russian literature, body image, and culinary reflections
Hello. Yesterday morning I felt like taking on a bigger breakfast project other than cereal or oatmeal. I skimmed through my family cookbook because I felt homesick for my family (not my hometown) and I wanted to make something that reminded me of my childhood. My grandmother used to make this egg strata recipe. It’s similar to an egg casserole and it looks like shit but it tastes amazing. (Seventh Day Adventist food at its finest). She would always pair it with roasted baby potatoes drizzled with olive oil and adorned with bay leaves, cracked pepper and rosemary. There would always be a fruit bowl at the breakfast table and I would be in charge of washing and cutting fresh strawberries. In addition to the strawberries, my grandmother would always have half of a broiled grapefruit with a thin layer of burnt sugar on top and a dollop of vanilla bean yogurt. (my favorite).
This is not my grandma’s recipe, but something similar if you’re in an eggy breakfast mood and want leftovers for the week.
Suffice it to say, I made the aforementioned dish and it did not disappoint. Although I’m not sure if it exacerbated or cured my homesickness. Perhaps both. Definitely both. I am, at my core, a true unabashed masochist.
Let’s get into some news and articles. (some current, some older, all good).
-The Weirdos of Russian Literature
The private lives of great Russian writers like Tolstoy, Bulgakov, Chekhov, Akhmatova, Turgenev, and Solzhenitsyn, with their quirks and ordinary habits, reveal their human side, making them and their often perceived inaccessible work feel more relatable and closer to us.
Russian lit favs: The Master and the Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (also Crime and Punishment), Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov (also Letters to Vera).
-This Is What My Belly Looks Like:
While walking down a hill in Croatia, the author's tour guide mistakenly asked if she was pregnant, sparking a reflection on societal attitudes toward women's stomachs. Despite advances in body positivity, round bellies remain stigmatized, as seen in negative reactions to non-flat abdomens in the media and modeling industry. The author, who has recovered from an eating disorder and often feels self-conscious about her own belly, observes a pervasive 'belly dysmorphia' in society. She highlights the need for a more realistic and accepting view of all body types, suggesting that a shift in perspective could bring immense relief to many women burdened by unrealistic beauty standards.
I have so many thoughts about this. I did ballet for 18 years of my life and spent those years being ridiculed and reprimanded by a teacher who hated me and never thought I would ever be good enough or skinny enough to be a professional dancer (not like that’s what I wanted in the first place). But, even to this day, I hear her words in my mind whenever I want to treat myself and eat cake or celebrate food dominated holidays like Thanksgiving. It stings. So many of us battle with some form of body dysmorphia or “disordered eating”, whatever the hell that means, and I just want to say, you’re not alone. I know that when you’re in the thick of it, literally nothing can get you out of the dark downward spiral your brain gets trapped into when you’re looking in the mirror and feel disgusted by what you see. Anyways, if you ever need to talk, I’m here. And it doesn’t mean much coming from a girl on the internet, but just know I truly understand and I think you’re beautiful.
In 1980, following the end of her marriage and the birth of her second child, the author fell in love with a large, affordable apartment in Manhattan's Apthorp building, embracing it as a sanctuary and symbol of identity, only to eventually fall out of love and move due to steep rent increases, realizing that attachment to a place, like a relationship, can change and lead to new beginnings.
-Why Are Millennials Still Attached to American Girl?
The American Girl doll, created in the 1980s by Pleasant Rowland, was not just a toy but a brand offering an immersive historical play experience. Unlike other dolls of the time, American Girl dolls represented children themselves, slowing the rush into adulthood. These dolls, along with books and various themed merchandise, were marketed to middle-class consumers, encapsulating lessons in history, civic engagement, and self-identity. The brand, sold for $700 million in 1998, significantly shaped the way millennial girls saw themselves and prepared them for the digital age, becoming a lasting part of their cultural identity.
I have a Samantha American Girl doll and I took her everywhere with me. We had matching clothes.
-‘Eloise at the Plaza’ Turns 20 — Here’s How To Watch the Cult Classic Film
"Eloise at the Plaza," a cult classic film based on the 1955 story, portrays the adventures of six-year-old Eloise in New York's Plaza Hotel, involving comedy, chaos, and her role as a matchmaker in a high-stakes love affair, embodying the film's essence of humor and spiritedness against the backdrop of the hotel's high-society life.
Also Eloise at Christmastime will not disappoint. Our mother, Julie Andrews, is in it.
-Going Viral- Influence and the rise of digital celebrity:
Taylor Lorenz, a prominent tech reporter known for covering internet culture and personalities, has become a story in herself within the journalism industry. Her move from The New York Times to The Washington Post highlighted a shift in how journalists view their personal brands and the importance of self-promotion in the modern media landscape. Lorenz's work, including her new book "Extremely Online," reflects a deep understanding of the creator economy and the changing dynamics of media, where self-commodification and online presence have become essential for journalists and content creators alike.
The writer recounts a profound personal experience during a 24-hour ultramarathon on a farm in Georgia. Alone in the dark, pushing beyond 100 miles, he grapples with the meaning of accomplishment and the hollowness it can leave behind. This leads to reflections on the societal obsession with finishing and the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. He realizes that love and joy don't always have to be earned through accomplishment; they can exist in the present. The narrative explores themes of solidarity, living in the moment, and the value of ordinary experiences. The race, initially a pursuit of personal achievement, becomes a lesson in the importance of being present and valuing connection over individual success.
-Carolyn Bessette Kennedy let her style do the talking
Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, married to John F. Kennedy Jr., was a highly photographed fashion icon known for her minimalist and sophisticated style. Unlike Princess Diana's more expressive and evolving fashion, Bessette Kennedy's style was understated and enigmatic, reflecting her disdain for paparazzi. Her fashion choices, favoring simplicity and elegance over flashiness, have become influential in modern fashion and influencer dressing. The new book "Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion" by Sunita Kumar Nair explores her wardrobe in detail, highlighting her preference for sophisticated, high-end designers and unique pieces. Her fashion choices are seen as a reflection of her desire for privacy and control, asserting her individuality and distinct taste in a world that constantly scrutinized her.
I mentioned in my previous newsletter that I would start integrating more ‘things i’m loving/ recommending’ in my letters, so I thought I would share a few extra for you here.
Things I’m loving:
-Vintage Gourmet magazine. I found mine on Etsy. Something like this.
-Re-reading Coraline. Re-watching Coraline. Listening to the Coraline soundtrack.
-Like someone in love by Bill Evans on a loop.
-Making curated gift guides and wishlists for things I can’t afford.
-Eating fruit after dinner.
-Reading Diary Of A Chess Queen by Alexandra Kosteniuk.
-Alison Roman’s Thanksgiving YouTube Playlist.
-This one is a little fancy. This Jo Malone hand cream makes my hands feel so silky and soft and it smells so clean and fresh like a bubble bath. It also doesn’t oppose any of my fragrances. But it’s really pricey :( I justified this purchase because I had a gift card that could cover half so in my mind it was 50% off.
-Olives, good cheese, salted butter, and thick crunchy bread. In my mind, this is the most perfect snack.
-Miso soup. Can we have a moment to appreciate soup season. Soup is the most comforting thing. It’s literally a hug in a bowl. Sometimes I’ll eat this after my olive cheese butter bread situation. What’s your favorite soup? Don’t ask me about mine. I love (good) lentil soup. Does this make me an 87 year old man? I also really love tomato soup with grilled cheese because I am a child. Here’s some soup inspo.
-Cherishing the last morsel of autumn (and trying not to rush into Christmas).
Okay, until tomorrow. I appreciate you so much.
Bye <3
