Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” will find an updated and funnier, more relatable millennial version in Kristen Van Nest’s debut memoir, “Where to Nest.”
The title playfully pays homage to the author’s origins. Her name, Van Nest, is an Americanized form of the Dutch name ‘Ness,’ a farm town in Holland. Much like her ancestors who modified their names, she shaped her own life and wrote her own story.
Growing up in a modest household in an extremely wealthy US town in Connecticut, where gym class sometimes consisted of yoga by candlelight, Van Nest’s classmates had life-size Barbies and real pet horses, while she wore secondhand clothes and had a Tamagotchi digital pet. This distinction propelled her to take action and strive to “have it all.”
She had fantasized about achieving the American dream, where she would fill her fancy mansion with objects associated with luxury, like three sinks in the master bedroom, for example. But she soon found that it was not the path she wanted to go on. She traded the big closet in her previous teenage dreams with that of a rolling suitcase.
In an attempt to fit in, Van Nest realized she likely could not. So she stood out. Not just outside of the box, but outside of the country completely. She was bitten by the travel bug at 16 when her grandmother encouraged her to spend some time in Paris and promised to help cover the cost. She went, and returned. Then left again as soon as she could.
“Where to Nest,” which was released on Tuesday, starts with her boarding a one-way flight to China, a place she had never before visited.
She ended up living in Shanghai for three years and, later, in Luxembourg as a Fulbright scholar. She went on to have dizzying adventures, and misadventures, in about 40 countries.
She writes how one year when she attended a New Year’s party in Berlin it felt like a fresh start not only to the year but also for herself.
“I was also going through a rebirth: one where if you stripped away my work, wealth and social status, I was at my core without those silly things we sometimes wrap our identities around.”
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Where to Nest’ by Kristen Van Nest
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Where to Nest’ by Kristen Van Nest
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Map of Salt and Stars’
- Nour’s journey through the war-torn country of Syria captures her trauma of losing her home and her father
Author: Zeyn Joukhadar
Published in 2018, “The Map of Salt and Stars” is a novel by Syrian American writer Zeyn Joukhadar. The story follows the journeys of two young girls across time and geography.
In the book, the author introduces Nour, a 12-year-old girl who is forced to flee her home in Aleppo with her family. Menwhile, Rawiya is a girl from the 12th century who disguises herself as a boy to become a trainee to the famous mapmaker Ibn Jubayr.
The two narratives create a rich story that explores displacement, identity and the resilience of the human spirit all together in one book. The author also paints pictures of historical as well as contemporary landscapes, inviting readers on a journey through the beauty and complexity of Syrian culture.
Nour’s journey through the war-torn country of Syria captures her trauma of losing her home and her father. Her character, however, grows through her encounters with diverse people, where each character she meets adds depth to her understanding of displacement, while at the same time reflecting the broader human experience.
Rawiya’s historical journey, on the other hand, complements Nour’s story, offering a look into the past in a way that resonates with the present. Through Rawiya’s perspective, readers could be able to gain an appreciation for the rich history of the Arab world, as well as the gender dynamics that persist across centuries in the area.
Joukhadar skillfully combines these two different insights in one book, creating a powerful commentary on how important storytelling is, not only as a form of survival, but also a way of connecting people and time.
Overall, the book is a compelling read, presenting various concepts such as loss, hope, identity and the unbreakable bonds of family to design a story that stays long in the reader’s mind.
Other books have been published by Joukhdar, including “The Thirty Names of Night” and “Mizna.”
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives’
Author: DANNA STAAF
Dive deep into the fascinating world of cephalopods—octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and the mysterious nautilus—to discover the astonishing diversity of this unique group of intelligent invertebrates and their many roles in the marine ecosystem.
Organized by marine habitat, this book features an extraordinary range of these clever and colorful creatures from around the world and explores their life cycles, behavior, adaptations, ecology, links to humans, and much more.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘How Birds Evolve’
“How Birds Evolve” explores how evolution has shaped the distinctive characteristics and behaviors we observe in birds today.
Douglas Futuyma describes how evolutionary science illuminates the wonders of birds, ranging over topics such as the meaning and origin of species, the evolutionary history of bird diversity, and the evolution of avian reproductive behaviors, plumage ornaments, and social behaviors.
In this multifaceted book, Futuyma examines how birds evolved from nonavian dinosaurs and reveals what we can learn from the “family tree” of birds.
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Those Barren Leaves’
Author: Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s “Those Barren Leaves,” first published in 1925, is a sharp and satirical novel that dissects the pretensions, disillusionments and spiritual emptiness of Europe’s post-First World War intelligentsia.
Set in a luxurious villa in Italy, the novel brings together an eclectic group of characters whose philosophical musings and existential crises form the basis of Huxley’s incisive critique of modernity and culture.
The story revolves around a gathering of wealthy, educated and self-absorbed individuals, including Mrs. Aldwinkle, the owner of the villa and a patron of the arts; Calamy, a romantic aristocrat; and Chelifer, an idealistic poet grappling with his disillusionment. Each character represents a different facet of the intellectual elite, embodying both their allure and their absurdity.
Through their interactions, Huxley exposes the hollowness behind their intellectual posturing and their struggles to find meaning in a world that seems increasingly fragmented and purposeless.
Huxley’s prose is elegant and often biting, filled with sharp observations and wit that make his satire entertaining and thought-provoking. The dialogue crackles with intellectual energy, as the characters debate art, love, philosophy, and the meaning of life.
However, their conversations often reveal more about their own insecurities and contradictions than they do about the subjects they discuss. This duality — the brilliance of their intellects contrasted with the emptiness of their souls — is at the heart of Huxley’s critique.
Beneath the satire, “Those Barren Leaves” grapples with serious themes, including the decline of traditional values, the search for spiritual fulfillment, and the tension between individuality and conformity.
These themes, although specific to the post-war context of the 1920s, remain relevant today, offering a timeless exploration of humanity’s quest for meaning in an increasingly materialistic and secular world.
Yet, the novel is not without its challenges. Its focus on intellectual discourse and philosophical reflection can make it feel dense at times, and the characters, while vividly drawn, are often unsympathetic.
The author’s portrayal of their flaws is so unflinching that it may alienate readers looking for emotional resonance or traditional storytelling. However, for those who appreciate incisive social commentary and richly layered prose, “Those Barren Leaves” is a rewarding read.
Huxley’s ability to combine satire with profound philosophical inquiry elevates the novel, making it a fascinating study of the human condition. While it may not carry the dystopian weight of his later work, “Brave New World,” it offers a glimpse into the evolution of his thought and the concerns that would shape his career.
In “Those Barren Leaves,” Huxley holds up a mirror to his era’s intellectual elite, revealing their triumphs, failures, and unrelenting search for purpose. It is a novel that challenges, provokes and ultimately compels readers to reflect on the complexities of modern existence, offering critique and insight with a mastery that is uniquely Huxley.
What We Are Reading Today: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
“The Wishing Game” is a charming mix of playfulness, emotion, and nostalgia, according to PrincetonBookReview.com.
The book takes readers to the magical Clock Island, where the boundaries between made-up stories and real life are fuzzy, creating an atmosphere of whimsical fun and intrigue.
Lucy, a woman on a quest for meaning in her life, is easy to relate to and instantly likable. Her bond with Christopher, a young boy full of promise, forms the story’s heart, drawing readers in with its emotional depth.
