Welcome to Friday! Like you, I’m staring down the barrel of the Thanksgiving week ahead. Though we’ll have only a fraction of our normal numbers (usually around 24) around the table, we’re still having five kinds of pie, and the amount of prep work for our traditional five-course meal is about the same. No matter; Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and though we’ll miss our dear friends, I’m sure it will be wonderful. But even if you’re inconsolable over the drastic social changes we’re enduring, I’ve rounded up five things that I think will bring you a bit of cheer.
1) One of my favorite books last year was Katie Henry’s Let’s Call It a Doomsday. It’s about Ellis Kimball, a 16-year-old member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Berkeley, California and struggling with major anxiety. To cope, she secretly becomes a prepper, which causes all kinds of problems. I don’t want to drop any spoilers. Suffice it to say that it’s rare that I see characters of my faith portrayed in mainstream books—let alone so compassionately, with such complexity, and free of doctrinal or cultural gaffes. The secondary characters are pleasingly diverse and well-rounded, and the story is both suspenseful and satisfying.
2) For my birthday, I got this terrific laptop desk. It’s made by Neetto, and it’s very versatile. The top tilts so that I can type on it while either sitting or reclining. The legs are both adjustable and foldable. I can use it on my bed, my couch, or as a standing desk at my kitchen counter. It’s made writing more comfortable—and since that’s what I do all day, it’s dramatically improved the quality of my life. I think it would make a great gift for anyone who works or schools from home.
3) I happened upon Defunkify stain remover at my local grocery store and decided to give it a try. It. Is. Awesome: gentle, yet powerful. A little goes a long way, and I’ll definitely become a repeat customer. The company makes detergent, cleaners, and deodorizing sprays as well and is committed to sustainable, environmentally friendly practices. After perusing their website, I now want to put their Odor Shield Fabric Treatment to the test, because it’s guaranteed to keep your exercise clothes stink-free for 60 days. Too good to be true? Let’s find out!
4) I’ve long admired David Lebovitz (as distinct from my close friend David Leibowitz). He started as a pastry chef at world-famous Chez Panisse and then moved to France several years ago, where he found love and started writing best-selling cookbooks. His voice is authoritative, yet down to earth and entertaining, whether he’s describing how to make puff pastry or retelling the woes and thrills of buying and renovating a Parisian apartment. I’d been planning on sharing his apple tart recipe (pictured above) this week, but then I got the news that he’s started his own Substack newsletter! You all should subscribe.
5) If you’re a rabid anglophile like me, you might have glimpsed Sheku Kanneh-Mason playing his cello at the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle. It turns out the whole family is crazy talented. They specialize in music of the classical repertoire, but here they are performing Sheku’s arrangement of his hero Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” Take a listen and enjoy 3:51 minutes of zen.
That’s all for this week! I’ll see you on Monday.