The Week In Recommendations 11.22.23

Thanksgiving edition! Plus, some things we are grateful for and orgs to donate to.

This is the free edition of Rich Text, a newsletter about cultural obsessions from your Internet BFFs Emma and Claire. If you like what you see and hear, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Our latest podcast was about “Selling Sunset” season 7! Rich Text is a completely reader-supported project — no ads or sponsors!

We have our very own Black Friday promos happening this week! From now through Sunday, you can get a yearly subscription to Rich Text for 20% off. PLUS, all of our Love To See It merch is 10% off, using code LTSI10 at checkout.

This newsletter is a long one, so if you’re reading this by email, it may get cut off!

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Claire has been reading… 📖

“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith. 

Who’s the titular fraud in Smith’s period drama, set amid novelists in Victorian London? It’s a more complicated question than it may initially appear, though the most obvious answer is the star of a real historical scandal: Arthur Orton, a butcher from Wapping who claimed to be the heir to the Tichborne baronetcy, who had been lost at sea. Through the involvement of two fictionalized historical figures – Mrs. Touchet, the cousin-in-law of now-forgotten novelist William Ainsworth, and Andrew Bogle, a witness for the claimant who was once enslaved in Jamaica and then became valet to a member of the Tichborne family – Smith considers truth and fraudulence in the realms of literature, the aristocracy, the English abolitionist movement, and colonial hierarchies of power. Oh, and it’s viciously funny. An excellent Christmas gift for someone who loves, or hates, Charles Dickens.

“Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett & “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder

My dear friend Laura Hankin (author of “The Daydreams” and more) was also on maternity leave this fall, and after I sent a barrage of unsolicited, highly opinionated texts about the book I was reading during the baby’s naps (Dolly Alderton’s “Ghosts,” which unfortunately was not for me), she agreed to have a mat leave book club with me. 

We read Ann Patchett’s latest, “Tom Lake.” It turned out to be inspired by a play I had often heard of but had never read or seen, Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” So I read that too! The play turned out to be much more weird and morbid than I expected (it concludes with an extensive scene featuring ghosts in the cemetery, including the ghost of the heroine), so I loved it. “Tom Lake” is a story-within-a-story: during the initial surge of the Covid pandemic, the narrator’s three grown daughters are stuck back home in the Michigan cherry orchard where she raised them, and she passes the time by telling them about her youthful romance with a movie star, whom she met while costarring in a summer stock theater production of “Our Town.” It’s a somewhat gauzy and utopian vision of family life, despite Patchett’s insistence on the mother-daughter tensions they navigate – a picturesque, sun-dappled farmhouse; a sea of trees studded with sweet and tart cherries; three dark-haired, intelligent daughters hanging on their mother’s every word. But there are richly developed characters (mostly in the story the mother tells), hints of tragedy and climate grief, and a meditation on what aging and building a full life means for women. I appreciated it even more after discussing it with Laura, so consider this my vote for having book club with just one very smart and thoughtful friend.

Emma has been reading… 📖

This New York Times profile of Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green, two members of the leadership team of Standing Together, a grassroots movement made up of Jewish and Palestinian Israeli citizens working towards a more equitable, peaceful, just future for Israel-Palestine. The Times followed Abed and Green on their 10-day speaking tour of the U.S., in which they spoke to crowded auditoriums and met with AOC and Bernie Sanders, driving home one message: “We’re trying to play a different game in Israel and Palestine. And this game is very simple. It says that both Jewish people and Palestinians are going to stay on this land. No one is going anywhere.”

I also wept reading this tribute, written by Palestinian activist Samah Salaim, to Jewish peace activist Vivian Silver, who was thought to be held hostage in Gaza, but was actually killed in the initial attacks on Oct. 7.

So much of the way that the ongoing war, and the conflict more generally, is being discussed in the States flattens the complex realities of Israeli and Palestinian society. It also obscures the fact that there have long been people within Israel-Palestine — both Jewish and Palestinian — doing grassroots political organizing, building coalitions, and protesting their government’s actions. In a moment that feels deeply hopeless in many ways, I find hope in the work of activists like Abed and Green and Silver and Salaim; people who resist false binaries, and instead operate from a place of shared human dignity and a desire for a truly equitable society.

Claire has been watching… 📺

“The Great British Baking Show,” thankfully free of Matt Lucas this season. The comedy bits are still pretty bad, despite the replacement of Lucas with Alison Hammond, but at least they feel corny and good-natured rather than weird and sometimes mean-spirited. (Nothing against weird humor, but it didn’t work for me with the wholesome “GBBO” tone.) The contestants are roughly evenly divided between utterly forgettable (one essentially never speaks a complete word despite remaining for many episodes) and delightful (Sri Lankan mum Saku, in particular, brings an impeccable sense of comic timing, though I also enjoy Tasha’s wry remarks and Matty’s joyful bro energy). We are way behind, thanks to … well, having two children, both of whom frankly need sleep training right now, so for all I know the latest season is already over, but I’m enjoying our slow journey through.

Emma has been watching… 📺

More holiday movies! (I know, I know. You’re *shocked.*) My suggestion this week, which can be intermittently found on Hulu, is 2022’s “A Kismet Christmas,” which stars Sarah Ramos, who I have loved since “Parenthood.” Ramos plays a formerly awkward teen turned successful children’s author, who returns to the town she used to spend every Christmas in and runs into her old crush, who is handsome, single and has an adorable, precocious daughter. There’s also a subplot about magical love cookies.

Claire has been listening to… 🎧

“What Happened to Libby Caswell?”, (previously recommended by Emma) the latest season of our former colleague Melissa Jeltsen’s podcast. Melissa made a name for herself as a domestic violence reporter during our tenures together at HuffPost, and she brings an excellent perspective to the crime genre — a perspective too often missing from true crime podcasts. She’s deeply knowledgeable about the patterns and dynamics of intimate partner violence, skeptical of police departments and a criminal justice system that too often fails victims.

Emma has been listening to… 🎧

Normal Gossip is back and I couldn’t be happier! Loved hearing my buds

Amanda Montell

and

Kelsey McKinney

gossiping together in “‘Emily In Paris’ Meets ‘Parasite’” episode. Truly felt like I was hanging out with both of them and I enjoyed every minute.

Also, The Wedding Scammer, which I talked about in a previous newsletter, released its penultimate episode this week, in which host Justin confronts the scammer he’s been tracking for seven years and it was so full of suspense! I love the self-aware tone of this podcast, and the way that Justin makes light of true crime conventions throughout.

Claire has been buying… 🛍️

I wisely decided to be more disciplined in my spending just a few days before my inbox started receiving an avalanche of Black Friday/Cyber Monday discounts from every brand I’ve ever purchased an item from. My resolve has been wobbly, but I’ve been doing my best! But here are some things I’ve bought and loved in the last few months that either are or I suspect will be marked down for the shopping holiday:

1. Storq Mama+BB Maternity and Nursing Cardigan. I got this with a big discount code I had a while back, and it was still a splurge, but I wear it almost every day. It’s cozy but light, soft and fuzzy, and is the perfectly shapeless shape that drapes flatteringly over whatever else I’m wearing (PJs, leggings, sweatpants, nap dresses). The buttons allow it to function as a nursing cover, but I don’t really use it that way – it’s more like the ideal blend between a robe and a giant cardigan. I normally avoid dry-clean-only items like the plague when I’m breastfeeding, but milk sprays and even spit-up blot off the fabric effortlessly. Their site is currently 30% off, so it’s a great time to try a more expensive option!

2. Solly Baby has discounts on everything right now, including steeper price cuts on some items (like this baby wrap in warm brown). I am obsessed with my Solly wraps, so it’s taking everything I have not to buy another one. If you plan to babywear in the next year, now’s a good time to invest!

3. Also for the parents, Hanna Andersson pajamas are deeply discounted for Black Friday. They’re pricey (especially without a sale) but the quality is outstanding and the prints are beautiful. They make for absurdly cute Christmas morning photos with all the little cousins, and then my toddler wears them all year. 

4. The Gap Vintage Soft Sweatshirt Cardigan, which is just oversized enough to cover my butt in leggings, and just as comfy (and machine-washable) as a sweatshirt. 

5. Hill House has 30% off across the site right now, so I snagged the navy cotton Ellie for next summer, when my black and navy Ellies are on constant rotation. Be warned that the plain navy and black cotton dresses are pretty thin, but I personally like them that way! There are also some sizes left in a couple of my favorite prints – blackwatch tartan, the Diane Hill chinoiserie-inspired floral, and the navy trellis (previously an NYC store exclusive). I’m trying to resist the Norah in green crepe, because I love my multi-berry crepe version.

6. Sam Edelman has a sale, and various colors of the Laguna Chelsea boot are discounted different amounts. I have many clothes, but really only a couple pairs of shoes that I wear to death all year: my Nisolo huaraches in the summer, and my Laguna Chelsea boots in the winter. They come in standard and wide, are weather-resistant, and (in my humble opinion) go with almost everything.

Emma has been buying… 🛍️

Instead of what I’ve bought, this week I’m going to share what I’m planning to buy during Black Friday sales week(end). As always, I’m trying to resist going wild just for the sake of copious consumption. Everything on this list is something that I have already tried or seen in the real world, or had recommended to me by multiple trusted sources.

1. The NuFace Mini+. My friend Amanda has been swearing by NuFace’s microcurrent devices for years, as have many trusted beauty editors, including Michelle Lee of

   Go Ahead, Try Me
   . In 2022, the brand put out a new generation of their signature devices, and the season’s sales have convinced me that now is my NuFace moment. Since I’m a newbie, I’m going for the new generation Mini device (the Mini+), which is on sale for under $200 at Sephora and comes with two serums and an applicator. If you wanna splurge, go for the full-sized Trinity+.

2. The Our Place Wonder Oven. This rec comes directly from my mother, who bought one of these cutie 6-in-1 air fryer and toaster ovens to help with Thanksgiving dinner prep. Not only is the Wonder Oven extremely aesthetically pleasing, but it also air fries, toasts, reheats, bakes, roasts and broils. My mom said that one commenter had described it as an adult Easy Bake oven, which probably explains my obsession. After seeing this IRL, I’m absolutely getting one to help me complete my goal of trying to cook more instead of relying on takeout.

3. This perfect red Ganni bag. There’s a Ganni store a block away from my apartment, and I’ve developed a bit of a ritual with it. Once I week I pop in, walk around the store, touch all of the beautiful things, and leave without buying anything because it’s all kind of pricey. I saw this bag IRL months ago and loved how rich the color was, and how luxe the embroidery felt. So when I saw that it was marked down 50% for Black Friday, I jumped at the opportunity to treat myself. Plus, I’ve started to see red EVERYWHERE. I think it’s truly one of the colors of the season.

4. I first invested in a pair of Sheertex tights last year, and they truly live up to the hype. I’ve had mine for more than a year, and they haven’t ripped or run at all. (A minor miracle given that my usual shelf life for tights is like… 1-3 wears.) When I saw their Black Friday sale, I bought two more pairs — one sheer black pair, and one nude pair. This week you can get Sheertex tights for $25-$35, instead of their usual $99, which is extremely worth it.

5. This delicate pearl-buttoned cardigan from Abercrombie. It comes in so many beautiful colors. I’m particularly partial to the deep brown, the cream, the dark gray, and the pale blue. Also contemplating the Curve Love Vegan Leather 90s Relaxed Pant in silver. (These pants were made to party!)

Claire’s been grateful for…

My sweet boys, of course. I often worried before being a mom that I was not cut out for motherhood, and it’s true that I probably wouldn’t hire me for the job, but now I know that I can handle it. All the stresses and challenges have not ruined my life; I’m happy every day that we have these two gorgeous, funny, curious little guys to look after. Two kids is tough (especially for me, a lady who loves sleeping, being disorganized, and low-stimulation environments), but they are making it as easy for us as any parents could hope: little brother loves to sleep, especially at night (or in his Solly wrap while we’re out and about), and big brother love love loves his little brother. That’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of meltdowns, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised by a lack of requests to throw the baby in the garbage or give him back to the hospital. 

Also, the largest boy in the house (Greg), who has been the toddler point person while also teaching himself to cook with the aid of the NYT cooking app so that we can switch off on more domestic tasks, depending on who is better equipped to handle the kids in the evening.

Our brothers and our sisters-in-law and our parents, who have fed us, encouraged us, advised us and taken Max off our hands for a few hours or a few days when we needed it. Our friends with kids, who have commiserated, and our friends without kids, who have listened supportively and also talked to us about things other than nap schedules and how to handle tantrums.

In the same vein: Public pre-k! Max started public school when the new baby was just a month old, so it was a super tumultuous transition for him, but he now adores his teachers and new friends, and he’s learning new skills and funny little songs every day. Plus, there’s affordable aftercare so that both of us parents can work during the day without hiring a babysitter. The availability of public school for young children is a huge support for working parents and a huge benefit for kids, especially lower-income kids who get an earlier start to organized learning than they would otherwise receive. Fund public education and public early childhood education!!! It’s so necessary!!!

Emma’s been grateful for…

The health and happiness of my immediate family. Not everyone gets so lucky, and every year that passes, I’m more thankful.

A home that feels like a sanctuary. Adam and I have been in our apartment for a year and a half now, and it truly *sparks joy.* In the last few months we’ve spruced up the entryway and updated our living room lighting, and our home is now a place I’m eager to cozy up in during the winter months.

Empathetic friends. On Oct. 7, I feel like a weight landed right on my chest and has refused to leave since, just growing in size as the tragedies and injustices and senseless violence pile up. I’m so very thankful for the people that I have been able to sit and process it all with — without it devolving into something ugly or unproductive.

Delightfully escapist media. Sometimes I just want to be swept away on a cloud of Christmas cheer or F-Boys F-Bye-ing. And I make no apologies for that.

We’re both grateful for…

This community. It’s hard to put into words how gratifying it is to do the work that we do and know that thoughtful, sharp, witty people are going to consume and interact with it. We had such minimal expectations when we launched this newsletter in January 2021, and nearly three years later it has become something so much more magnificent than we imagined it could. That is thanks to all of you. We are so very grateful. 🧡

The Brigid Alliance, a nonprofit which helps people fund travel for abortions. We will always support funding for abortion access, but it is especially crucial as so much of the country is suffering from an extreme lack of access thanks to draconian anti-choice policies pushed by right-wing activists and politicians. 

Anera, which is providing food and hygiene items, as well as other aid, to displaced families in Gaza. 

Standing Together, the Jewish-Palestinian Israeli grassroots movement mentioned above, which opposes the occupation and is working to build “a shared home for all those who refuse hatred and choose empathy.”

Doctors Without Borders, which is on the ground with Palestinian doctors and medical workers to provide supplementary personnel and supplies that are urgently needed amid the brutal bombardment of Gaza.

The Loveland Foundation, which focuses on providing opportunity and mental health care (through their therapy fund) to people of color, specifically centering Black women and girls.

Your local food bank always needs donations! Thanksgiving is often a time for canned food drives, but it’s also a good time to set up a monthly donation, if you can afford it, to help support the year-round needs of your community.

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