A sensible wrap-up list featuring books read and beauty products loved (a perfect pairing, really).

SLOW DAYS, FAST COMPANY

Before Slow Days, Fast Company, I’d only read Eve Babitz’s more popular novels (you know—or at least have seen—the ones that flooded Pinterest and Instagram feeds by storm). This collection, however, made me understand why Babitz is so beloved. I started this at LAX and finished it mid-flight on a trip to Nashville earlier this year. It was apropos; it was everything. I’d only just left California and because of her, I couldn’t help miss LA already. When I returned days later, I loved it more because of her.

Fast forward half a year later. It’s hard to put into words how I felt when I saw the news of Babitz’s passing. It was the day after I flew out to spend the holidays back on the East Coast: how (rhetorical) and why, so soon? In my head, I harbored this naive fantasy of running into her one day; though I’d fail to muster the courage (and find the words) to tell her how she made me fall in love with her LA and want to make the city mine too, just seeing her in the flesh would be enough.

ALMOND

Simply put: Almond is achingly beautiful. Though it was originally written in Korean, and there are gaps in the English language (and culture) that may never capture every nuance, it’s clear that Sandy Joosun Lee thoughtfully—artfully—preserved the author’s sentiment. There’s a cadence and sensibility in Asian literature that simply cannot be replicated, yet here, it shines with authenticity. The pace is rhythmic; the perspective distinctly East Asian. It’s tender, honest, rich without pretense.

English is my native tongue but I suppose being bilingual and raised in an immigrant household has influenced literary inclinations. I’m Taiwanese-American, not Korean, yet even for me, I understood—no, connected with—this in context and cadence both more than I ever have with American or European works. It’s written like poetry and reads like home; my mind is at ease.

It’s difficult to explain. I’ll find the words one day.

YOLK

This book was highly anticipated according to my Instagram feed (I’m ashamed I wasn’t familiar with Mary H. K. Choi’s work prior to Yolk‘s release) and I wasted no time in pre-ordering the hardcover. Unsurprisingly, it’s deserving of all hype and praise.

Choi has a mastery of dialogue that reads without affectation and with this story in particular, you can’t help but immerse yourself completely, intensely, into and between the lines. You’ll be wholly invested and unable to put the book down until the very end, guaranteed. (Warning: you just might cry, too.)

A BREATH OF LIFE: PULSATIONS

I bought this a few months ago at des pair books in Echo Park, determined to read more Clarice Lispector before the end of 2021. A Breath of Life just might be one of my favorites from her yet: a true literary treat (as expected), and not just because I felt a kinship to the dialogue in print. This is a must-read. Do pace yourself and enjoy it over at least three separate sittings to savor every word.

SWEETBITTER

For the most part, I tend to avoid books that make the rounds in pop media (especially ones with romantic storylines featuring shitty men and end up getting optioned)—but I’m so glad I set aside my pride.

I shouldn’t have let the blurbs influence me. Stephanie Danler can write, and I ended up canceling plans just to stay in and finish Sweetbitter. In fact, I ordered my favorite plant-based pie from Ghost Pizza Kitchen on Melrose and opened a bottle of Avaline rosé for a thematic reading night in. (Ignore the pairing if you’re a connoisseur; I haven’t yet developed a sophisticated palate for wines.) I ate, sipped, read cross-legged from the floor, completely enamored with the way she writes about New York and sensationalized the sensorial. It’s totally indulgent. Raw, yet glamorous, yet unafraid of ugliness. Worthy of devouring in one evening.

Pizza and wine are optional, but highly recommended.

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Happy New Year. Here’s to 2022.

xx