The Windup | Issue 12
For those new here, this is The Windup, my monthly newsletter that includes:
- A round-up of everything I published
- Recommendations of books, articles, films/TV shows, or anything else I think you might also enjoy
- Personal life and writing updates/announcements
I LOVE BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST | 1 Oct 2026
I never felt butterflies, but I found safety. An essay on healing, unconditional love, faith, and learning to stay when love once meant leaving.
A BEAST SLINKS TOWARDS BEIJING | 22 OCT 2026
A review of Alice Evelyn Yang’s A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing, and what Asian American children inherit when parents stay silent about history.
Beyond [Awkward] Side Hugs by Bronwyn Lea (Bookshop)
Can men and women have purely platonic relationships? I believe so, but many in Christian circles argue otherwise. Not Bronwyn Lea. She sets forth a Biblical perspective on why friendships between men and women are not only possible, but essential. This was one of the books I read during a books-about-friendships kick I had over the summer.
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang (Bookshop)
Three generations of trauma manifest as a supernatural beast passed down through DNA. The book takes us through the Second Sino-Japanese War, The Great Leap Forward in China, and Mao’s Cultural Revolution, before ending in the present day, where we see the effect of those events on a young adult who had nothing to do with them.
Building 903 by Lois Lowry (Bookshop)
Imagine a world where books no longer exist, where people don’t even know what books are. Trust Lois Lowry to write the kind of incisive novel we need today, when literacy rates are down, and people are scrolling more and reading less. This dystopian world looks far too much like ours with its authoritarian, tyrannical government that controls information.
Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang (Bookshop)
I had super low expectations for this book. Maybe that’s the secret to not hating a book. While it has something of an identity crisis, I appreciated moments of it—musings about language, communication, intergenerational conflict (and healing), and mostly, descriptions of Taiwan. Review coming soon.
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Bookshop)
No matter how many times I read this remarkable book, it never ceases to amaze me. I learn something new every time. I’m especially in need of Tolkien’s words now, when the world seems so bleak. We need books with some hope.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 (Bookshop)
Way too many people recommended this series to me. I finally gave in, and I’m glad I did. The first volume is mostly introduction, and it took me halfway through the book to really get into it. However, it is delightful as book with no plot and just vibes. Think Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, and Jane Austen style. I enjoy the writing a lot; it’s witty and funny without making me roll my eyes (aka the dumb comedies my husband prefers LOL). I look forward to reading more of the series.
The Song of Stork and Dromedary by Anjet Daanje (Bookshop)
I’m slooowlyy making my way through this book. It is SO FUCKING GOOD. It’s like this book was written for me. The writing? The tribute to the Brontë sisters? The gothic, the haunting atmosphere, the pondering over death. I got to page 14 at first, then turned back to start all over again; I was so mesmerised. I wanted to read savour the passages, wallow in them, underline and annotate and write full essays on every few paragraphs. Kristin T. Lee recommended this one on her Instagram, and I’m completely obsessed.
Jekyll and Hyde (The Haunted Library)
Colin Morgan is my favourite audiobook narrator. As of this writing, the second season (Frankenstein) is being released. These are free to listen to, and perfect for the season.
Write for Money and Power: Becoming a Creator CEO with Amy Suto (The Creative Penn Podcast)
I enjoyed this interview between Amy Suto and Joanna Penn, where Amy talks about Substack and how to make it work for you, whether you write nonfiction or fiction. Lots of good ideas as well as helpful perspectives on mindset.
East of Eden series
I looked forward to this series all year. I even reread the book earlier this year to prepare myself for it. Then the reviews started coming out about how Cathy’s villainy was being watered down. Well, I watched it. Still disappointed by what they did to Cathy, because goddamnit, let her be evil. but overall, it was a well-made series. Suggesting that Cathy made the choices she did because she was preyed upon by a sleazy teacher then using her sexuality to gain power in the world—it’s really not all that farfetched. I appreciated the added nuance to her, but it also went too far, in my opinion. She has far too much conscience in the show. On the contrary, Carrie depicted a villainous girl who has shit going on in her life but is nevertheless undeniably evil.
I have more thoughts. Maybe I’ll share them later. In the meantime, you might enjoy reading some of these differing opinions:
“Cathy Ames is Evil. That’s the Point.” Liza Libes
cathy ames can’t be a nine-year-old dominatrix bitch anymore, because of woke Barrett Adair
10 Quick Thoughts about Zoe Kazan’s New “East of Eden” Adaptation David Kern
Why Can’t Women Just Be Evil? Sophie Kropman
Carrie series
Another series I’ve been anticipating. Not my favourite Flanagan, but enjoyable. Honestly, I think I’m just really not into teen drama. It irritates me. The show was still well made with typical Mike Flanagan nuance, but this was also not as scary as Flanagan’s other series, which disappointed me LOL.
I think the reality of one’s humiliations potentially living online forever through social media/the Internet is a real problem we have in the modern era, though, and I appreciated how that aspect was brought to the forefront in this modern adaptation. It reminded me of Jon Ronson’s So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed.
I can at least always count on Mike Flanagan to create work that makes me think.
- The brilliant Susanna Clarke defends fantasy fiction in this article for The Observer. It reminded me of Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories”—also worth reading if you haven’t before.
- Cams Campbell put together a slow read almanac for current and upcoming slow reads. Thank you so much for this resource.
- “The Narrative Technique that Kazuo Ishiguro Stole from Charlotte Brontë” by Joshua Porter breaks down the art of subtlety in writing—something I love about Ishiguro’s books.
- The Amy/Laurie vs. Jo/Laurie debate gets settled in “It’s No Use! We Got to Have it Out!” by Audrey Lily. If you’ve ever been caught up in this, you need to read this.
- I found the most adorable elephant mug on Amazon that is now my new favourite. It even has a little spot to put your used tea bag. ^-^
Inkling Highlights
Mary Roblyn’s essay, “A Reckoning in October: Decluttering and its Discontents,” was featured by Memoir Land in their latest roundup. Congratulations, Mary!
Sam’s essay, “My Grandmother’s Daughter,” was re-published on The Memoirist. Congratulations, Sam!
Nidhi Arora’s debut novel, The Lights of Shantinagar, was published with Penguin Random House in India and longlisted for the Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman award! It’s been acquired by a U.K. publisher as well.
It’s wonderful to see members of our fellowship acknowledged for their incredible writing and hard work. ^-^
Have news to share with the fellowship?
Subscribe to continue reading