The Morning: The Joy of Stoop Books

Plus, Beyoncé's country hit and the latest on Alabama's I.V.F. ruling.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 24, 2024 Good morning. Today, my colleague Sam Dolnick writes about the delightful experience of realizing that one person's trash actually is your own personal treasure. I'll be back next Saturday. — Melissa Kirsch By Sam Dolnick We're also covering Beyoncé, Russian sanctions and Israel. María Jesús Contreras Discarded gems My life, like yours, I suspect, can feel like it has been ingeniously designed for the sole purpose of strangling serendipity. Work days are built around back-to-back meetings and video calls; evenings revolve around children's bedtimes; date nights have to be scheduled weeks in advance; even phone calls to catch up with friends can take multiple rounds of back-and-forth coordination by text. I have found a secret antidote to all that structure, a magic portal that has no clock or key. It is a neighborhood stoop, or rather, the discarded books that gather there. For you, maybe that translates into a bargain bin or a giveaway pile; wherever you can find books that are weathered, dog-eared and inscribed to someone else. They call out to me like porch lights to a bug. Why do I love other people's books? Because they carry no obligation and no expectations, unlike that novel weighing down my night stand, from a friend who insisted that I love it. Or that other one, that won an award I should care about. Or the one I've been halfway through for a year. If you're not on guard, your free time can easily become someone else's. Found books, meanwhile, are blissfully dislocated from any hint of duty or "discourse." They are deserted islands. Population: one. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I purchased two well-reviewed books that had long been on my reading list. That evening, while walking the dog, I found a Saul Bellow novel from 1982 sitting on a stoop. I had never heard of it, and the cover had an unappetizing illustration of a bald man's forehead, but I scooped up "The Dean's December" like I had won the lottery. Later that night, as I stayed up reading Bellow on communist Romania (why not!), I beamed while my carefully considered new purchases lay untouched in my bag. I delighted in each yellowed sentence: "The meat tasted of fire and suggested sacrifice. It carried a creaturely flavor; the smell of the stall, of the hide, was still there, and he had to suppress the unwanted feeling of animal intimacy that it gave him." So great! Isn't it? Or am I too smitten to see straight? Am I predetermined to love stoop books inordinately because of my gratitude for the kismet? Did Ann Beattie write one of the greatest novels of all time in 1976, or do I love "Chilly Scenes of Winter" because I found it by a fireplace in an old ski house? Is Vikram Chandra's Indian gangster epic the richest thriller ever conceived, or do I adore "Sacred Games" because I discovered it in someone else's guest room? My quest for gems hidden in plain sight makes me slow down as I walk the dog at night, exploring ordinary blocks that might otherwise pass in a blur. It has sparked my curiosity — a Spanish translation of Nicholas Nickleby? Huh! — and reliably rewarded me for it. Serendipity can be hard to summon, but when you manage to find it — on a stoop or anywhere else — pause to appreciate the alchemy taking place: humdrum artifacts start to glow, as the dutiful melts away. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet. Chantal Anderson for The New York Times Ahead of the release of "Dune: Part 2" next month, the actor Timothée Chalamet and the director Denis Villeneuve discussed their creative dynamic, and how they use French as their "second secret language." (They avoided commenting on the viral Dune popcorn bucket.) Zelda Williams, daughter of the actor Robin Williams, spoke to The Times about making her feature filmmaking debut with the comedy "Lisa Frankenstein." A group of directors that includes Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg bought the Village Theater in Los Angeles. George Santos sued Jimmy Kimmel, accusing Kimmel of using a fake identity to request videos from Santos on the celebrity video-sharing app Cameo, The Washington Post reports. Music Beyoncé became the first Black woman to reach No. 1 on Billboard's country chart with her song "Texas Hold 'Em." (You can listen to the song here.) The trial of three men accused of stealing notes that contained early lyrics to Eagles songs, including "Hotel California," began in Manhattan. Online "Madame Web," Sony's latest addition to the Spider-Man franchise, was panned by critics. The internet is obsessed with it. "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," a decade-old mobile game from the reality TV star, will close in April, The Wall Street Journal reports. "I'm in mourning," one fan said. A 50-part, nearly eight-hour series of TikTok videos in which a woman recounted her short-lived marriage to a "pathological liar" garnered millions of views, The Washington Post reports. Other Big Stories London Fashion Week turned 40 this month. See what people were wearing outside of the shows. The Metropolitan Opera announced the lineup for its 2024-25 season, which includes new stagings of Verdi's "Aida" and Strauss's "Salome." Read five highlights. Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman series, is auctioning original comic book art and collectibles. Ameen Sayani, a pioneering Indian radio presenter who was one of the first voices heard on the airwaves in Asia, died at 91. Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo and captivated the public as a free bird for more than a year, died after apparently hitting a Manhattan building. He was 13. THE LATEST NEWS War in Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers fired a howitzer at Russian targets last week. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times The U.S. imposed its most extensive package of sanctions on Russia since the war in Ukraine started, including on Russian government officials tied to Aleksei Navalny's death. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, visited Ukraine to mark the war's second anniversary and pressure House Republicans to pass more aid. Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, endorsed Sweden's bid to join NATO after it agreed to give Hungary more fighter jets, ending a 19-month blockade. Other Big Stories Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, proposed retaining indefinite military control of Gaza after the war ends. Palestinians denounced his plan. A Manhattan jury found Wayne LaPierre, the N.R.A.'s former leader, liable for misspending charitable funds and ordered him to pay back more than $4 million. Many Republicans are distancing themselves from an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children. Donald Trump said that in vitro fertilization should be legal, and Alabama lawmakers are weighing legislation to protect it. The U.S. government said it considered new Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Palestinian territory that Israel occupies, to be illegal under international law. Odysseus, the first private spacecraft to land on the moon, has toppled over but remains functional. Discover more of the insight you value in The Morning. The Times is filled with information and inspiration every day. So gain unlimited access to everything we offer — and save with this introductory offer. CULTURE CALENDAR By Andrew LaVallee Arts & Leisure Editor 🏆 Precursor bonanza (Saturday and Sunday): The Academy Awards ceremony is March 10, but if you're trying to win your office pool or are just an awards-show nerd, this is a weekend to watch. The Screen Actors Guild (aka SAG) Awards are streaming on Netflix Saturday, followed by the Film Independent Spirit (streaming on YouTube) and Producers Guild awards on Sunday. Since so many Oscar contenders are also up for these so-called precursor awards, you'll get a sense of the front-runners and can bet accordingly. 📺 "Shogun" (Tuesday): The first two episodes of this 10-part series are set to air next week, so we'll soon know what a TV show in the works for over a decade looks like. Anything to fill the "True Detective: Night Country" hole in our hearts! Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECIPE OF THE WEEK Sang an for The New York Times By Melissa Clark San Francisco-Style Vietnamese American Garlic Noodles How much garlic is too much? The answer depends on your adoration for Allium sativum, the garlic species, and mine runs very deep. Naturally I'm happy to make J. Kenji López-Alt's excellent San Francisco-style Vietnamese American garlic noodles. A pungent paste made from 20 cloves is cooked in butter, which mellows it quite a bit, while oyster, fish and soy sauces add a complex, savory depth. (Watch Kenji make the dish on YouTube.) REAL ESTATE Chip Roberts and Debbi Calton-Roberts in Hudson, N.Y. Tony Cenicola/The New York Times The hunt: A couple wanted a place in upstate New York with space for art supplies, music gear and chickens. Which home did they choose? Play our game. What you get for $300,000: A 1920 two-bedroom cottage in New Braunfels, Texas; a one-bedroom condominium in Atlanta; or a 1925 Craftsman bungalow in Omaha. LIVING Getty Images "Unexpected red": A viral TikTok theory offers a cure for a drab living room. Hello, doily! Young designers are giving lace, a fabric that evokes images of quaint cottage curtains or a grandmother's bridal veil, a fresh look. Travel smart: How to pack for a two-week trip with just one small suitcase. Sweating Buckets: Saunas in ​Minnesota, part of a tradition with roots in the 1800s, have ​become especially popular as more people seek a ​shared, communal experience. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Get a head start on spring planting Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get ahead on your planting, and to spend way less money than you would buying full-grown plants come spring. You'll need a light source that's strong enough to nurture baby seedlings through their first stages of life. But don't be fooled by fancy packaging. After growing hundreds of seedlings in my living room, I can attest that standard LED shop lights (yes, the $20 ones you see in dingy basements or garages) are just as good as pricey grow lights. — Sebastian Compagnucci GAME OF THE WEEK Emanuel Sharp David J. Phillip/Associated Press No. 2 Houston vs. No. 11 Baylor, men's college basketball: What's that saying about an unstoppable force and an immovable object? Baylor's offense is among the best in the country, while Houston has the No. 1 defense by a wide margin. The N.C.A.A. tournament is less than a month away; you might consider penciling in the winner of this one for a deep run in your bracket. Today at 12 p.m. Eastern on CBS. More on sports The Athletic's Bubble Watch series breaks down which college basketball teams have a shot at making it to March Madness, for both the women's field and the men's field. After spring training in the Coachella Valley, the M.L.S. season began this week. Here are five story lines to watch, including Lionel Messi's first full season with Miami. Season six of "Drive to Survive," Netflix's hit Formula 1 documentary series, is now streaming. Oddly, it overlooks Max Verstappen's dominant year. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was workload. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week's headlines. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Correction: Yesterday's newsletter misidentified Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, as a goddess. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018