Hi there,
I realized as I sat down to write this that I’ve been writing this newsletter now for ~two years.~ It felt like this meme. I can’t believe we’re still in a pandemic, one that’s morphed into a nightmarish flu-COVID-RGV “tripledemic” as 2023 approaches. Yet here we are.
Watch
I was having a bad day before I watched The Swimmers (Netflix), which quickly distracted me and gave me some needed perspective. It’s a movie based on the true story of two sisters who escaped the war in Syria, and saved a boat full of fellow refugees by swimming to safety. Later, one of the sisters went on to become an Olympic swimmer. Even though I’m familiar with the refugee crisis, it was still shocking. I think I would have preferred a documentary, but the story is told in a way that’s effective and moving.
I also recommend In Her Hands (Netflix), a documentary about Afghanistan’s only female mayor and her struggle to stay in leadership while facing the constant threat of assassination. It’s deeply upsetting but fully worth watching.
Read
While I haven’t finished yet, I’m loving Kaikeyi, a feminist retelling of a story from the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. It reminds me of Circe and The City of Brass, which I’ve previously recommended. I especially love the descriptions of Kaikeyi’s powers, which involve visualizing her relationships to others as strands of thread.
See the full list of recommendations.
Follow
Jon Kung is a chef influencer based in Detroit who makes really cool dishes in an extremely cool kitchen.
Do
Take some time to really rest over the holidays. I’m happy to report I’m taking three weeks off from work this month — the largest consecutive chunk of time I’ve ever taken off from a full-time job, thanks to an unlimited vacation policy.
Until 2023,
Rachel