#14. Have You Ever Had a Book Hangover?
Just finished one of the heaviest books I've ever read and will be sitting, staring at a wall if anyone needs me
Have you ever had a book hangover? Don’t laugh–I swear it’s real!! I spent most of my free time in the last week tearing through the 550 page monster that is Babel by R.F. Kuang, which left me in a pool of my own tears and a feeling of heaviness I haven’t quite been able to shake. I finished it on Saturday afternoon, then went to bed a few hours later with a crushing migraine that hit me out of the blue. I haven’t felt quite right since.
Thankfully, Babel is the March pick for my book club, and we’re meeting in person to discuss and fully process it tonight. Here are a few things the group has said about it so far in our group chat:
“Just finished and honestly find myself a little out of breath. I need to recover.”
“I still have 15% left according to my Kindle and my heart rate is through the roof”
“I need to simply lay here and be with my thoughts for a while. No sound. No moving. Just staring and processing”
“That will be me rolling into book club on Wednesday. Sitting in a corner wordlessly staring…”
If you’ve never had a book hangover, essentially it means that you’re having a hard time moving on from a book because it affected you in such a profound or meaningful way. For me, this book hangover isn’t keeping any specific characters or the fictional world of Babel top of mind–which has definitely happened to me before–but I have a heavy sadness in the core of my being that has persisted for a few days. Not about my own life, if that makes any sense, but for the themes that the book brought to mind, including racism, sexism, violence, betrayal, white fragility, power, colonialism, class inequality, warfare, addiction, and sacrifice.
I loved this take on book hangovers from Book Riot:
A book hangover that lingers could be a positive thing. The longer you struggle with it, the more likely it is that the book has an effect on how you view yourself and the world. Djikic (Associate Professor and the Director of Self-Development Laboratory at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, who has studied the effects of reading on theory of mind and empathy) notes, “When a ‘hangover’ evolves into a more continued emotion of discomfort – that usually comes from still pondering and struggling with some personally relevant issues that were brought up in the book – it could lead to a personal transformation. Fiction reading can be a powerful dysregulator of identity, allowing readers to ‘exit’ themselves, and be in a state that is more receptive to personal change or transformation.” (Read more about art and personal transformation here). Part of this receptive state stems from “perspective-taking,” which happens when a person experiences the world through the eyes of another. Fiction allows the reader to see the story through a character’s eyes, which facilitates perspective-taking.
If your feelings about the book are transformative, Djikic says, “the ‘hangover’ would last longer, would include not just an emotion of sadness, but also more ‘agitating’ emotions such as fear or anger or hope, and could potentially lead to seeing oneself and one’s whole world in a different way. In this case, the ‘hangover’ would last longer than a few days, and the mind would periodically return to the book even weeks or months after the book was finished, and the person would use the experience of the book for his or her own inner change.”
Sometimes, a book hangover is just an inconvenience easily cured by finding another engrossing read. But research also suggests that hangovers are part of the way reading changes the reader. A novel can change the way we see the world. A lingering book hangover can extend our sense of empathy for others and cause us to confront our own ideas about ourselves. Sometimes, a hangover is a good thing.
Babel was so wonderful, thought-provoking, and undeniably heavy that I honestly couldn’t even write a real essay for my newsletter this week, lol. Despite (or maybe because of?) how it made me feel, Babel is possibly the best thing I’ve read so far this year, but I’m still not finished fully digesting it. I don’t even know how it’s possible to have something hit me harder than How High We Go in the Dark, which was an absolute gut punch in so many ways. I seriously need to read something lighter next…
Luckily, a reader of this newsletter has totally bailed me out this week and her essay on natural wine is below! I hope you enjoy, and I’ll see you next week. :)
What’s Up This Week
There’s lots of confusion over what the definition of natural wine is, and that’s probably because there’s no official definition or certification. To understand natural wine, you need to understand conventional wine and all the “extra” processes and additives that go into making the average bottle you find in the grocery store. There are 60 legal additives that can be put into a bottle of wine, including sugar, acid, oak flavor, egg white, isinglass (aka fish bladder), and those can change a wine’s flavor dramatically from the juice that was produced by the fruit. Natural wine, simply said, has nothing added and nothing taken away. You’re drinking the wine that could have only been grown in that specific plot of land with that year’s specific weather pattern and from those specific grapes (and the yeast that grows naturally on them). I think that’s really magical! And I also think it tastes really good.
Natural wines tend to be light bodied and feature higher acidity, which to me feels like a liveliness. I was already working in wine when I discovered how different natural wine could taste, full of bold exciting flavors that jumped out of the glass. Because producers are not abiding to strict regional laws requiring specific winemaking practices, you can taste natural wines that range from classic full bodied reds to sparkling oranges that kind of taste like feet. You end up supporting a lot of smaller producers, who are really focused on the environmental impact of their work. Flaws that may be mocked in more conventional wines are often celebrated, and I think this is cool. I don’t think everything should taste completely perfect and exactly the same every time. I love when wines are wildly different from year to year, because the grapes don’t grow in exactly the same way each year.
While natural wine may seem trendy, it actually has more historical background than modern traditions of using commercial yeast and additives in winemaking, and many older winemakers have been using these techniques for centuries without fanfare. I think as a lot of people become aware of the fate of our planet, it will become more and more important to treat our wine the way we treat our produce. It makes no sense to buy a cart full of organic groceries and then pair your dinner with two buck chuck.
But overall, I truly think it tastes better. And isn’t that why we drink wine?
2021 Martha Stoumen Post Flirtation Red
Archetype: Your cool aunt, who snuck you wine when you were 14 and gave the best boy advice.
Composition: 55% Zinfandel, 34% Pinot noir, 8% Carignan, 3% Petite Sirah
Availability: As is the case with many natural wines, production is limited and wines are released seasonally and only available until they’re gone! Martha bottled 3,479 Cases (41,748 bottles) which is considered “mid sized” in the natural wine world. I picked up this bottle at Vinovore in Los Angeles, but saw it is also available at Henry and Son in Minneapolis. Call your local natural wine shop to see if it’s in stock, or check out buying directly from Martha Stoumen or finding it at Primal Wines.
MSRP: $30-34
Worth it: Yes! I love trying this bottle every year.
Discovered: I discovered this wine in 2018, working in wine for the first time at Vinovore in Los Angeles. Though I sought out the position because of my love of wine and my interest in learning more, this was the first wine that really made an impression on me. I vividly remember sitting on my friend’s couch, taking my first sip and going “Oh! I get it now.”
Appearance: Deep ruby red with a glint of garnet around the edges.
Nose: The nose gives me a floral bouquet of crushed violets and dried flowers. There’s a hint of wet stone and a bright raspberry note underlying.
Palate: Before I even taste the wine my tongue is hit with a bright acidity, followed by notes of cranberry and pomegranate. The initial zing is followed by a surprising earthiness as the wine evolves. Hibiscus and slight notes of peach make for a fresh finish. While light bodied and easy to drink, this wine would pair nicely with a roast chicken or a kale salad.
Conclusions: When I first had this wine in 2018, it was a blend of only Zinfandel and Carignan and it was tart, juicy, and alive. This year, Martha Stoumen blended in Pinot Noir and Petite Sirah to create a wine that is a bit deeper and more balanced, and perhaps a bit more complex. Aren’t we all a little more complex than we were in 2018? While this may be a very personal wine for me, I find it also is a great entry to the natural wine world. You get the light bodied vibrance that is typical of natural bottles, without the off-putting (to some) funk. If you see this bottle on the shelf at your favorite bottle shop, grab it. But even if it’s no longer in stock, I would urge you to Google “natural wine in my city” and then show up and ask for a recommendation. I hope it changes the way you think about and taste wine!
Tip: Serve with a chill, but not TOO much of a chill. Take it out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before drinking.
This home with an edgy all-black exterior in San Francisco is a bit more modern than I usually go for, but there’s a lot of really interesting uses of color throughout that I’m really into. The red/green/black in the office (with hints of blue and pink) is so pleasing to my eyeballs, as is the “Ladies Lounge,” with varying tones of burgundy, coral, and peach. There’s also a dark bathroom with outlandish black/pink/yellow Gucci wallpaper that actually works (I think??) and a stunning, colorful dining room table that is made of recycled plastic. My biggest color critique is the use of Farrow & Ball’s “Broccoli Brown” in the bedroom, of all places… whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I’ve been a major fan of Lana del Rey’s particular brand of sad-girl energy since my early days of living in Los Angeles. We’re just about a month away from her next album’s release, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, which I’m very excited about. I loved the title track (which was released last year), but this week I’ve been listening to the latest single from the new album, “A&W.” It’s a beautiful song that blends so many of Lana del Rey’s various personas from her past albums. It’s super sad… but also a bop??
When Paul found out last week that I hadn’t ever seen Mad Max: Fury Road, he insisted that we watch it right then and there. As someone who loves all things science-fiction–especially post-apocalyptic shit–I couldn’t believe it either. And honestly, I liked it! I wish there had been less racing and more ~themes~ but it was a very beautiful thing to watch (much more colorful than your typical post-apocalyptic wasteland!) and overall I can’t complain. I also just saw it made Wired’s list of “The 24 Absolute Best Movies of the 2010s,” which includes a ton of other sci-fi(ish) bangers like Arrival, Looper, Her, Edge of Tomorrow, The Lobster, Annihilation, Get Out, and Parasite. I am borderline offended the list didn’t include Interstellar, but nobody is perfect.
P.S. Daisy Jones & The Six premieres this Friday on Amazon Prime. I am so excited!!!!!! I loved the book but always thought it would be better as a series. Sam Claflin + Riley Keough (speaking of Mad Max!), I die.
P.S.S. Paul and I tried to watch the first episode of Perfect Match, but we didn’t make it through. It was absolutely awful. I have it on good authority that I’ll be hooked if I give it a few more episodes, so I’ll work on that and report back…
Whelp, we said goodbye to one of my early front-runners tonight, and what a WEIRD elimination it was. I saw Aly’s dismissal coming from a mile away, but Zach’s last conversation with Jess went something like this:
Zach: “I’ve felt so good about you since night one! I feel so confident in us!”
Jess: “Yeah me too, but like, why don’t you want to spend quality time alone with me over people like, for instance, Brooklyn? If you actually like me, why don’t you want to spend the day hanging out with me one on one???”
Zach: “I just don’t feel confident in us and I have to be honest with you about that. Maybe it’s better if you go.”
Anyone else feel like this season is starting to go off the rails?!? Brooklyn is driving me *absolutely nuts* and I can’t believe Greer just pops back in the game next week like she didn’t just miss an entire episode… still not sure how she got Covid and Gabi didn’t, but okay…
That’s it for me! See you next week, hopefully fully cured and back in action.
K bye,
Kelly
P.S. Last Friday, paid subscribers got issue #13, “12 Tips to Find a Wedding Dress” in their inboxes. Honestly it was one of the most fun issues I’ve put together so far!! Scrolling back through my camera roll to pick a Top 10 out of ~50 dresses I tried on last month was a genuinely pleasing activity. Next up for paid subscribers is an issue all about engagement rings (an industry I worked in for three years) and I have some really fun thoughts/quotes from former co-workers. If you have any specific questions for me, you can DM me or reply to this email! <3 I might also make some of the issue available to free subscribers, so if you’d be interested in that, please let me know :)
#14. Have You Ever Had a Book Hangover?
So, I wasn't a paid subscriber when this issue was published, but I recently read The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan recently, and felt the need to share here. It was such a TOUGH read. Just page after torturous page of moms going through hell to be reunited with their children. You do not need to be a mom to be torn apart by this book. I'm not, and it made me so emotional. I don't know if you ever read Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill, but it gave me similar feelings of helplessness and desperation on behalf of the characters. I wouldn't want to reread either book, but both impacted me significantly.
Babel is part of this year's Tournament of Books which kicks off tomorrow! https://themorningnews.org/article/the-2023-tournament-of-books-shortlist-and-judges
Looking forward to hearing others break down this book (and others) as well since it's on my to read list.