dear diary
Hello, here’s some stuff:
this week’s style inspo:
this cat in a bath
what I’m clicking:
A surreal video of New York City in 1911 | The first female president | Every place is a Starbucks | Beychella and the end of respectability politics | How your own DNA can frame you for murder | Amber alerts in Navajo Nation | I love a good cult story |A definitive guide to the Who-niverse | A chronology of a youtube beef between literally the most disturbing children I can possibly image
what I’m coveting:
what I’m writing about:
Riding the rails in South Africa
what I’m reading:
Sandy Tolan
I picked up this book because I’m going to Jordan on Monday and I felt like I needed an Israel/Palestine refresher course. It’s a heartbreaking and beautiful story (of the lemon tree, not of Israel/Palestine), but the writing just didn’t do it for me. My two biggest critiques of this book are 1) there are too many (unnecessary) characters who are named, even though they’re mentioned once or twice and 2) there’s no fucking glossary. I found myself looking at a lot of Wikipedia pages of religious zealots.
Did it make me cry: No.
Did it make me laugh: No.
Did it make me miss a subway stop: No.
Would I recommend it: It’s one of those books that should definitely be required reading, I just wish it had been a bit more acessible. It just felt like reading a timeline of Israel/Palestine from 1930s to the present and it assumed A LOT of prior knowledge on behalf of the reader, which was annoying. There are like 19 brands of Zionism in this book and not a single sentence explaining the difference between them.
Would I read it again: Ugh, yes. It felt a bit like homework this time around, but maybe on the second reading it would be more engrossing.
Would it be a good movie: Not unless you’re a fan of Ken Burns.
Madeleine L’Engle
I decided to reread this book because the movie came out but honestly, after rereading it, I have no interest in seeing the movie.
Did it make me cry: No.
Did it make me laugh: No.
Did it make me miss a subway stop: No.
Would I recommend it: Trust me, this is a book that does not hold up once you’re past age 10. Pick up a David Mitchell book instead.
Would I read it again: No.
Would it be a good movie: The only way this could possibly be good is if it were starring Oprah and directed by Ava DuVernay, but I still don’t want to find out.
Sally Rooney
This was the first pick for bookclub and it was perfect. Not to say that it’s a perfect book, but we had a lof of fun talking shit about the characters. It’s one of those books that just feels really believable, and we’re all convinced it’s not actually fiction.
Did it make me cry: No.
Did it make me laugh: Yes!
Did it make me miss a subway stop: No.
Would I recommend it: Despite the cover, it’s not quite a beach read, but it’s fun and quick and also somehow a page-turner even though nothing really happens.
Would I read it again: No.
Would it be a good movie: I think it would be a great movie - mostly because all the chapters are little scenes and the dialogue is pretty spot-on. Plus, the setting would be fun.
what I’m reading right now
Next up for book club is: An American Marriage. I’m also still reading Game of Thrones (it’s gonna be awhile).
the best book I read in…
March: History of Wolves
February: Homesick for Another World
January: Anthropology of an American Girl
what’s on my bookshelf waiting to be read:
We Were Eight Years in Power
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born
what books are on my list to buy (this will take me months to actually do):
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
M Train by Patti Smith
That Patty Hearst book
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
I Love Dick (which is being made into a TV show by Jill Soloway!)
After interviewing Helen Ellis, I added a few books from her “classic trashy” book club to my list.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
Stranger Things Happen
What are you reading? (You can reply to this email and tell me)
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