Lauren Alwan
@laurenalwan.bsky.social
fiction/essays • O.Henry Prize Stories • novel in progress • Notable BAE • WTAW Press board • laurenalwan.com
The little olive tree sends peace this December morning. #FlowerReport
December 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The little olive tree sends peace this December morning. #FlowerReport
“…she has gathered that Americans, in spite of their public declarations of affection, in spite of their miniskirts and bikinis, in spite of their hand-holding on the street and lying on top of each other on the Cambridge Common, prefer their privacy.” Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake #SundaySentence
December 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
“…she has gathered that Americans, in spite of their public declarations of affection, in spite of their miniskirts and bikinis, in spite of their hand-holding on the street and lying on top of each other on the Cambridge Common, prefer their privacy.” Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake #SundaySentence
Holly berries have arrived in Northern California ✨ #flowerreport
November 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Holly berries have arrived in Northern California ✨ #flowerreport
Agave in bloom. One of the taller ones I’ve seen, easily 15 feet. #flowerreport #california
November 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Agave in bloom. One of the taller ones I’ve seen, easily 15 feet. #flowerreport #california
So happy to see these fall blueberries 💙 #FlowerReport #California
November 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
So happy to see these fall blueberries 💙 #FlowerReport #California
“Red grit in her slippers, yellow-gray evening in her hair, shrieking birds, darkening tombs, Sonia fell into her own depression and thought that this, here, was the end of love, surely.” Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
November 2, 2025 at 6:07 PM
“Red grit in her slippers, yellow-gray evening in her hair, shrieking birds, darkening tombs, Sonia fell into her own depression and thought that this, here, was the end of love, surely.” Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
A Halloween #flowerreport from Barcelona—the eerie but beautiful metalwork holly on the columns outside Sagrada Familia.
October 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A Halloween #flowerreport from Barcelona—the eerie but beautiful metalwork holly on the columns outside Sagrada Familia.
SF Bay Area, the ICE scourge arrives 10/23. We need to protect our communities and keep our neighbors safe.
October 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
SF Bay Area, the ICE scourge arrives 10/23. We need to protect our communities and keep our neighbors safe.
nbd, just skulking around the breakfast bar at our hotel in Lisbon ✨
October 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM
nbd, just skulking around the breakfast bar at our hotel in Lisbon ✨
An unconventional #flowerreport from Portugal—this blossom-and-vine-entwined chandelier from the Palacio Nationale da Pena in Sintra ✨
October 19, 2025 at 10:23 AM
An unconventional #flowerreport from Portugal—this blossom-and-vine-entwined chandelier from the Palacio Nationale da Pena in Sintra ✨
“Whenever he walked up the creaking mast of stairs to their seagull’s nest apartment, he was surprised anew by Ulla’s elfin beauty, by the pine floors, by the white Ikea couch, by the Western lightness and comfort that was, apparently, his.
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
October 19, 2025 at 10:17 AM
“Whenever he walked up the creaking mast of stairs to their seagull’s nest apartment, he was surprised anew by Ulla’s elfin beauty, by the pine floors, by the white Ikea couch, by the Western lightness and comfort that was, apparently, his.
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
—Kiran Desai #SundaySentence
West of Barcelona near Les Borges Blanques. Spain and California are twin landscapes—except for the castles.
October 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
West of Barcelona near Les Borges Blanques. Spain and California are twin landscapes—except for the castles.
“It was essential to remain close to those who had caused you harm so that the ghost of guilt might breathe through their dreams, that their guilt might slowly mature to its fullest potential.” Kiran Desai, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, #SundaySentence
September 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
“It was essential to remain close to those who had caused you harm so that the ghost of guilt might breathe through their dreams, that their guilt might slowly mature to its fullest potential.” Kiran Desai, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, #SundaySentence
New crop of autumn raspberries. These canes produce in early summer and again in fall ✨. #flowerreport #california
September 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
New crop of autumn raspberries. These canes produce in early summer and again in fall ✨. #flowerreport #california
The year I painted this watercolor portrait of place, the internet was an obscure DOS platform, artists still documented their work in 35 mm slides, and Altadena (at center), was a sleepy hamlet untouched by fire.
September 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The year I painted this watercolor portrait of place, the internet was an obscure DOS platform, artists still documented their work in 35 mm slides, and Altadena (at center), was a sleepy hamlet untouched by fire.
Nostalgia for my failed piano lessons was a major reason I bought this book lol
September 6, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Nostalgia for my failed piano lessons was a major reason I bought this book lol
From a series of still life drawings where objects morphed into figures lol
September 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
From a series of still life drawings where objects morphed into figures lol
My grandmother’s house burned in the Eaton fire but I have this drawing of the view of the garden from the living room.
September 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
My grandmother’s house burned in the Eaton fire but I have this drawing of the view of the garden from the living room.
“With his inky fingers and his bitten nails, his manner cynical and nervous, anybody could tell he didn’t belong—belong to the early summer sun, the cool Whitsun wind off the sea, the holiday crowd.” Graham Greene #SundaySentence
August 31, 2025 at 6:10 PM
“With his inky fingers and his bitten nails, his manner cynical and nervous, anybody could tell he didn’t belong—belong to the early summer sun, the cool Whitsun wind off the sea, the holiday crowd.” Graham Greene #SundaySentence
Today’s geography lesson.
August 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Today’s geography lesson.
I’ve been cataloging decades of paintings and drawings hoping to find new homes for them. If you’re interested in seeing what’s available, free for cost of shipping, I’ll be posting a link to the catalog in my next newsletter. Sign up for details at eepurl.com/jfllpo
August 25, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I’ve been cataloging decades of paintings and drawings hoping to find new homes for them. If you’re interested in seeing what’s available, free for cost of shipping, I’ll be posting a link to the catalog in my next newsletter. Sign up for details at eepurl.com/jfllpo
“I came into the world with a skin that wasn’t quite white, but as I grew up, it thickened; in a Depression-era Jewish neighborhood that bordered the Irish and Italian, it had to.”
—Joshua Cohen, The Netanyahus #SundaySentence
—Joshua Cohen, The Netanyahus #SundaySentence
August 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“I came into the world with a skin that wasn’t quite white, but as I grew up, it thickened; in a Depression-era Jewish neighborhood that bordered the Irish and Italian, it had to.”
—Joshua Cohen, The Netanyahus #SundaySentence
—Joshua Cohen, The Netanyahus #SundaySentence
Fuji apples on the espalliered tree (each branch has a different variety) #flowerreport #california
August 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Fuji apples on the espalliered tree (each branch has a different variety) #flowerreport #california
wallpaper that’s strangely calming
August 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
wallpaper that’s strangely calming
Wild thistle, Davenport Beach, Santa Cruz. The interior of the stem is edible and tastes like sweet celery. #FlowerReport #california
August 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Wild thistle, Davenport Beach, Santa Cruz. The interior of the stem is edible and tastes like sweet celery. #FlowerReport #california