I am a voracious reader and every week I come across either a book, online piece or website I want to share with others. I’ve decided to curate these gems and highlight them on Friday. I hope you find these faves as insightful as I do.
- I am often captivated by anything related to friendship. Kate Murphy raises interesting points in the New York Time’s piece, “Do Your Friends Actually Like You?“
- If you’re a fan of Lidia Yuknavitch, you will want to read her interview in Lenny. In this question and answer session she explores anguish and the narratives we shape because of the resulting sadness. “Suffering is not beautiful. Suffering, from my point of view, is about a real place in a real body where you face the other side of living. How you choose to understand that story probably determines how you’re going to live the rest of your life.”
- What if you are convinced that you are facing a life-threatening illness? Does it get more complicated if you are a doctor with this diagnosis? The Guardian features Mert Erogul in “The Perils of Being Your Own Doctor.”
- “Being bad-tempered and pessimistic helps you to earn more, live longer and enjoy a healthier marriage.” This is good news for those who choose to be negative. “Why it pays to be grumpy and bad tempered” gives hope to those who embrace a cynical perspective.
What were your favorite reads this week?
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Great links, as usual, Rudri. I am a fan of Lidia Yuknavitch, so I’m looking forward to reading this Q&A. I think she always has an interesting perspective that makes me look at things in a new light.
I’m just like you – so fascinated and captivated by friendships. It’s such a strange relationship. You don’t choose your family, but you choose your friends and lovers. So the non-romantic aspect of humanity fascinates me so much!
The interview with Lidia Yuknavitch in Lenny was amazing. Thanks for the recommending Kate Murphy’s piece. The structure and nature of friendships are on my mind as well these days. xo
Great links, Rudri. Thank you. xo
These look good, Rudri. I got my standing desk that you recommended and started to use it. I really like it so far. I had to figure out how to stick the sides in a bit to suppose a cat walking on it hahaha. Thanks for the recommendation!