The Reading List: Saturday, December 21
Elizabeth
ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS IS BACK: 2019 Hater’s Guide to the Wililams-Sonoma Catalog. Drew Magary is a treasure. (I’m so glad I was the first of the SFOL girls to complete their part of the reading list so that I could be the one to post this one!)
Picking up where Shannon has been sharing everything from the NYTimes Magazine: I loved this piece about how spices have made (and unmade) empires. Such an interesting long read for this weekend - just trust me on that one.
I grew up in the Deep South, and so I didn’t realize until I was older that not everyone’s lives had a debutante season. I know a lot of people dismiss it in 2019, but the history of making your debut does give a fascinating insight into the history of women’s lives, particularly in the late 19th century. If you ask nicely, I’ll even share a photo of myself in my big poofy white dress.
I read “Meg & Jo” by Virginia Kantor earlier this month, and I really enjoyed it; probably because “Little Women” is one of my favorite childhood books (and one I’m taking home with me for Christmas with my family). I do defteinly think that it needs to be included in any group of American literary classics (and taught in schools — way more entertaining than “Moby Dick” tbh), and while I am not sure if I’ll be seeing the movie anytime soon, I am furious on behalf of the women in it that men are skipping the screenings because it’s a girl movie. FFS, how are we still having this discussion??
I loved this look back at things that have changed about travel in the last decade — most of my personal travel has been since 2010, so it felt weird to read back through this list.
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?
Moira
Elizabeth beat me to posting the Williams-Sonoma Haters Guide, but please know that it has been on my heart for the past few days, just like every year. I’m glad Drew Magary is up and kicking again.
I did only slightly better than Shannon on the New Yorker decade quiz (16 to her 14). We should both be ashamed.
If you haven’t had your flu shot, please get one. Don’t be like these HCPs in Boston who’ve refused them. The flu kills, every year. Even healthy people. Getting the vaccine is also a kind way to take care of the more vulnerable among us. Just please do it. For Momo.
You know it’s Christmastime for the Jews. Let’s get some Chinese food/see Fiddler on the Roof with actual Jewish actors.
If you didn’t already think Cats would be deeply unsettling…this seals it. Also, Andrew Lloyd Webber is a talentless hack. Fight me.
Shannon
OOO will return shortly. Please direct any urgent messages to Momo or Elizabeth.
