i love gossip
Hi!
I’ve sent out two letters this week! I promise to be more sporadic from now on, don’t worry.
Here’s what I’ve been up to:
this week’s style inspo:
Patti Cake$
what I’m clicking:
The creator of the most notorious google doc ever | Documenting the ghost in my apartment | Mario Batali’s cinnamon bun apology | The killer nanny novel that conquered France
what I’m coveting:
this weird embroidered sheer outfit from Adam Selman
what I’m watching:
You guys. I don’t really know how to say this because I don’t want to overhype it and then have you go watch it and be like “meh” but Patti Cake$ was my favorite movie of 2017. I saw subway ads for this movie and I thought they were stupid so I never went to go see it but I finally watched it on the plane and I LOVED IT. It’s one of those movies where you fall in love with all the characters and it follows a very prescribed narrative arc similar to a PG Disney film, but it is so sweet. I laughed, I cried, and when the movie was over I was really sad to say goodbye to all of my new friends.
what I’m reading:
Margaret Atwood
This book was a re-read for me and I was not sure if it would live up to my memories. It was even better the second time around. I love a good dystopian sci-fi (and I love Margaret Atwood - The Blind Assassin is one of my top 10 most favorite books, ever) and this book is perfectly executed. So many dystopia or sci-fi novels have a short shelf life, but this one is still kicking 30+ years later.
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: Yes! It’s such a quick read and it’s so creepy. There’s also a very Mike Pence vibe to the whole thing, which adds to the fear factor.
Would I read it again: Probably.
Would it be a good movie: I have been holding off on watching the TV series until I reread this but I’m so excited to dive in.
Jeannette Walls
After I read the Glass Castle, I was so excited for this sequel/prequel to come out, but somehow I never got around to reading it until now. The whole concept is pretty stupid (she writes in the first person as if she’s pretending to be her grandmother) but it totally works. This book is the kind of book that makes anything seem possible and I really wish I lived 60 years ago so I could be this woman’s friend.
Did it make me cry: No, but there are some devastating parts.
Did it make me laugh: Yes, I legit LOLed a few times.
Did it make me miss a subway stop: No.
Would I recommend it: Yes. If you’re at all interested in the Wild West or just crazy family histories, this memoir is for you.
Would I read it again: Yes.
Would it be a good movie: Oh my god it would be fantastic. Please make this movie!
Celeste Ng
I didn’t have very high hopes for this book since I thought Everything I Never Told You was completely overrated, but oh how I loved reading this book. It is the best piece of gossip I read in 2017. Reading this book feels like drinking wine with a friend while they fill you in on the most dramatic thing to ever happen in their neighborhood.
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 rich suburban gossip reads so if you’re not sick of that genre, I highly recommend it.
Would I read it again: No.
Would it be a good movie: Hmmm it’s a little too serious to be any fun to watch, but maybe if it were directed by Sofia Coppola it could at least be beautiful and mesmerizing.
Michael Ondaatje
My sister brought this with her on our trip to Sri Lanka and all of us ended up reading it. It’s short and sweet and makes you weirdly nostalgic for places you’ve never been.
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: Not unless you are really into Sri Lanka or have plans to visit.
Would I read it again: There’s this one perfect scene where the grandmother dies and I should frame it and put it on my wall.
Would it be a good movie: No, there’s no plot.
what’s on my bookshelf waiting to be read:
Anthropology of an American Girl
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
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
M Train by Patti Smith
That Patty Hearst book
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born
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.
What are you reading? (You can reply to this email and tell me)
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