Happy Saturday. After a week of trauma dumping on Elmo, I’m ready for a leisurely weekend. So we’ve brought you the best of what to read and eat, plus where to go if you’re looking for a low-key ski vacation. (It’s also an opportunity to wear that mob wife-inspired jacket you impulse purchased.)
We loved “Such a Fun Age.” (We know you did, too.) Well, Kiley Reid is back — and this time, she’s taking us to college. Reid’s second novel, “Come and Get It,” is set at the University of Arkansas and splits its time between Agatha, a visiting professor who’s doing research for her new book; Millie, an RA who’s set her sights on home ownership after graduation; and Kennedy, a student who spends most of her time alone, watching dorm life happen around her. The plot is a slow and steady burn, and asks big questions about race and class. We had a few of our own big questions for Reid. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: Despite our preoccupation with money, a lot of people choose not to talk about it. But it’s front and center in “Come and Get It.” Why?
Reid: The novels and media that I enjoy most approach the world from a realistic and materialist lens; one that doesn’t shy away from highlighting real limitations that most people face. I love normal characters, people who make you say, ‘Oh I know that person,’ and most people who you know in real life are deeply connected to how much money they have. People often don’t talk about money because it forces them to confront the fact that we live in an egregiously unjust society. The truth is that we all deserve health care and nice houses and education etc etc...so with that understanding, I try to write about the current state of money exactly how it operates in the real world.
Q: You’ve previously talked about drawing on your own experiences as a nanny when writing “Such a Fun Age.” Did you do the same for “Come and Get It”?
Reid: “Come and Get It” is pure fiction, but I have shared many roles that my main characters embody. I’ve been a transfer student like Kennedy, I was an RA for one year like Millie, and I’m currently an assistant professor like Agatha. I’m never quite so inspired by my own experiences as I am by the places I’m lucky enough to visit. I spent one year in Arkansas, and I was incredibly inspired by the beauty of it. I hope that comes across loud and clear in the novel.
Q: A fair amount of eavesdropping takes place in “Come and Get It.” If given the ability to eavesdrop on one conversation from any point in history, what would you choose and why?
Reid: This is a great question. It’s difficult to pick just one. But if I had the chance, I’d have to eavesdrop on some dinosaurs. I need to know what they sounded like.
Q: What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
Reid: I recently read “Disgrace” by J.M. Coetzee, and I loved it. I love novels that can speak plainly and poetically at the same time. I love characters who make awful decisions, and I love a novel that knows how to move. This one scratched an itch that I didn’t know I had.
The Viral Pasta Dish That’s Worth the Hype
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Whoever came up with the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” obviously never got a taste of the French onion renaissance. Across the internet, people are putting their own spins on the classic soup — and serving up everything from toasts to tarts. One standout variation? Wandering Chickpea’s French Onion Pasta, which is just as savory, just as decadent, and just as comforting as the original. Not to mention, it’s all done in one pot.
The Time Commitment: One hour. But keep in mind, half of the cooking time is spent caramelizing the onions, so they get that sweet taste and melty texture — which, trust us, is worth the effort.
Wandering Chickpea’s Tip: Have a dietary restriction? You’ll be surprised by how easily this recipe can be adapted. For a vegetarian option, just replace the beef stock with vegetable stock. Or, if you’re gluten-free, swap in your favorite gluten-free pasta and flour.
Try It With: A light and bright side salad. Boring? Perhaps. But it’s perfect for cutting through all that richness.
The Colorado Ski Town With Something for Everyone — Even Non-Skiers
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If Aspen is the bougiest of bougie US ski towns, Breckenridge (aka, Breck) is its low-key cousin. It’s still got the local, laid-back vibe — but also, a vibrant bar and restaurant scene, plenty of fresh powder, and lots of activities off the slope. Plus, it’s relatively easy to reach (as in, 80 miles from Denver) and doesn’t cost a small house to visit.
🛏 Just steps from Main Street, Gravity Haus Breckenridge is a boutique hotel with a wide variety of accommodations — from bunk rooms to two-bedroom suites — plus a Japanese-style onsen for post-slope soaks. But for a true ski-in, ski-out stay, consider Grand Timber Lodge conveniently located between Peaks 8 and 9.
🎨 When you need a break from the mountain, visit the evolving Arts District, a cluster of studios, galleries, and performance spaces where you can go on a self-guided tour of the area’s public art or take classes in ceramics, glassblowing, and jewelry making. You could also see a show at Breckenridge Backstage Theatre.
🍴 Breckenridge Distillery may be known for making more than two dozen spirits with Rocky Mountain snow melt — but its restaurant also serves excellent steaks and seasonal sides. Or, grab an artisanal sourdough pie at Tin Plate Pizza. (Pro tip: Don’t miss the fresh-baked treats at its sister business Dynamite Cookies.) After that, walk over to RMU Breckenridge for live music and people watching.
Same vibes, different budget. If you’re looking for a real splurge — in which case, go you — Vail is the spot. Think five-star hotels, plenty of places to eat and shop, and sprawling, powder-covered ski runs.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you'd like answered. The winner was:
Q: An old friend recently reached out to reconnect, but I have no interest in doing so. Do I have to respond?
“If they’re manipulative, deceitful, have done something very painful, made you feel unsafe, or don’t respect your boundaries, you have every right to not respond ... Plus, no response is still a response. If they follow up, I’d wait until the end of the day, so you give it some thought and say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not in a place where I can speak with you. Give me time, and I’ll reach out when I’m ready.’ Then you’re just never ready.
[In any other scenario], you should give a response ... Again, I’d wait until the end of the day and then [respond with] a white lie. Something like, ‘Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, I have a lot on my plate right now, but I'll get in touch when I’m more free’ ... You’re not saying it’s them — because they actually haven’t done anything wrong. You’re saying it’s you ...
Now, if you happen to bump into them, it’ll be awkward if you don’t mention it, they don’t mention it, and you both know. So instead, just say, ‘Oh gosh, I owe you a text’ because sometimes people truly forget.”
Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.
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Up for a challenge? These new puzzle games are easy to get into, but tough to excel at. (Trust us, we’re still trying.) You can play alone, as a team, or competitively against your frenemies 😈. We’ll see you on the leaderboard.
Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Rasheeda Campbell, Melissa Goldberg, Alex Carr, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, and Niven McCall-Mazza
Photos by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, courtesy ofElaine Skiadas, Sean Pavone via iStock, Glenn Pettersen via iStock, skynesher via Getty Images, courtesy of Sara Jane Ho, Brand Partners
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