Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed.
I mentioned my resolutions concerning reading in the last newsletter, but wanted to focus on more general ones in this week’s. The new year is still considered a time to revamp and refresh, and I realize that for some of us, it can seem like a trend. And for some, it is. But I’m not mad at the idea of everyone taking a moment to step back and take a look at the long-term goals they have, as well as what’s working and what’s not.
I’ve also appreciated the way this goal setting and reappraisal of lifestyle has shifted to be more inclusive, body positive, and trauma-informed. I’ve thought to include some books today that will satisfy that urge to better oneself in the new year, while still encouraging individuality.
Before we get to them, don’t forget to sign up for our 2023 Read Harder Challenge, which is in its ninth year. Register here for a newsletter with reading suggestions for each of the 24 prompts. Big shout out to Thriftbooks for sponsoring!
Now let’s get to the club!
Nibbles and Sips
Sushi Bake by Gaming Foodie
I love, love sushi, and a sushi bake can come together in 30 minutes once you have all the ingredients. Once you do, watch Gaming Foodie’s quick video for putting it all together.
You just need:
- 1/2 lb Salmon
- 1/2 lb Imitation crab
- 3 oz Cream cheese
- 1/4 cup Japanese mayo
- 1 tbsp Sriracha
- 3 cups Rice
- 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- Dried seaweed
Season the salmon and bake it for around 20 minutes in an oven, or air fry it for 10 minutes. While you’re doing that, you can cook the rice for however long, depending on the type you get. once the salmon is done, take the skin off and shred it. Then mix it with shredded imitation crab, along with the mayo, sriracha, and cream cheese. Mix the rice with the rice vinegar once it’s cooked and then put in a baking dish, dispersing it evenly. Add a layer of shredded seaweed or furikake. Then, spread the salmon/crab/mayo mixture over it and bake for 10 mins at 380 degrees. Take it out and top with more seaweed, sriracha, spicy mayo, and even cucumbers or avocados.
Now for books!
New Year, New Book Club, Who Dis?
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
I can think of at least five people at the top of my head who’d I’d recommend this book to. In it, Tawwab, a licensed counselor and popular relationship expert, uses research and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) methods to help you identify not just how to establish healthier boundaries with people, but also the root causes of any already existing unhealthy boundaries.
Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley
Setting this book as the book club read could make for an interesting meeting. It’s fairly short — at 222 pages — and is part memoir and part yoga instructional. It could be a nice, short intro into the new year for the book club, and you could make your meet-up part yoga session, if you’re feeling cute. Apart from the yoga poses taught, Stanley discusses how her journey as a fat, Black yogi has been. As you probably guessed, she’s been met with stereotypes regarding her race and size. The book club can combine this one with Yoke, her collection of personal essays, for all the goodness.
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, Ph.D.
Price is a social psychologist who leads us away from the lie of laziness with Laziness Does Not Exist. In it, he takes it way back to the beginnings of the present scam that measures self worth based on productivity. Turns out, people in general do more today than they did during any other era in history. So I guess we don’t spend as much time getting avocado toast and overpriced lattes? Huh.
Discuss this one as a way to explore learning how to balance your work load and manage expectations.
Get Good with Money by Tiffany Alice
Financial education is not as prevalent as it should be, especially for those living in a capitalistic society that runs counter to their best interests. Aliche tries to remedy that by detailing a practical process of 10 steps that is designed to help guide people to financial security by managing debt, budgeting, and more. She writes from the perspective of someone who experienced being in quite the predicament financially, which makes her all the more relatable.
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Suggestion Section
Book Club Picks
- Reese’s Pick: The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
- Roxane Gay and GMA’s: Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor
- Noname’s: Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay (chosen by Akwaeke Emezi) and Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman
- Jenna’s: Sam by Allegra Goodman
Some other reading:
1968 Romeo and Juliet film stars sue over underaged nudity
It’s the season for cozy things! Here are some cozy mysteries.
I hope this newsletter found you well, and as always, thanks for hanging out! If you have any comments or just want to connect, send an email to erica@riotnewmedia.com or holla at me on Twitter @erica_eze_. You can also catch me talking more mess in the new In Reading Color newsletter as well as chattin’ with my new co-host Tirzah Price on the Hey YA podcast.
Until next week,
Erica