It’s New Year’s Eve eve, and you’ve found yourself looking at Five Great Reads, a newsletter where we pull together a daily reading list to keep you going through the summer. And by “we” I mean me, Alyx Gorman, lifestyle editor of Guardian Australia.
“But hang on, aren’t newsletters meant to appear in my email inbox?” I hear you ask. Yes, that’s exactly where they’re meant to appear, so if you’re reading this some other way and would like to read it as an email, just pop your address in the box below.
Australia is not exactly gearing up for a huge party to see out 2021, though, given the year that saved its highest Covid case numbers for last. How high? Well, Doherty Institute modelling is saying we could get to 100,000 daily cases within weeks. So there’s that.
But at least we have rapid antigen tests to help us make informed decisions now – oh wait, they’ve doubled in price. Rats!
Meanwhile queues at PCR testing clinics are so long, and results come so slowly, many potentially Covid-positive people have not been able to get their status confirmed.
With that deeply grim blast of Covid news out of the way, let’s get on to something less infectious.
1. Guardian Australia readers throw a YouTube party
Here’s a round up of the funniest things on the internet, as chosen by you, in 2021.
Why should I look at this? It will make you feel better.
How? It features mean bird names, scary snowmen and a mysterious and terrifying baked good.
2. When ‘which actor would play you?’ isn’t hypothetical
It can be surreal and a bit awful, actually, when your life story ends up on TV – as these writers who’ve had their memoirs adapted for the screen are willing to share.
Notable quote: “It would be a lie to say that I can completely depersonalise it,” Dolly Alderton admits. “There were certainly moments in the process of hashing out stories where I realised that when I was defending Maggie [her on screen character], I was actually defending myself.”
How long will it take to read? About three minutes.
3. A swamp that does not need draining
Not just known for the Big Merino anymore, the NSW town of Goulburn now has a thriving wetland re-wilding project, as Nigel Featherstone tells in this lovely story.
No-context concluding sentence: “Thank you,” beam the dog walkers. “We appreciate it so very much.”
4. Resolutions: the reading list
Cultural historian Anna Katharina Schaffner picks her top 10 books on bettering oneself.
But I hate self help. Then this is for you: The Secret does not make the cut here; Dante does.
How long will it take me to read? About three minutes. The books will take a little longer, but no one said change comes quickly.
5. The ingredients of the year
From the most delicious variety of turnip, to a flower that packs a peppery punch, 19 chefs, growers and food writers share their favourite culinary components of 2021.
What’s in it for me? It’s a long read (about 10 minutes or so) but it will make you a better home cook. I should know. After I edited it, I immediately tweaked my grocery list.
What else is in it for me? You get to share your favourite ingredient at the end. Fun!
