ISABEL & I

IN THE BOX:

a time capsule

To kick off 2025, my friend Isabel and I thought it would be fun to share a bit of our interior life — the content we’ve consumed and shared with each other.

on fiction:

V: “there’s been research that’s found a correlation between reading fiction and more empathy…”

I: Yes, this is the main explicit benefit of fiction haha. And it’s funny that men don’t read fiction usually. 

V: i don’t see how fiction accomplishes more than reading on another human being though

I: Hm I guess it takes it further bc you have to use ur imagination. To emphathize with something that doesn’t exist. Or someone* And I think fiction allows more creativity so you can learn to empathize with characters that don’t have realistic lives?

V: i love that you tear into fiction. i think i don’t lose myself in fiction as easily as before

Station Eleven

Yellowface

V: wait did i recommend yellowface already, so good

I: Okay I’ll give her another chance.

I: Also I started reading yellowface. I rlly like it — the plot seems rlly unique. 

I: “‘Write something else!” she’d complain. “No one wants another feel-good immigratn story. Boohoo, did they think your lunch smelled bad? Did they make fun of your eyes? God, I’ve read it all before. There’s no originality.”’

I: I’m 25% done with yellowface! June’s character annoys me — I’m excited to see if she gets into some stuff

I: I finished yellowface. It was an interesting book tbh, despite it having very little plot. Which is very hard to achieve. The ending did feel a little underwhelming.

Flowers for Algernon

I: I also liked flowers for algernon but it’s kind of a slow burn at some times. I feel like every book I’ve read there’s parts I don’t like.

on self-help:

Last Lecture

V: i’m reading the last lecture now also good

I: Oo I read that in college!!

Dance of Anger

V: “One common “solution” or “division of labor” that couples unconsciously arrange is that the woman will express the wish for “togetherness”; the man, the wish for “separateness.” i’m reading dance of anger it’s interesting

V: okay so recently i finished the book dance of anger. and it works well if you want to put up a boundary. you just say “wow that does suck im sorry you feel that way” and then it immediately alleviates whatever emotional burden they placed. “your feelings are no one’s fault except your own”

on short stories:

“The Yellow Wall-Paper”

on TV shows:

“One Day”

I: I re-binged this show. Highly recommend. It made me feel better. 

“Nobody Wants This”

V: did i tell you about nobody wants this. great show about communication

I: Oh it’s Kristen bell. For some reason I don’t like her but I will try.

V: oh me neither but it’s SOO GOOD

on movies:

Monte Carlo

I: have you seen monte carlo?