Sunday Reading Ritual: The family discovered and the family gained

As we all know and have experienced, a family can take many forms. As we move through life, sometimes unseen forces conspire to pull people together in ways that are unexpected and surprising, but deeply satisfying—and we’re often better for it. These stories, surfaced by Pocket users, bring new dimensions to the idea of family and where it can be found.

Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry
Elif Batuman, The New Yorker

Family relationships are fluid. Sometimes they are wonderful and at times can become strained. Japan’s Yūichi Ishii has found joy in helping others create the family and relationships they miss.

How Friendsgiving Took Over Millennial Culture
Ashley Fetters, The Atlantic

Friends are the family we choose. As Millennials have aged into adulthood, they’ve been choosing to spend their holidays with their friends. And perhaps if you really think about it, Dennis says, you could conceive of Friendsgiving as a way of bringing Thanksgiving back to its roots.

A Toy Monkey That Escaped Nazi Germany And Reunited A Family
Uri Berliner, NPR

A boy, a toy monkey, and a journey to meet an unknown family across the world. By giving up what was once a prized possession, the Berliners gained more than they could have dreamed of—a larger family.

If you live in the U.S. and are going to be getting ready for Thanksgiving and the arrival of “family,” save all of these stories to Pocket and listen to them while you do your prep work. (First, you’ll need to download Pocket if you haven’t already.)

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Pocket Family!