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Yaa Gyasi on Jane Eyre, Toni Morrison, and the Book That Made Her Laugh Out Loud

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yaa gyasi's book recommendations


Courtesy of Peter Hurley/Vilcek Foundation

Welcome to Shelf Life, ELLE.com’s books column, in which authors share their most memorable reads. Whether you’re on the hunt for a book to console you, move you profoundly, or make you laugh, consider a recommendation from the writers in our series, who, like you (since you’re here), love books. Perhaps one of their favorite titles will become one of yours, too.

Yaa Gyasi shares a few things in common with the protagonist of her second novel, Transcendent Kingdom (just out in paperback from Vintage). Both are Ghanaians who grew up in Alabama attending Pentecostal church and go on to Stanford—Gyasi as an English major; her character, Gifty, as a neuroscience PhD candidate studying reward-seeking behavior in mice, perhaps to unlock the secrets of a brother’s addiction and a mother’s depression.

The idea came after visiting her neuroscientist best friend’s lab, just as the idea for her 2016 debut novel, Homegoing, sprung from a visit to a slave castle in Ghana. The tale of eight generations descended from half sisters—one enslaved, one free—won the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award and the PEN/Hemingway Award among other accolades and has been optioned for television. Her first prize, at age seven, was a Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest honorable mention for a story she submitted called “Just Me and My Dog.”

The Brooklyn-based Gyasi (her first name means “girl born on a Thursday” in Ashanti culture; last name sounds like “Jessie”) once wanted to be a singer (she sang in church and school choirs), worked at a startup in San Francisco, lived in Berlin, and doesn’t drink coffee.

Among the most charming virtual book events, Gyasi’s with the National Writers Series last fall featured two special guest appearances: her AP English teacher and her parents (dad’s a Francophone African literature professor; mom’s a nurse) whose audience question had nothing to do with craft or process but one perhaps a lot of grown children can relate to: When are you coming home?

The book that:

…helped me through a loss:

I memorized poems from Lucille Clifton’s Good Woman one summer when I was having a particularly hard time. That book feels like the old friend who always knows exactly what to say.

…made me late:

You Are Not a Stranger Here: Stories by Adam Haslett. I was in the middle of “The Beginnings of Grief” while riding the bus to work. It’s the most beautiful, saddest story, in the most beautiful, saddest book. I spent the rest of my bus ride crying and was incredibly late.

…made me weep uncontrollably:

All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews. I finished it on New Year’s Eve of 2019, so in hindsight, to have wept my way into 2020, given all that year would bring, feels incredibly prescient. It’s an utterly gorgeous novel, both hilarious and devastating all at once.

…shaped my worldview:

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. A classic for a reason.

…I’d gift to a new graduate:

How We Get Free edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. It’s a book that shares the mission statement of the Combahee River Collective along with interviews of the founding members and contemporary activists. A great reminder of the work that has been done and the work that is ongoing.

…made me laugh out loud:

Oreo by Fran Ross. It’s so playful and strange. One of those books you read and think, Why don’t we write books like this anymore?

…I’d like turned into a Netflix show:

I’m late to the party, but I recently finished The Fifth Season, the first book of The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin and loved it. It would make a fantastic television series.

…I last bought:

Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman. A political history of ACT UP, written by someone whose work is endlessly interesting and engaging? Yes, please.

…has the best title:

Two come to mind: What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi and Head Off & Split by Nikky Finney. Two great books with titles that get stuck in my head the way song lyrics would.

…has the best opening line:

From Lisel Meuller’s “Monet Refuses the Operation” in Alive Together: “Doctor, you say there are no haloes/around the streetlights in Paris/and what I see is an aberration/caused by old age, an affliction./I tell you it has taken me all my life/to arrive at the vision of gas lamps as angels,/to soften and blur and finally banish/the edges you regret I don’t see,/to learn that the line I called the horizon/does not exist and sky and water,/so long apart, are the same state of being.”

…has the greatest ending:

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. “…if you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.” The most moving ending in all of literature.

…I’ve re-read the most:

Probably Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, just from my middle school years alone.

…features the most beautiful book jacket:

The Octopus Museum by Brenda Shaughnessy. I bought the book just based on the beauty of that jacket alone, though, luckily for me, the poems are just as gorgeous.

…I could only have discovered at ___:

I picked up Proxies by Brian Blanchfield after seeing it on a display table at McNally Jackson. I love that store, and Proxies ended up being one of my favorite reads last year.

…that holds the recipe to a favorite dish:

I’ve been making the Buttermilk Biscuits from Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat for years now. I always have a batch in my freezer. They are basically a butter-filled vehicle for butter. I could eat them every day.

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Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving

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Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving


On Wednesday night, Jennifer Lopez arrived in Los Angeles with her 13-year-old twins Max and Emme. The family was likely there to join Lopez’s boyfriend, Ben Affleck, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lopez recently returned from the much colder climate of British Columbia, Canada, where she was filming her latest project, The Mother.

J. Lo touched down in her private jet wearing a teddy fur coat from Coach’s Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, and a pair of Ugg boots. Classic airplane outfit, celebrity style. Lopez and Affleck originally dated in 2002 and broke up in 2004. Their romance was rekindled earlier this year, soon after Lopez ended her relationship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez. The new couple went official in July, while celebrating Lopez’s 52nd birthday abroad.

Affleck’s most recent relationship with Ana de Armas ended in January after about a year together. He had divorced ex-wife Jennifer Garner in 2015 after being married for almost a decade. Garner and Affleck had three daughters, Violet, Seraphina, and Sam.

Before traveling back to the U.S., Lopez posted a story to Instagram Reels about how grateful she was to be headed home.

“Hey everybody, it’s my last day here shooting on The Mother out in Smithers in the snow, it’s been beautiful, but tonight I’m on my way home,” she said, as she walked through the wild landscape in a black coat and beanie.

“I’m so excited for Thanksgiving! I hope everybody has an amazing weekend with their families and their loved ones, there’s so much to be grateful for this year. I’m on my way!”

This is the first major holiday of the year since Lopez and Affleck reunited, so it’s likely to be a big one for both families.

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Everlane’s Black Friday Sale is Packed With Winter Essentials

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everlane


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This is not a drill: Everlane just kicked off its Black Friday sale. Now through Monday, November 29, the direct-to-consumer brand is offering 20 to 40% off its cozy sweaters, minimalist activewear, and popular jeans. If you’re not super familiar with Everlane, let me spell it out for you: this is a big deal.

The e-tailer might be known for making sustainable, ethically made clothes and accessories at a fair, affordable price, but Everlane rarely has sales beyond its Choose What You Pay section. So, if you want to stock up on cute basics for less, now’s your time to shop.

And, in true Everlane fashion, the brand is taking this opportunity to give back. Everlane is partnering with Rodale Institute and help U.S. farmers transition their farmland to regenerative organic—and donating $15 per order to the cause. A great sale that gives back? I’m sold.

But, hurry! These deals are going to sell out fast, so you won’t want to waste any time filling your e-cart.

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1

The Cloud Turtleneck

$150 $105 (30% off)

Sweater weather is officially here, so why not pick up a few fresh layers? This turtleneck is the S’s: snuggly, stylish, and on sale. 

2

The Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny Jeans

everlane

$78 $58 (25% off)

Looking for a great pair of jeans, minus the markup? Everlane’s classic skinny style is not only super stretchy, but it’ll look good with everything from chunky sweaters to silky blouses.

3

The ReNew Teddy Slippers

everlane

$65 $39 (40% off)

Why limit the shearling trend to the upper half of your body? These plush slippers will give even your most worn-in sweats a stylish edge.

4

The Chunky Cardigan

everlane

$110 $77 (30% off)

Sure, this may not be the cardigan Taylor Swift was talking about. But, with an exaggerated collar and ribbed finish, this style would definitely score top marks from the singer herself. 

5

The Canvas Utility Boots

everlane

$115 $59 (40% off)

Brave the cold weather in style with Everlane’s chic boots. The canvas uppers and thick sole make these an ideal, all-weather option.

6

The Lofty-Knit Henley

everlane

$150 $105 (30% off)

Made with a nubby blend of merino wool, alpaca, and recycled nylon, this henley is perfect for a cozy night in, yet stylish enough to wear in public.

7

The Perform Bike Shorts

everlane

$45 $22 (51% off)

No, you can never have too many stretchy pants. Everlane’s bike shorts ooze major Lady Di vibes — for under $25, no less.

8

The ReLeather Court Sneakers

everlane

$110 $66 (40% off)

Made with recycled leather, these refresh sneakers will serve up major curb appeal — and Mother Nature’s seal of approval. 

9

The Field Dress

everlane

$100 $60 (40% off)

Found: a fun, flouncy frock you can wear year-round. For a wintry take, pair with opaque tights and your favorite chunky boots.

10

The Cozy-Stretch Wide-Leg Sweatpants

everlane

$150 $75 (50% off)

With a straight-legged silhouette and wool material, it’s safe to say these are the chicest sweatpants we’ve ever seen. To sweeten an already enticing offer, this pair is half off.

11

The Organic Cotton Flannel Popover

$80 $56 (30% off)

Everlane reimagined the traditional flannel with a cropped silhouette, voluminous sleeves, and a slew of minimalist colors.

12

The Studio Bag

everlane

$275 $192 (30% off)

Large enough to fit all your essentials, but not too big that it’ll weigh you down, Everlane’s Studio Bag is the perfect everyday purse.

13

The ReNew Long Liner

everlane

$158 $118 (25% off)

House Stark was right: winter really is coming. Made with recycled materials, this liner is a great layering piece that’s considerably chicer than the yesteryear’s Michelin Man-worthy parkas.

14

The Felted Merino Beanie

everlane

$50 $30 (40% off)

All set on clothes? Pick up this cheery beanie, which is 40% off its original price.

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29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

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29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy



29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

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