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What I’m reading, watching, baking, visiting, and recommending this week.
Hello, fellow compassionistas!
Here is this week’s note where I share a few things I’m loving right now—books, movies, food, music, podcasts, and whatever else is making life better—and invite you to share yours with me as well.
Lots to share this week, so let’s get to it!
What I’m Reading: My Dickens Project Continues!
One of my goals for 2026 was to read all of the Charles Dickens’ novels I hadn’t already read in the past, and I’m thrilled to say I’m well on my way to achieving that goal—though I may need some of 2027, as his novels are so bloody long!
I’ve just finished Bleak House, which was apparently Dickens’ own favorite, though I can’t say it’s mine. I’ve certainly learned a lot about the concept of Chancery (and Lord Chancellors!), which has coincidentally come up in various ways since I started reading the book. But there just wasn’t one character I could really grab onto—someone I loved and wanted to follow. I still liked it. Just didn’t love it.
So far for my Dickens project, I’ve read Hard Times, Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and David Copperfield. David Copperfield and Oliver Twist are my favorites so far. I guess I have a soft spot for unfortunate orphans. :)
Still, I have more to go, including:
The Pickwick Papers
The Old Curiosity Shop
Barnaby Rudge
Martin Chuzzlewit
Dombey and Son
Little Dorrit
Our Mutual Friend
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
My goal this year was also to read 4 books per month, but the size of Dickens’ novels is slowing me down! Still, I aspire, and I’m also reading Wild Signs and Star Paths by Tristan Gooley (loving it!) Gooley is a natural navigator who teaches us how to read the clues around us—in the clouds, trees, plants, animals, stars, and landscape—to better understand the natural world.
I’m finding myself looking at everything a little differently when I’m outside, and I can’t wait to read more of his work.
What I’m Exploring: Cambodia
As you may or may not know, Cambodia in February 2027 is the only trip I’m hosting with World Vegan Travel next year. No other trip is on the books for me (other than a visit to England and Wales with my husband! More on that another time)! There are just two rooms left if you still fancy traveling with me. It’s going to be a fabulous trip!
In honor of that upcoming adventure, I surprised David with a visit to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The museum has a special exhibition called Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean, featuring an amazing more-than-1,000-year-old bronze sculpture of the Hindu god Vishnu reclining on the cosmic ocean. The sculpture is on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia and is an extraordinary example of ancient Khmer artistry.
We attended the opening celebration, where we were blessed by Cambodian monks and enjoyed traditional Cambodian dancers. We also spent time exploring some of the museum’s modern and contemporary exhibitions.
What a beautiful way to get even more excited about Cambodia!
What We’re Watching: Everything Northern Ireland
David and I have a habit of choosing a subject and going deep. And I mean deep. Over the last couple of months, we’ve been immersing ourselves in the history of Northern Ireland and the Troubles—listening to podcast series, watching documentaries, and following those up with feature films and television dramas.
The two podcasts we listen to most are The Rest Is History and Empire, both of which have some excellent episodes exploring Irish history and the complicated political, religious, and social forces that shaped the conflict.
As for what we’ve been watching, here are some recommendations:
DOCUMENTARIES
Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland (2023)
An extraordinary documentary series that tells the story of the Troubles through the personal experiences of people who lived through them. Really powerful, heartbreaking, and illuminating.
Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History (2019)
An investigative documentary series that explores the hidden history of the conflict, including intelligence operations, informants, and the complicated relationships between paramilitary organizations and British security forces.
FEATURE FILMS & DRAMAS
Omagh (2004)
A moving drama about the aftermath of the 1998 Omagh bombing and the families seeking answers and justice.
‘71 (2014)
An enthralling thriller about a young British soldier who becomes separated from his unit during a riot in Belfast in 1971. This one was really good. We gave it a 9 out of 10.
Say Nothing (2024)
A drama series based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s book of the same name, exploring the Troubles through the lives of people involved in the IRA and the disappearance of Jean McConville. It’s definitely worth watching, though we felt it was more highly rated than it deserved. Good, yes. Amazing? Not quite, at least for us.
Have you watched any of these? Or do you have others to recommend?
What I’m Baking: Autumn Is Here, and the Oven Gloves Are Out!
I LOVE baking this time of year, and the oven gloves have officially come out! Is it inspired by the return of The Great British Bake Off? Or is it the sumptuous autumn air Probably both. But you will find me in the kitchen more this time of year (and into the winter) than any other.
🎂 David’s Birthday Cake
I don’t know why I have no people photos from David’s birthday celebration at our home, but I do have photos of some of the food! I do not fancy myself a cake decorator at all, but I’m pretty proud of this year’s birthday cake—chocolate, of course—and the edible flowers. I bought the flowers and then stuck them on. That’s the extent of my decorating expertise. LOL. But I’m pretty happy with the result! (Just don’t look too closely at the uneven frosting.)
Focaccia and Mushroom-Pecan Burgers
I also can’t stop baking focaccia. And this time, I used it to make the “mini buns” for my—dare I say so myself—DEEEELICIOUS Mushroom-Pecan Burgers. (The burger recipe is available in The Vegan Table and in my Burgers and Buns on-demand cooking class.) It’s so annoying that most commercially available mini buns are brioche and thus made with animal products. So I decided to bake a focaccia, split it down the middle, and use that as my bun. Couldn’t have been more delicious!
Homemade Pretzels for Oktoberfest
I also couldn’t resist baking a batch of homemade pretzels from The Joy of Vegan Baking for our neighborhood Oktoberfest hangout. They went fast!
What I’m Loving: A Hairball Remedy That Actually Works!
Our beautiful baby girl Michiko (the most perfect cat in the world) has always tended toward hairballs. Some remedies have worked. Some have not. But I don’t give up!
And thank goodness, because after much trial and error and persistence, I’ve finally found something that’s working for now. She loves it, and so do we! (Well, not to eat, obviously, but we love seeing the results!)
The difference with this one is that it’s not just a lubricant. It also contains fiber, which helps move swallowed fur through the digestive tract so it can come out the end it’s supposed to come out. So I wanted to share this with my fellow cat people in case you’re dealing with the same thing. And anything that makes Michiko happier makes us happier. ❤️
That’s it for this week! As always, I’d love to hear what you’re reading, watching, cooking, baking, or discovering these days. Leave a comment and share!
And thank you for being here. ❤️
My Favorite Supplements
Even with a nutrient-rich plant-based diet, we can thrive even more with thoughtful support.
That’s where Complement comes in. I take Complement Essential as my daily multivitamin for B12, D3, iodine, zinc, and magnesium; Omega Complex for essential fats; and as part of my strength-training and muscle-building routine, I fuel up with their clean Organic Protein.
With Complement and my nutrient-rich diet, I have everything I need to fuel my body, support my strength, and thrive so I can do my work in the world for animals—both human and non-human.
Get 15% off everything you order—every time you order—with the code JOYFULVEGAN.
Additional Resources
👉 Connect with me 1:1 — Get personalized guidance on whatever you’re working toward. (One one-on-one session is also a perk of the Founding Member/VIP level here on Substack.)
👉 Read A Year of Compassion — Daily inspiration to help you live with intention, kindness, and clarity.
👉 Explore My Recipe E-Books and On-Demand Cooking Classes — Find inspiration for your next delicious plant-based meal.
👉 Travel the World Vegan Style! I’ve partnered with World Vegan Travel to bring you luxury, all-inclusive vegan trips around the globe. Whether I’m personally hosting or not, every itinerary is curated for a high-quality, premium experience. Check out upcoming trips, and please remember when booking to mention that you heard about them from COLLEEN PATRICK-GOUDREAU. 😊