Self-care Sunday tunes, Derry Girls, luxe cookbooks, and a mobile love story
Huzzah! Enter the book giveaway to win 'Carrie Soto is Back'.
If you need me later, I’ll be hammering out a 2,000-word short story for a feedback group submission in the space of about three hours. This is far outside my comfort zone and the results will likely be hair-raisingly bad. I do have a setting and the vague arc of the plot mapped out in my head, so I’m clinging to the hope I’ll get into some sort of state of flow and the words tumble out effortlessly perfect. I can dream, right?
I have a sing-along Sound of Music performance and a K-pop meet-up at a bubble tea shop to look forward to this weekend. Thinking I’m mentally stuck at the age of about 14? Fair. But hey, if I’m planning on writing a YA novel at some point (I am), that means I’m well placed to recreate the voice and mindset of teenagers.
Just wanted to say thanks very much to the folks who’ve started liking and commenting on these posts. Keep ’em coming! It guides me in knowing what you’d most enjoy in upcoming issues. In the words of Beca in Pitch Perfect: love you, awesome nerds!
News
1. So, dating app for right-wingers The Right Stuff has turned into a sausage fest and the *sarcasm font* lovely gents on it are now being contacted by the FBI over their dubious views on the 6 January US Capitol riot? Sounds like it couldn’t have happened to nicer fellas. Also, cheers for naming your doomed digital offering after my fave NKOTB song, you pile of numpties.
2. Crikey, if you asked the average person on the street, would they even know the name of Bruce Lehrmann, the actual person accused of rape? Or would they simply know it as the “Brittany Higgins trial” (and no, I’m not linking to any of the channels reporting in this way). I’m part of the media and I know in today’s fast-paced world standards can sometimes slip, but for pete’s sake, maybe we could be careful about who we convey is the accused here? I’m with Nina.
3. On a lighter note, it’s Fat Bear Week in Alaska, in which Paddingtons and Yogis are appreciated for their natural beauty and have the opportunity to be voted this year’s official chonky pin-up. The world needs more of this.
Reviews
1. We blitzed our way through Derry Girls season 3 on the weekend, which dropped on Aussie Netflix Friday. If haven’t watched the first two seasons, picture The Inbetweeners, but teenage girls instead of guys, and set in Ireland during the ’90s. It’s a comedy with a cracking soundtrack (think The Cranberries, The Corrs, Supergrass, Salt-N-Pepa and the like), floating along against the weighty background of the barricades and bombings of the era. I thought it was going to be hard to top the high the show went out on at the close of season 2, but the season 3 finale was fitting (phew, can’t stand it when a treasured show drops the ball on the ending). I challenge you to view an episode without sarcastic Sister Michael or airy Orla becoming your favourite character. So, should you watch it? Aye, grand so.
2. Don’t ya hate it when you find a perfect, dream product and it’s discontinued? This was the case recently with AG Hair Care’s Renew clarifying shampoo. I’ve happily used it for a few years (along with several other items in their range), but I’ve had to find a replacement now it’s been taken off the shelves. Puzzling, since it was one of the company’s most popular products, I’m told. I’ve been trialing the NAK Hair Ultimate Cleanse shampoo to fill the void and I can’t say it smells as pleasant as AG Hair Care’s blissful citrusy gel, but it certainly does the trick making my hair feel squeaky-clean without being stripped of all nourishment. Maybe change isn’t so bad after all.
3. In celebration of buying a new phone (a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra), I thought I’d splash out on a few mostly-free mobile games, including one called Florence by Aussie game studio Mountains. It’s both short (30 minutes of gameplay) and sweet (gentle cartoon graphics and a classical music score). More an interactive novel telling a modern love story than strictly speaking a game, the puzzles are kind-to-the-mind simple to create slight, suspenseful pauses in the story. You’ll feel curious and then uplifted by playing this, I reckon.
Raves and Faves
10 a-list-worthy cookbooks to style up your at-home dining
As (cough) a rather reluctant at-home cook at the best of times, I've always sought out the gorgeous, glossy pages of cookbooks that would be better described as works of art to help inspire me to stop reaching for the take-out menu. If it's fashionable, fresh, and fancy, I want it on my kitchen shelf.
Here’s a round-up of the luxest couture-as-cuisine volumes I’ve found:
1. Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl
Roald Dahl’s granddaughter is a former fashion model turned author, and if this book is anything to go by, is quite the literary talent herself. Her stories about her lifelong love affair with food are almost better than the recipes.
You had me at “slowing down” and “simple”, Julia. A mixture of showstoppers and things to cook for those can’t-be-bothered days as well.
3. Saturday Night Pasta: Recipes and self-care rituals for the home cook by Elizabeth Hewson
Creating carbs as self-care? This chick gets me.
4. New York Cult Recipes by Marc Grossman
Bring town Carrie Bradshaw calls home to your doorstep. Eat like a native New Yorker and indulge in gorgeous pics of the city.
5. Lunch in Paris: Delicious and simple French recipes by Suzy Ashford
For when you fancy a slice of Paris, but your cooking skills are slightly (ahem) below those of a Michelin star chef.
6. My Darling Lemon Thyme, Every Day by Emma Galloway
An impossibly pretty collection of gluten-free vego recipes from this Kiwi blogger.
7. Nadiya Bakes by Nadija Hussain
Fancy key lime cupcakes and raspberry amaretti biscuits from BBC and Netflix chef Nadiya Hussain? Me too.
8. Elsa’s Wholesome Life by Ellie Bullen
Based on a blog about wholesome coastal living, this book features plant-based recipes from a qualified dietitian and nutritionist.
9. The Cocktail Garden by Adrian Picker and Ed Loveday
Spritzers and party punches full of fruits and herbs, illustrated in summery botanical style.
10. The Roasting Tin Around the World by Rukmini Iyer
Simply chop stuff up and chuck it all in the one roasting pan? Sign. Me. Up.
Giveaway Time!
Yay! I’ve been hinting since this newsletter launched in early September that I’d been introducing some new, thrilling features shortly & we’re kicking off now! October is my birthday month and you’re getting gifts. Cool, huh?
I thought it would be fitting for this first Becks and the City giveaway to pick a book featuring “Carrie” in the title.
Enter to win a copy of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel Carrie Soto is Back here.
Playlist of the Week
Self-care Sunday for when you can’t get enough chill:
1. Tell Me - RUFUS DU SOL
2. Just My Type - The Vamps
3. Sanctuary - Aly & AJ
4. Stronger (feat Kesha) - Sam Feldt, Kesha
5. Bad – Christopher
6. Words I Couldn’t Say - Leighton Meester
7. Someday – OneRepublic
8. Okinawa - Nora Van Elken
9. Myself - Bazzi
10. It’s Nice To Have A Friend - Taylor Swift
11. Crying Over You - HONNE, BEKA
12. No Time For Toxic People - Imagine Dragons
13. Are You Ready – Sonique
14. I Could Get Used To This - Becky Hill, WEISS
15. Can’t Stop Loving You - Phil Collins
The Derry Girls is such a clever, layered series. I also loved the third series! Sad to see it end