Welcome to Curated & Saved, a personal collection of things I’m loving right now.
Currently Consuming
Reading: Dispersals, Jessica J. Lee
As it finally feels like we’re are solidly in the throws of Spring, it feels appropriate I finished Dispersals this week. Taking the form of a collection of essays Lee charts the migration of both plants and people, alongside her own personal connections to the natural world, immigration, and cultural upbringing. This is a really beautiful book of narrative non-fiction, delving into the history behind plants such as soybeans, cherry blossoms, tea, and seaweed, who’s movements across borders chart the legacy of colonialism and what is considered ‘native’ and ‘invasive’. I’m always amazed at how Lee weaves both a poetic tone to her writing with elements of academic research. Her last essay on Heather juxtaposed alongside her journey through her pregnancy honestly brought tears to my eyes.
Watching: What happened to JacksGap?
If you spent any time online in the early to mid-2000s, it was almost impossible to miss JacksGap. British twins Jack and Finn Harries were everywhere on YouTube—alongside names like Zoella, Alfie Deyes, and Dan & Phil, they helped define that early creator era. In this video, Jack looks back on that whirlwind: the meteoric rise of their channel, Finn’s decision to step away, the impact it had on Jack’s own path, and his eventual shift toward climate advocacy.
While I wasn’t fully caught up in the parasocial buzz surrounding the Harries twins, so many of the cultural moments Jack recalls feel deeply familiar. It’s also a compelling look at the evolution of early influencers—how they grew up in public, and how many are now renegotiating their relationship with social media in this new age.
Listening to: CosmicRX Radio & Astrology of the Week Ahead
Call it “written in the stars,” or call it the low-key existential crisis that comes with being just over a week away from my birthday—but either way, I’ve been finding my way back to astrology. I think I stepped away from the practice sometime in 2020. With everything going on in my personal life, the idea of looking ahead felt too overwhelming.
These two podcasts have been incredibly grounding as I take tentative steps back into it all. Thoughtful, insightful, and strangely comforting - like easing back into a language I used to speak fluently. If this all feels a bit of a woo-woo recommendation, I’d recommend starting with Cosmic RX’s and listen in on the segment called ‘If Astrology Isn’t Real…’.
The Long Form
Who’s Afraid of Gender (A Guide To Judith Butler), PhilosophyTube
The recent Supreme Court ruling in the UK is playing heavy on my mind this week and it’s times like these I feel it more important then ever to listen to the voices of the actual people court rulings will affect. In that spirit I wanted to pull out this video from Abigail Thorn at PhilosophyTube, delving into the work of American philosopher, Judith Butler, their work on gender performativity, and the argument that gender is not biologically determined but socially constructed. It’s a fascinating video especially in the context of the recent ruling and worth taking time to sit with and actually consciously consume.
The Backlist
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series, Juno Dawson
In the spirit of amplifying the voices of trans women (especially during times when their identities and rights are so often debated or politicised) it’s just as important to support their work outside the realm of activism. We should be listening to their stories not only when they’re speaking on trans issues, but also when they’re creating, entertaining, and sharing their unique perspectives on life, culture, and identity in all its forms.
This week’s backlist recommendation is the HMRC series by Juno Dawson. These books aren’t just hugely enjoyable, they also remind us that trans authors belong in every corner of literature, not just the so-called “issue-driven” spaces. And I adore this series. Set in a world where the government secretly regulates all things magical, the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series follows a group of childhood friends (now powerful witches) who are forced to confront a dangerous prophecy that threatens everything they know. Dawson once described the vibes of this book a magical blend of the Spice Girls meets The Craft. Now, I don’t know about you but that’s a hell of a comp!
The first two books of the series (HMRC and The Shadow Cabinet) are out now, plus a companion prequel novella Queen B. And the series comes to a dramatic end in July with Human Rites.
On The Wish List
Tantrum Doughnuts
A slightly frivolous and very specific wish list item and recommendation, but if you ever find yourself in Glasgow (as I did this last weekend), do yourself a favour and make a pitstop at Tantrum Doughnuts. We got the tip from my partner’s colleague, and it was enthusiastically seconded by an old friend of mine. Safe to say: it lived up to the hype. I can personally vouch for the Salted Honey Ring, but let’s be real I could’ve ordered the entire menu and it would’ve all been great! I am ever so sad there’s not a branch in London and so I will just wistfully paw at the pictures online (drooling) for now.
Thanks for checking out this week’s Curated & Saved! I’d love to hear what resonated with you, or if you’ve got any hidden gems to share.