Some reads, a staple chicken recipe, and a few sources of hope
Reviews of Kellie Carter Jackson's We Refuse and Emily Raboteau's Lessons for Survival, one-pan rosemary chicken by way of Elana Karp, and some Instagram poetry that has brought me back to center
New York is making its stutter-stepped entrance into spring with vacillating weather and a few extra moments of daylight each day. Spring is my least favorite season for a variety of reasons, but I do appreciate spotting the first buds on trees and having dinner before the sun has fully set. Spencer and I went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden last week because I was enticed by the garden’s email alert that the crocuses were in bloom.
My world feels bifurcated right now between the small, wonderful sphere of daily life as a full-time parent in our neighborhood and the soul-burdening heaviness of a world that feels set on destroying itself by way of dehumanization and wealth hoarding. My daily balancing act of delighting in my kid while caring deeply about others’ plights usually means feeling pretty spent by the day’s end. Next week I’ll be starting a part-time paid role with a local organization I have volunteered with for years. I feel excited and trepidatious all at once, as it’ll be a change for our family rhythms but an opportunity to use my skills and time on behalf of something I care about.
Thanks for being here,
Holly
P.S. Substack is warning me that my email is too long (I’m wordy, it’s just who I am) and might get cut off in inboxes. If you get to the end of the text and haven’t reached the sunset photo, you can click the “View Entire Message” link at the bottom.
Bookshelf
We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance by Kellie Jackson Carter | ★★★★☆
Our February Show Me the Women selection in honor of Black History Month made for a compelling read that re-frames historical resistance from Black communities along five categories — revolution, protection, force, flight, and joy — pushing against the common (and reductive) MLK Jr. vs. Malcolm X take. Kellie Carter Jackson presents an unapologetic reevaluation of the way we (societally) extol nonviolent protest and demonize all other forms of resistance. The root of her argument is that it should not be on the oppressed group to protest in a palatable way, nor does the emphasis on nonviolence acknowledge the inherent violence in the very hierarchy that precipitates resistance. In many ways, I found this book to be an expansion upon the Audre Lorde quote: “The master’s tools tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”
I took copious notes while reading and could share numerous powerful excerpts, but I’ll stick with this one (bolded emphasis mine): “To be clear, protection is more expansive than self-defense because in the Black community protection is collective. Protection seeks to protect all vulnerable people and even entire communities. Protection has included sheltering fugitive slaves, writing, giving speeches, providing or withdrawing financial support, and offering legal services, and in extreme but necessary cases, it could involve the murder of a slave catcher or rapist. During slavery, Black vigilance groups did the work of protection; they patrolled Black neighborhoods in packs looking for slave catchers or suspicious people. They attempted to recover kidnapped people from the state. Among the enslaved, protection was about minimizing the violence of slavery: slowdowns, deceit, threads, poison, arson, destruction of property, and physical altercations were used against slaveholders to stunt the institution and secure protection for oppressed Black people. Even after slavery, similar tactics have been employed to shield Black people from the eroding and harmful effects of racism. For example, bystanders record police interactions with Black people. With protection, sometimes large groups protect individuals and sometimes individuals protect large groups. Protection is the antithesis of policing because it’s about securing freedom, not denying it.”
Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against “The Apocalypse” by Emily Raboteau | ★★★★☆
I am a few chapters away from finishing this one, but it’s been a slow burn and I’m going to go ahead and tell you about it now before I’ve entirely wrapped up.
First things first: This book is very good. And also, my impression of it going in was wildly inaccurate. I went in expecting edification, fortification, hope… but this book is definitely bleak. Author Emily Raboteau contends with the multi-layered despair that is mothering in the face of racism, climate emergency, pandemic, and war. What will stick with me about the book, though, is the way that Raboteau manages to lay bare the human cost — from inconveniences to life-threatening crises — of the ways our world is coming apart. She focuses on anecdotes, lived experiences, and probing artwork as windows into the intersecting complexities of life in this moment. To be clear, the book is not without hope. I have been inspired by the resilience and determination of many of Raboteau’s “characters” (friends, acquaintances, co-conspirators) as well as her commitment to push into the messy balance of personal needs against ambient sorrow. However, it’s hard to not read the sheer volume of layered crises and not walk away feeling grim. In a way, I could see this book being really moving for folks who aren’t yet convinced of the threat of climate change or need a reminder that we are all bound up in each other’s liberation.
Current Reads
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop: I’m very much enjoying this memoir! I knew Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore (the exquisitely cast grandmother of Rory Gilmore), but didn’t know about her rich theater background or fascinating life.
World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil: A gorgeous, reflective essay collection (with illustrations!) as told through unique animal species.
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis: I’m not far into this one yet, but I am already hooked. After all, I’m a sucker for a investigative rabbithole.
TBR / On My Radar
Brave the Wild River by Melissa Sevigny: Our next Show me the Women selection which tells the story of the two women who mapped the botany of the Grand Canyon.
The Language of Climate Politics by Genevieve Guenther: I have this one out past its due date from the library (someone ought to come up with a word for “my eyes were bigger than my stomach” but as applied to books). Genevieve Guenther writes a newsletter called Ending Climate Silence and I expect this book to be a good companion to Katharine Hayhoe’s Saving Us.
Make Believe by Victoria Hutchins: I’m not usually one to by an influencer/content creator’s book, but I truly love The Daily Victorian and am looking forward to her poetry collection.
Another World is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe by Natasha Hakimi Zapata: I am absolutely here for the decentering of America and the amplification of ways that other places have tackled our most pernicious social problems. Also, I thoroughly trust Deedi Brown’s taste.
No Less Strange or Wonderful by A. Kendra Greene: This sounds like a perfect companion to World of Wonders and The Anthropocene Reviewed with thought-provoking essays inspired by everyday curiosities.
*Note: Links listed above are to Bookshop, where I'm an affiliate. I make a small commission off any purchases using those links, and Bookshop uses its profits to support local bookstores. If you have a favorite indie shop, please purchase from them instead!
Kitchen
A friend recently reached out asking for easy-ish, mostly healthy recipe recommendations. In putting together a small list for her, I realized I’ve never shared this staple in our house. It’s not hard and makes a hearty, delicious meal. Plus, it’ll revolutionize how you cook skin-on chicken.
One-Pan Rosemary Chicken with Seasonal Veggies
From Elana Karp’s Plated | Serves 2 (but easy to scale!)
Ingredients
• 2 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 cloves garlic
• ¼ cup white wine (cooking quality is fine)
•2 Tbsp olive oil
• Seasonal vegetables
—Spring: 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed & cut into 2-inch lengths; 1 small bulb fennel, trimmed and thinly sliced; 1 leek (white and light green parts only), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced & washed thoroughly
—Summer: 1 yellow squash, sliced; 1 zucchini, sliced
—Fall: 1 bunch small carrots, cut into spears; 3 parsnips, cut into spears
—Winter: 8 oz Brussels sprouts, quartered through the roots; 1 sweet potato, unpeeled and cut into large dice
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Pat the chicken dry. Finely chop the rosemary leaves. Roughly chop the garlic. Prepare the seasonal vegetables.
Season the chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Before turning on the heat, add chicken breasts skin-side down to a large ovenproof pan. Then, turn heat on to medium-high. Don’t move it at all while searing. Cook until skin has browned and the fat has rendered (6-8 minutes). Remove from pan.
While the chicken browns, make the sauce. Whisk together the rosemary, garlic, wine, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Scatter the seasonal vegetables evenly into the pan from the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Flip chicken skin-side up, nestle into vegetables, and top everything with rosemary sauce.
Transfer pan to the oven and roast until veggies are tender and chicken is cooked through (16-20 minutes).
Miscellany
I’ve been struggling extra with feelings of despair & helplessness, so here are a few things I’ve stumbled across that have given me little glimmers of resolve.
I often return to the same music over and over when I’m in particular emotional states. On my morning walks with Twyla, I usually listen to this playlist, interspersed with the short daily episodes from Bird Note, Word of the Day, and The Slowdown. And when things feel particularly heavy, I come back to this playlist. I’ve also got a running “Crunchy Mom” playlist of kid-ish music for Spencer and I to listen to that has fun music for him that doesn’t totally grate on my nerves. (P.S. My friend Clare Elich recently released a children’s music album called Bluegrass Baby which has been a fun addition!). I’m always open to song, music, and (shortish) podcast suggestions if you have any.
Today’s moment of delight coming atcha by way of my good friend Jordana.
With love,
Holly
Loved, loved, loved reading this. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are feeling re: the state of the world. 🤍