Add to List - #80

Man! I feel like tomatoes, AirPods, a Coldplay scandal, and a personal essay about the personal essay

Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!

Add to List is my Sunday round-up. It’s the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction, or became some short-lived stability in the past seven days.

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Obsession

Tomatoes by Joy Sullivan

worldpoetrycollective

A post shared by @worldpoetrycollective

I’ve recently been working on a food essay with a tomatoey base. It’s called The Pomodoro Technique. And then I read this and it sort of embodied all my feelings in so few but beautiful words.

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Confession

I finally got AirPods

Yes, yes. I am about 7 years late to the party.

So whilst I do still firmly believe it looks as if you’ve stupidly positioned tic tacs in your ears, I also believe doctors should prescribe a semi-regular ‘90s floorfiller AirPod walk after two glasses of wine at sunset for your self-esteem.

Serving suggestion:

Please note: feelings may be enhanced if you’re ovulating.

Side effects may include: dancing and taking blurry selfies in the street.

These sounds fall into my mind (and your Substack)

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Shook

The Coldplay concert corporate affair reveal

I have not stopped enjoying the reactions moving through the internet at The Speed of Sound to this event.

A great round-up: here.

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Cook

I never thought that Pret would feature in this section as a food recommendation (honestly, I am the world’s worst food critic for even typing this). Yet I’m pleased to announce that the New Super Miso Salmon Plate is actually pretty good. Although the price point still feels a little steep for what it is, it’s not too dissimilar to many other overpriced salad options but as it’s Pret, of course it is conveniently located on every street and next to at least three other Prets.

On Saturday I attended the Nat Geo Traveller Food Festival. Not only did I manage to catch a seat for Ottolenghi’s full-flavour masterclass — unreal, he made chicken shawarma and spoke about his high appreciation for all things condiments (hard yes) — I also found the Barbados stand within minutes of arrival to help soothe my rum and soca music withdrawals after last week’s amazing trip to Saint Lucia.

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Book

Love Life, Matthew Hussey

Look, if you can’t beat ‘em attract ‘em, join ‘em read ‘em.

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Look

Man’s shirts, short skirts

Man! I did feel like a woman. So much so that I ended up in a nightclub in these dainty little shoes last night.

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Can’t Stop Scanning

Caroline O’Donoghue breaking The Bookseller

And perhaps the whole publishing - journalism relationship? Here, she calls out the overly-dredged female personal essay as a form of book promo. It’s all utterly brilliant.

Here’s one of my favourite sections:

None of these things are accomplished by personal essays in their current form. A long essay, even if completely unrelated to your book, can still do a great job of selling a voice. But I’ve written these essays. I’ve read these essays, the ones that my friends and peers have been convinced into writing, and most often I squint and wonder where the author I know has vanished to. Spiky, sharp voices suddenly become gauzy and vague. Funny writers turn maudlin. Sunlight darts through the sleeves of a Rixo dress as our heroine daintily confesses her sorrow, photographed somewhere around Hampstead Heath. I wonder if I am a curmudgeon. I wonder if it is just me who feels this way. I text another author, and ask her how she feels about it. Like I’m a child being forced to sing for their grandma, she writes back immediately.

Full article here, more words of wisdom from her on

Sentimental Garbage

.

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Forward Planning

Next week I’m sticking my teeth into a couple of really interesting bits of writing, interviewing, and researching this week. Plus, I’m reviewing a new restaurants, and I’m hosting another Singles bookshop meet cute with Bookbar and Bored of Dating Apps.

And, for the first time in a few months, I’ll be reunited with my favourite little fluff ball (Roy the Sheltie pup). Expect doggy day care updates next week.

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Lex Hearth

. You can subscribe to Writers IRL for more info about upcoming events.

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