Ula, books etc.

Read the first 1/2 of Regarding the Pain of Others in one sitting yesterday ☛

One of my favourite poems is about a kitchen; so is one of my favourite books. My favourite place in a house is always the kitchen. My favourite scenes in my favourite movies take place in kitchens. I think about why sometimes but I don't have an answer yet. 🍲 For those who can't read my illegible handwriting, this is the poem: // Perhaps the World Ends Here by Joy Harjo The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live. The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on. We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it. It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women. At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers. Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table. This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun. Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory. We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here. At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks. Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

All (or at least most of) my unread books at the start of 2025. I said I wanted to focus on the books I already own instead of getting anything new so I suppose this is my defacto to-be-read pile 📚

"As for love...no, having once written that word I can write nothing more." The Setting Sun, Dazai

I asked you all for book recommendations by Susan Sontag as she's an author I've wanted to read for a while and the vast majority of responses were for Regarding the Pain of Others. I've seen this in bookshops before and I remember thinking that was an amazing title so I'm happy I got it. I mentioned recently that there were only a couple of books I wanted to get this year and one of those was whatever I decided to read by Sontag, other than those I'm concentrating on the books I already own. And a lot of people asked to see which books by Sontag were recommended: after Regarding the Pain of Others the second was On Photography and the third was On Camp. I did specifically ask for recommendations for a first time reader so if anyone is in the same boat as me I hope this helps :) Thanks for all your recommendations!

"I am afraid because I can so clearly foresee my own life rotting away of itself, like a leaf that rots without falling, while I pursue my round of existence from day to day." The Setting Sun, Osamu Dazai A fascinating book so far. Over halfway now. A society in transition is a hard thing to pin down decades after the fact, yet this book was written in 1947. I don't think I've read about the postwar years in Japan in this light, in fact I think it's the oldest Japanese book I've read so far. The characters feel so raw somehow. So many people have recommended Dazai to me over the years and I can see why. Will definitely be reading No Longer Human too.

Winter morning finds in London include the cutest corner coffee shops with heavenly smelling freshly baked bread & newly roasted coffee, possibly the most welcoming scent on earth ☕

"This I want to believe implicitly: Man was born for love and revolution." From my current read: The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai An author I've wanted to read for years. Finally picked it up off my shelves last night. I don't really participate in themed reading months anymore but coincidentally apropos for January in Japan.

Currently reading 🕯️ Continuing with my Greek epics journey after Odyssey I decided to pick up The Iliad. This is the copy I got in the Abbey Bookshop in Paris – I was looking for the Fagles translation so I'd have a consistent collection but I only found the Emily Wilson edition, which I've also heard good things about, and so far so good. It does have a different, more "natural/modern" flow though so it just goes to show how important the translator is in any work. Are you tackling any big books this year, anything you've been meaning to read for a while?

My diametrically opposed current reads 🍵 I'm almost finished reading both and switching between them feels like whiplash sometimes – from the sincere wholesome Healing Season of Pottery to the psychological horror of Revenge. One of the reasons I love reading multiple books at a time, really keeping myself on my toes here lol 😂

Sunday plans in the bag ☕

2025 reading and general "goals" 💃(yes, in quotations because I'm leaving the goal oriented mindset in the trash where it belongs. Reading isn't a checklists, people!!) 🎯 TRY TO READ EVERY SINGLE DAY, even if it's just a page. I want to read more often and consistently. I spend HOURS doom scrolling and I hate myself the entire time. I can feel my attention span shortening through my actions: unable to focus on a book for long periods, can't watch a movie without my phone in my hand, can't do tasks without music blaring in my ears etc. So that's gotta change! 🎯 START WRITING REVIEWS AGAIN! Haven't done that in a couple of years and I regret it. 🎯 FOCUS ON READING THE BOOKS I ALREADY OWN. There are 2 books coming out this year that I know I want to read, apart from those I'm going to limit myself very strictly. Not a no-buy, but a mindful approach. If I see a book I want and I still want it after a month or two, then I'll get it. 🎯 Apart from reading goals, I'm going to be putting my phone down more. I'm actually afraid to look at my screen time and that in itself it frightening. I loved that trend a while ago of people on flights not listening to anything so I'm going to try being fully focused on one thing at a time. If I'm watching a movie, I'm only watching the movie. If I'm cooking, I don't need a show on on the background!! That's madness!! 🎯 Reading may not be a checklist but chores are! I used to write lists for myself when I was a student and it helped me fulfil my daily responsibilities, something I'm going to start again so I don't feel overwhelmed. 🎯 Being a good vegetarian again! I ate 2 cheeseburgers last year and while they were delicious I was disappointed in myself. I held out for 5 years and then fell on my face lol. I will be eating salmon since it's one of my core joys in life so I guess I'm technically pescatarian now. And that's it from me! Do you have any reading resolutions for 2025?