curledup roundup: January
The first edition of this series—10 sources of inspiration from January
We are 5 days into February with our eye towards sunnier days ahead, but indulge me for a second as I look back and share with you some of the things that brought me joy, inspired me, and made me think throughout the month of January.
An aspect of this newsletter that is most exciting to me is that it will always be evolving. New series, new ideas, new formats…the world is our oyster, dear readers.
This is the first of a series that will be a big ole amalgamation of my current fascinations, object and content recommendations, visual inspo, reading tips and tricks, hopefully some interviews with cool people, and much more that I’ll uncover along the way, all through the lens of books and with the intention of inspiration. These will hit your inbox at the end of each month (starting next 🙃).
Without further ado, here are ten things I’ve been loving and sources of inspiration I’ve been collecting over the past month—enjoy!
The New York Times Book Review in print. I have bestowed upon myself the title of NYTBR’s biggest fan, and I’m sure that will come through loud and clear in this newsletter over time. I recently moved to New York, and here, the Book Review section comes on Saturday instead of Sunday, giving me the whole weekend to pore through. The act of reading it on a slow weekend morning with a coffee and pastry is a slice of pure joy, if you ask me.
The Center for Fiction. This magical land for readers and writers is about a five-minute walk away from my house, and I wonder if the universe plopped me in the apartment that it did for that very reason. On the bottom floor, there’s a bookstore and cafe that’s open to the public. There’s also an entirely fiction library and an additional floor with space to read, write, work, be that comes with a membership. I’ve been going almost every weekend since getting the membership—it’s the perfect third place for book lovers.
The treasure trove that is my curled up Saved folder on Instagram —
The phrase “the importance of being earnest” has been rattling around in my head for a while, and I realized I had never actually looked into its origin, a play written by Oscar Wilde in 1895. It’s very funny so far, and keenly perceptive and relevant despite being written almost 130 years ago.
This article, ”Let’s Rescue Book Lovers From This Online Hellscape”, an opinion piece in the NYT, scrutinizes what Goodreads has become. The author explores its pitfalls and recognizes the wholesome beacon of collective intelligence it has the potential to be. So do I.
What began in 2007 as a promising tool for readers, authors, booksellers and publishers has become an unreliable, unmanageable, nearly unnavigable morass of unreliable data and unfettered ill will. Of course, the internet offers no shortage of bad data and ill will, but at its inception Goodreads promised something different: a gathering space where ardent readers could connect with writers and with one another, swapping impressions and sharing recommendations. It’s an idea that’s both obvious (the internet is great at helping like-minded people assemble) and essential (reading is a solitary activity, but there is great joy in talking through a book afterward). In fact, Goodreads is still an essential idea — so much so that it’s worth fighting to fix it.
Three of the books I read in January and their gorgeous covers. I rated all of these 4 stars. All three had flaws, but are worth your time.
The ritual of reading a chapter of Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act every morning (when I remember). I’m usually one to plow through an entire book, but this one feels like it’s meant to be savored in small doses. A creative devotion, if you will.
The free books on Brownstone steps and sidewalk corners all over Brooklyn. I rarely take any home because I am awash in books I haven’t read yet, but every now and then I find a gem worth breaking that rule for. I love the generosity and humanity that’s inherent in this constant exchange of books.
This sweater with a Virginia Woolf quote—"She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom"—embroidered across the chest. Entirely out of my budget, but I love that it exists.
Starting this newsletter! In January, I posted about my top ten of 2023, attention, and timing, as well as a guest post written by the LOML. I decided to really reinvest in curled up this year, and I’m feeling inspired and energized with lots of ideas for this sweet little corner of the internet. Everyone’s invited :)
I hope you all have a lovely, sunny week. Until next time!