A really unique perspective on the fluidity of pain (primarily in relation to chronic illness) and navigating the shifting mindset to cope with the pain. Also a really interesting take on âfriends for certain activitiesâ - a friend you go to gigs with vs the friend you go for a morning jog with. How these friendships change us. A fantastic quick read!
My favorite novel of the last year. Once begun, this one is impossible to put down yet you will want it to go on and on. It's about love, sex, family, fame, identity and yes, pain. With an ending so transcendent and full of hope it made me cry.
In the latter half of 2019, Sloane Crosleyâs New York apartment was broken into. Luckily she wasnât home, but the burglar(s) had ransacked her bedroom and made off with several pieces of jewelry, much of it handed down from her maternal grandmother. That neither she nor her mother were particularly fond of said grandmother was neither here nor there, they were still Sloaneâs things and now they were gone. Dealing with such an intrusion and the material loss that went along with it would be hard enough, but only one month later her best friend and one-time boss Russell Perreault hanged himself.
This sudden shock sets her adrift as she struggles to come to terms with the reality of it. He had been a constant in her life for so many years and the mere act of accepting that he was gone was challenge enough, let alone learning to live with it. In a way, having the robbery to focus on proves to be a blessing, as investigating it provides at least some brief moments of distraction. When COVID-19 sends the city into lockdown a few months later, she is left with little but time to reflect on the loss and finally try to make peace with it.
Much of this book was written essentially as it was happening to her, though of course edited and rewritten later, which gives it a confessional tone. Crosleyâs writing is eloquent and often funny, but still down-to-earth and easily relatable. The affection she has towards Russell is obvious as she takes us through several fond memories, but this isnât a hagiography, and she delves into some of his faults in an effort to try and understand what could have led him to take his own life. Despite the weighty subject matter this brief book is a joy to read. As someone who has experienced the loss of a best friend and also the suicides of others who were close by, the emotions and thoughts documented within ring true, and reading about someone else going through them is a surprisingly cathartic experience. â â â â â
Hi! So I worked at Aesop for 2.5 years in Australia where the brand is from. In complete honesty I would not recommend Aesop as a starting place to build your skincare routine. The skincare range has a lot of essential oils, that unless your skin is quite robust, can be irritants to the skin. I am of the opinion that there are other brands that are more effective and well priced to get your skincare from. If you are going to buy from Aesop, I would highly recommend their home, fragrance and body care ranges. Some skincare brands at a similar price point with more effective products are:Â
- Dr.Dennis GrossÂ
- ElemisÂ
- Emma Lewisham
- Moon JuiceÂ
I like to mix up my vibe day to day - my current rotation has been the above three. Could be light and fresh with Jo Malone one day.
Could be floral and musky with Glossier the next.
Could be woody and spicy with Aesop the following day.