in my future. Is this turning into my summer of beads?

🎥 A Family Affair (Netflix)

I have no idea how I feel about this confusing new Netflix movie about a striving celebrity assistant (Joey King) who’s mother (Nicole Kidman) falls in love with her low-key problematic boss (Zac Efron). Truly, how did all these name-brand celebs (also, Kathy Bates plays the grandma) end up in this hijinx-y low-budget movie? But onto the movie itself:

Was it good? No.

Was it well-acted? For the most part, also no. But IMO Joey King had some moments.

Did Zac and Nicole have chemistry? Wow… not at all.

But did I enjoy it? Somehow… I think I did. It was schtick-y and ridiculous, but fun. I think it was a mistake to release it in July vs at Christmas where, societally, we have lower standards for streaming movies. There’s even a pivotal Christmas scene!

Help! Did you watch? What did you think?

📚 Have You Heard About This Book? HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams

I feel very picky about romances right now. I’ve read so many over the past five years that they’ve started to blend together into am amalgamation of fake-dating plots and hotel rooms with only one bed (my fave trope!). I’ve been gravitating towards romances that feel like they have something different or extra, which is how I ended up picking up this dual-timeline novel, which is part historical fiction, part romance.

In the past timeline, the story follows an affair that produces a love child in 1951 Cairo. In the present, I think we’re trending toward a famous person/normal person second-chance romance. While historical fiction isn’t normally my speed, I’m really enjoying this one so far!

(Bookshop | Amazon)

Where to Next? More Links to Stave Off Your Scaries:

• This essay about Gen Z and loneliness was really thought-provoking.

• Have you ever wonder how celebrity book clubs pick titles? There’s a lot of good intel in this article.

• I really enjoyed this New Yorker interview with Lena Dunham. She’s certainly had her share of controversies, but I left this feeling impressed by her self-awareness and vulnerability and excited to watch the new semi-autobiographical show she’s working on starring Hacks’ Meg Stalter.

• My friend Mike’s dreamy Litchfield country house was featured on The Connecticut Edit and I urge him not to invite me over because I may never leave.

Alright, your turn. What do you think of this new format?

Maybe I’ll see you next Sunday for another round.

Becca