Sometimes I start a newsletter, get caught up in the chaos of a month, blink, and suddenly it’s nearly over. September has felt like a continuation of August, with sticky hot days and the stress of a new semester that never really left during the summer term. September 22nd is the Autumnal Equinox (wink) and we aren’t quite there, so here’s a not-quite-belated summer (mostly August) wrap up.
BOOKS
I’ve written about most of my new favorites from this summer already, so I won’t belabor you with more ramblings. Instead, here are some thoughts I have yet to share on recent reads:
Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America by Shefali Luthra: I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. Books, discussions, Instagram posts, protests signs… I have learned to expect a lack of gender inclusivity in the discussions surrounding abortion and reproductive rights. When abortion access and the fall of Roe v. Wade are debated on national stages, such as during the presidential debate, the word ‘women’ is used like a confetti canon. It surprises me every time, sending a jolt of disappointment through my body. This feeling, which I don’t anticipate becoming immune to, has led me to prematurely anticipate it. That anticipation was unfair in the case of this book - extremely so.
Undue Burden is a nonfiction book that lays bare the “economic, emotional, and life-threatening consequences of being denied reproductive freedom.” (Storygraph) An expansive variety of intimate, individual experiences are shared, including a trans man in Florida who struggled with the dysphoria of pregnancy, a teen girl who had to change her life plan when she couldn’t access an abortion, a couple who desperately wanted a child but ran into potentially fatal health risks, and even women raised in religious households who came to understand the importance of choice firsthand. As someone who has never needed an abortion but frequently woke up in a cold sweat after a pregnancy nightmare, hearing this diversity of stories opened my eyes to the realities of abortion access in America in a way that my distant support of abortion funds never could.
In between personal anecdotes from patients and abortion providers, Luthra included important informational content surrounding the legal and legislative battles and the unexpected fallout that came from the Dobbs decision. One of the more revelatory moments was learning that many clinics in states with abortion access were forced to cease providing gender affirming care because of the high demand for abortion care. With an influx of patients needing to travel from states like Texas, neighboring clinics were overwhelmed, targeted, and working past capacity trying - and sometimes failing - to provide care for all.
While reading, I was reminded of the first time I phone banked (text banked, more accurately) : 2022, prior to Kansas’ vote on a state amendment that would end the right to abortion. After Dobbs, Kansas was the first state to vote on abortion, and there was a significant worry that the confusing language of the ballot could result in the amendment passing. Voters needed to vote ‘no’ and an overwhelming 59% did. In the hours I spent from bed, text banking, I spoke to more people than I expected. I’ll never forget the grandmother who told me she would absolutely be voting for her grandchildren’s access to abortions, and I’ll never stop hoping that my generation won’t be fighting this same battle for our own family trees - found and otherwise.
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston: Now, an abrupt tone shift to review a smutty romance novel.
Casey McQuiston’s first novel, Red, White, and Royal Blue, was the first queer novel I read, and it set me on a coming out collision course. It took a couple of years, but my love for their romance novel about the Prince of England and First Son helped me find myself, as potentially embarrassing as that is to admit. Since that first reading experience, my taste has evolved, my fondness has faded, and I am a more discerning consumer (most of the time.) The Pairing hit highs and lows for me, and ultimately it was just fine and a bit bothersome.
Set on a food tour through Europe, the highlight of this book is the descriptions of food and drinks. It was lush and rich and made me hungry, eager to slow down and truly savor my next recipe and cocktail pairing. Outside of the descriptions of food and Europe, though, I struggled not to be irritated.
This second chance romance follows two bisexual exes who come from wealthy, famous families and are pursuing careers in baking and drink curating/ being a sommelier. As a budding home cook (heavy on the budding), someone who loves a good cocktail, and a late night Chopped marathoner, I was fond of these careers and the way it played out in the food tour setting, conversations, and sex. The characters sure know how to center sensory pleasure, and I appreciate that.
That said, one of the major character arcs is being able to overcome the agony of being the child of famous movie stars and refusing their nepotism in the form of manufactured financial struggle. Sue me, but I quite literally cannot make myself feel any type of bad for someone whose sibling is ringing them up offering to “loan” them millions of dollars. Are you kidding me?
My personal ick regarding the ~struggles of nepotism~ soured the book for me, and I found myself skimming the last 30 pages. I just wasn’t the reader for this book, and that’s okay.
MUSIC
I went to one day of Hinterland, a music festival in the Iowa sticks, and was fortunate to see so many of my favorite artists live alongside one of my little brothers.
The Japanese House: The lead singer, Amber Bain, dedicated her set to gay people, stopped several times to check on folks in the crowd, and was all around lovely with perfect vibes and great hair.
Chappell Roan: *clears throat* I’ve been a Chappell fan since before it was cool, and though I wish the crowds she now draws were more respectful and courteous, her set was nothing short of a dream. She wore a nun costume that healed my religious trauma (not quite, but close enough.) I later learned that she got the outfit from an Iowa dance studio because something went wrong with her planned attire - a serendipitous Sunday at gay church that I’ll never forget.
Ethel Cain: The only word I have for Ethel is ethereal. Her presence is commanding, and she sucked the air out of my chest and the room (it was outside.) Ethel’s music isn’t the type that you sing along to; it’s the type you let consume you. I was awe struck.
Noah Kahan: This was my third time seeing Noah, and truthfully, by the end of the night, I was sick of being close to rude people, my bones hurt, and I wanted to be in bed. That said, Noah never gets old. I love his mentally ill jokes and the fact that he signed someone’s bottle of antidepressants. He played “Strawberry Wine,” a song he rarely/ never plays live, and I cried. 3/3 for Noah Kahan concert cries, and I’m glad I got to experience this one with my little brother, who takes all of my music recommendations with the commitment they deserve.
FOOD
The best thing I did this summer was start cooking again. Living alone and spending years chronically nauseous turned me into someone who subsisted primarily off of canned and frozen food, thrown together snacks, and the very occasional home cooked meal. Cooking has felt, for a long time, like something that took too long and required too many steps. It was overwhelming, daunting, and a summit I didn’t think was worth climbing, physically and mentally.
Nourishment is important. It can come in so many forms - time spent with a book, listening to a song with your eyes closed, sunshine on your skin, farmer’s market flowers - and I let myself believe that I am too busy, too stressed, too anxious to pursue it. Cooking new recipes, spending time in the kitchen singing loudly and badly with the windows open - it’s been good for me, in more ways than one. Below are some of my favorite new recipes:
Creamy Corn Pasta: The recipe recommends shells and I used what I had on hand (linguine) but I would recommend using shells or a smaller shaped pasta!
Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Chicken: I reseasoned my cast iron after not using it for years because I thoughtI had permanently ruined it so that I could make this dish, and it’s back in my near-daily rotation of cookware. (Long live cast irons! Reseason yours!) To save money on this recipe, you can use dried herbs, canned corn, and frozen chicken. I made it with fresh corn the first time and canned the second, and it was just as yummy either way.
I hope you have a good official end to summer this weekend, and I hope that autumn treats you well. ;)