you’re right on time
even if it doesn’t feel that way
Weekly r.e.p.o.r.t # 10
Where I share what I’ve been reading, eating, playing, obsessed with, recommending and thinking about.
We’ll go in the right order this week and first I’ll tell you what I’ve been reading. You’ll be pleased to know it’s many things actually. I’ll tell you about two of them - The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow and For Such A Time As This by Shani Akilah. Two very different books.
The Everlasting is a fantasy tale of two people - a historian, Owen, and a knight, Una - who literally find each other in every universe, every iteration of a timeline. I’m not that far in but I’m hooked. The writing is very sharp and at one point Owen, our protagonist, a nervous sort of fellow is described as “a walking flinch”. I enjoyed that description very much. Anyway, I look forward to finishing it because I love an inevitable love story, don’t you?
For Such A Time As This is my favourite type of book to read - a short story collection. This one’s a contemporary one about loosely connected young Black British Londoners. It’s great and when I was a few stories in, I thought to myself, I should’ve read this a long time ago. Then I thought well actually, I’m glad I’m reading it now.
This brings me to what I’m thinking about this week - the gift of timing, when it comes to art but also more generally. It was easy to think at first that I should’ve read the collection ages ago. After all, it’s been out for a while now, on my radar even longer, and all my friends have read it. It was easy to bemoan the fact that I could’ve loved it sooner. But then (because when isn’t there a but), it was important to remind myself that when it comes to art/media (and indeed life) I don’t think there’s such a thing as being late to the party. I think things will find you exactly when they’re meant to so that you’re simply right on time.
Even though I shouldn’t, I’m fairly certain I buy at least one book every two weeks. I don’t track my book buying (or reading, but that’s another essay) but I’m sure that’s a generous assessment and it’s likely more. In any case, I probably shouldn’t do this because I have hordes of unread books but I don’t mind that I do because it means I always have the chance to pick up a book at the right time for me.
I’ve been very busy recently with a lot of things I won’t bore you with and picking up For Such A Time As This now is proving to be exactly what I needed. I’ve always said I enjoyed short stories because they leave you room to imagine. Bar this newsletter, I haven’t had time to write or indeed, imagine. The stories are giving me that chance so as it stands, I’m right on time. As are you. Consider this a metaphor for life. You’re right on time with that project, that goal, that hobby. You’ll pick it up or it’ll find you when it’s time and fortunately (though it may not feel that way), not a moment sooner. This is a reminder for me and for you so cheers then to being right on time 🍻.
What have I been eating? I had some incredible Chinese yesterday so that was nice. Treat yourself to a takeaway one of these days. You deserve it. And even if you don’t think you do, treat yourself anyway. Life’s too short :)
Current obsessions include K Drama and K Pop specifically, Alchemy of Souls and K Pop Demon Hunters. If any of my friends who’ve been trying to get me indulge in K Drama for years read this, you won. I’m finally here.
Recommendations for you this week:
Disney’s Hercules live at the theatre. I saw this with my brother earlier this week for his birthday and we had a blast. The music’s great, the costumes are even better and it’s funny. Not the pinnacle of theatre by any means but it’s a fun time for sure.
This isn’t a thing necessarily more an action but I recommend looking back at your baby photos. I had to ask my mum for some of mine for a fun event and it was sweet to revisit baby versions of myself. She was a sweetie. It also made me think she’d be proud of present day me, even if present day me sometimes is not. She’d think I was right on time.
Finally, what am I playing these days? Lots of throwbacks. Think Ella Mai’s self-titled album. But also a lot of new stuff like Ari Lennox’s new singles from her forthcoming album, Vacancy. What can I say, I like RnB.
Words of the week this week:
solipsism
avarice
Have a great week and I’ll see you right on time next week!
Literally downloaded the substack app because I loved reading this post (I had been using the online version before). I am so curious about the everlasting and will be reading that once I finish my current book. And I totally get what you said about timing with media. I am always chasing that feeling of watching a movie at the exact right moment, to the point that when I am actually watching one, I am questioning whether it’s the right time or if I should wait until I feel more certain it’s the perfect moment.