Hi everyone! I hope you’re hanging in there and staying safe!
After undertaking rigorous, in-depth research (I looked at some memes), I have come to the conclusion that this January was universally accepted as the longest month in history. I have the evidence (memes) to support this claim:
This month has lasted an eternity, but we’re nearly there! I know that things feel unbearably heavy for many of us right now, so I hope you’re taking care of yourselves as best you can. I’ve been knitting, embroidering and baking to distract myself, though it’s worth mentioning that I would be doing all of these activities regardless of a nation-wide lockdown (the heart wants what it wants). Based on the messages I’ve been receiving, I know that many people have understandably been feeling very restless, bored and anxious as of late and are in need of distraction. I suspect my knitting and embroidery adventures might not be to every reader’s taste (understatement), so I thought I’d use this month’s newsletter as an opportunity to cram in some book recommendations and a few extra podcast reviews to help keep you entertained! I’m also sharing an original recipe for a light n’ gentle Honey Cake, which you should definitely make this weekend to celebrate the end of this offensively long month.
BOOKS
1. I just finished reading My Name Is Why, a moving memoir by poet and author Lemn Sissay. The book charts Sissay’s early life, which was characterized by a litany of horrific placements in foster care and children’s homes during the 1970’s and 80’s. My Name Is Why powerfully exposes the great and many failings of Britain’s care system and how Sissay was particularly affected as a Black boy trying to survive in these institutions. It’s an intense, heart-wrenching yet undeniably powerful piece of work that I’d suggest everyone read.
2. Another book I would heartily (frantically!) recommend is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (I know, I’m inexcusably late to the game on this one). For those of you who haven’t yet read it, I suggest you stop, open a new tab, and go buy or borrow it now (I’ll wait). Great, now that you’ve arranged to get a copy, all I’m going to say about this novel is that it’s superb. That’s it. Superb. Next!
3. One book I also enjoyed this month was Irish author Naoise Dolan’s debut novel, Exciting Times. Dolan’s style is so distinct and nuanced that I’ve actually found the book quite difficult to sum up, but, in short, it follows 22-year-old Ava who has moved from Ireland to Hong Kong. It traces the complex, confusing and often uncomfortable dynamics in her relationships, though I don’t think this fully captures the uniqueness of the story. Anyway, if you’re a Sally Rooney fan then I think you’d probably enjoy it (I should have just led with this and left it at that).
PODCASTS
1. The Apology Line
You might already be familiar with the podcast network Wondery from their hugely popular shows like Dr. Death or Dirty John. While their success cannot be denied and they clearly play an important role in the American podcast ecosystem, I, however, have a bone to pick with them. I think my critique is mostly well founded, though I’m sure some of it is due to the simple fact that “Arielle has a goddamn opinion on everything” (not my quote). I don’t typically listen to Wondery’s podcasts because I find they tend to be formulaic and often rely - quite heavily - on gratuitous violence to carry a show. But at the start of the month I heard they were releasing a new series and despite my misgivings about the true crime genre (which I discussed in my last newsletter), the story was just so bizarre that I gave in and listened. The Apology Line is Wondery’s latest podcast that deep-dives into the true story of the Manhattan-based artist, Allan Bridge, and his experimental art project. In the 1980s, Allan set up a telephone answering machine (Gen Z readers right now: “huh?”) where anyone could call in and anonymously leave a voice message with an apology for their crimes. Suffice to say the project quickly spiralled out of control, with people calling in to confess (or in some instances, gleefully share) the egregious crimes they had committed. Unbelievably, the show has access to and is using the original tapes from the answering machine, and trust me when I say hearing them is bone-chilling. I’ll keep it vague as I don’t want to give too much away, but from what I’ve gathered so far (the show is only three episodes in), it’s more of an exploration of Allan himself: unpacking his motivations for starting and continuing the project, and the impact it had on his life and that of those nearest to him. It’s sometimes corny, often cringe, and the host’s abrupt transition from horrifically violent crimes to cheery advertisements is distasteful at best. My snobby podcast critic brain is screaming at me to hit pause, but I inexplicably cannot stop listening, and apparently neither can the world, as it’s currently ranked as the top show on Apple Podcasts. All I’m going to suggest is that you get to the end of episode 1. “Terrifying” doesn’t even cover it.
2. Back Issue
If you’re in need of a pop culture fix, your prayers have been answered. Back Issue launched last August and it’s already a classic in my eyes. Hosts Tracy Clayton and Josh Gwynn revisit pivotal moments in pop culture history and explore what it can teach us in the present moment. If you need a break from the heaviness of the news and general chaos of the world, this is the perfect show to lift your spirits. In their own words, the show is “here to help us remember fun and give us all a moment to sit, relax and soak our weary bones in the waters of pop culture of days past.” You can start anywhere, but my personal favourite episode is “Remember When MTV Was That Girl?”. It’s a deliciously nostalgic and hilarious analysis of MTV during its heyday, and their interview with former MTV producer Erika Clarke was laugh-out-loud funny.
3. Slate Money: Food: Costco
This episode of the Slate Money podcast is a fascinating look at the economics of Costco. It came out nearly a year ago so there is *some* corona stockpiling talk, but I only recently listened to it for the first time and I thought it was too good not to share now. It discusses the puzzling success of Costco’s business model, despite it breaking every retail rule and also arguably being the ugliest place in the world (😂). Warning: this content will probably be of interest to people who - like me - grew up in suburban North America. It will likely be irrelevant to any city dwellers who buy one bottle of shampoo at a time instead of a pack of 16.
4. Outsiders
This is an excellent and thoroughly reported show about homelessness in the West Coast of America. Host Will James and a team of journalists spent a year chronicling homelessness in the city of Olympia, Washington, and explore its many contributing factors and consequences. The show unpacks the national debates being had and the structural issues at play, while also weaving in powerful personal testimonies. Outsiders is careful to highlight a range of perspectives, including that of government officials, frontline workers and residents, though James and his team remain committed to centering the voices of unsheltered people throughout. It’s an unflinching and critical look at homelessness, and regardless of whether or not you’re stateside I’d say it’s worth a listen.
5. From Now
I already extolled the many virtues of scripted fiction podcasts in a previous newsletter, but I have returned to bombard you with more propaganda (look, I just want more people to hop on board the fiction podcast train). In late December, QCODE released From Now, an absorbing sci-fi podcast set in the year 2060. It stars Richard Madden (you might recognize him from Game of Thrones), who plays the lone survivor of a spaceship that famously vanished 35 years before. I am not a sci-fi fan by any stretch, so I was admittedly reluctant to give it a go. But with the show’s exquisite sound design and fast pace, I quickly got sucked in. Listening to From Now was the perfect lockdown escape. It transported me far, far away from the confines of my home, which I think many of us are hankering for right now. And if that’s not enough to sell you on it, then just listen to the show for Madden’s melodic Scottish accent alone (if I’m being frank, that’s why I started listening in the first place).
FOOD
One mystery that has plagued my family for years is my uncontrollable sweet tooth (some might argue that this is more a question of willpower, and to that I say: please be quiet). I have three older brothers and none of them have struggled with this issue. It’s as though the gene miraculously skipped over them and cursed me with a sweet tooth enough for all four of us. Life’s cruel that way. Anyway, this means that when I make desserts for them the usual reply is “this is great! But maybe a little too sweet?” (this sentence should be illegal). So, I endeavoured to make a cake that met their standards - something that wasn’t too sweet or extravagant, but was still tasty and felt special. I’ve been experimenting with a honey cake recipe for a while now and after several rounds of testing, I’ve finally landed on something that has been enthusiastically received by my brothers! It’s soft, gentle, pairs wonderfully with a cup of tea or coffee, and of course, isn’t too sweet. I’ve also been informed that this is the “perfect breakfast cake”- a statement that truly baffles me as I was under the impression that all cakes are breakfast cakes. It’s an original recipe so I’m eager for you to try it and let me know what you think! And as always, if you do make it please send a photo to my Instagram, I’d love to see how it turned out!
Ingredients:
180g unsalted butter, room temperature (¾ cup)
180g all-purpose flour (1 ⅓ cup + 2 tbsp). Note: to my North American friends using cup measurements - make sure you’re correctly measuring out your flour so it doesn’t yield too much!
50g granulated sugar (¼ cup)
110g light soft brown sugar (½ cup)
3 large eggs, room temperature (keeping them room temp helps the batter come together and prevents it from separating)
2 tbsp honey (I still only use 1 tbsp when making it for my brothers but I use 2 tbsp if making it for myself or anyone else)
1 ¼ tsp baking powder
Pinch of fine sea salt
Method:
Preheat your oven to 160°C fan (350°F). Grease one 9x2-inch round cake pan (I’ve also used an 8-inch square cake tin before) and line the bottom with parchment paper.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer (or using a wooden spoon and an extraordinary amount of elbow grease) cream together the butter and both sugars at medium-high speed until it’s light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times during this process to make sure everything is getting mixed together.
Add the eggs one at a time into the mixture, lightly beating in between each addition.
Add the honey, and gently beat together.
Slowly, and in three stages, add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Beat until just combined, and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure it’s all mixed.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan, and pop in the oven for about 36 minutes (my oven is pretty temperamental, so it might actually be shorter or longer depending on your own oven and what pan you use. You’ll know it’s ready when you insert a toothpick in the very centre of the cake and it comes out clean + it should be a gorgeous golden colour on top).
Let it cool completely and then dust with icing sugar to serve!
There you go, an extra lengthy newsletter for y’all today! I hope these recommendations will help occupy your mind (and stomach), and provide even a few hours of comfort as we weather the rest of the storm.
Sending so much love, and please don’t forget to make your celebratory “Thank God We’re Done with January” cake,
Arielle