So what's next?
Hello World.
I acknowledge that this is an incredibly privileged thing to say, but: it’s a very exciting time to be alive. Remember to be present and learn everything you can. Get inspired, channel your rage, keep a journal, adopt a mutt, paint your house, take pictures, read your horoscope, write a book, shoot the moon, M A K E A R T. We’ll be telling future generations about this (assuming the earth is still around by then) so mark your place in history.
*If you’re feeling helpless and angry, I made a shareable google doc of things you can do and links you can look at and events you can attend and petitions you can sign*
Some admin stuff:
I’m going to start sending these once a week on Wednesday mornings, even if I don’t have a bunch of books to add. It will make it so you always know where to find it and the shorter letters will be easier to read.
Make sure to add the “from” address to your contacts so these emails wind up in your inbox and not spam/promotions. I’ll also be posting on Instagram (and facebook & twitter) when I send out a new letter. You can see all of my previous emails in the archive (book review website coming February 2017… maybe).
What I’m clicking:
The definitive superfood ranking | This article in the NEW YORK TIMES STYLE SECTION by somebody named TEDDY about the advent of TINYLETTERS. I might have to challenge him to a duel | Basically every feature in the latest Travel Issue of T Magazine is worth looking at. I read it in analog, but this story about naked Germans made me smile | Also this fashion story by my idol has amazing photographs | Thank god for Joe Biden memes | The legendary Annie Leibovitz | [Shameless self-promotion] I also did a little interview with Quarterlane for their Nightstand Series
What I’m watching:
Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton covering Leonard Cohen on SNL.
Westworld is still amazing but has begun haunting my dreams. Last week I woke up in the middle of the night and I was like “I KNOW WHO ARNOLD IS.”I hope everything wraps up nicely, but I have mixed feelings about the show being renewed for a second season.
I’ve given up on Sarah Jessica Parker and Divorce because I can’t seem to figure out the plot and I haven’t laughed since the first episode. There are too many books in the world to settle for less-than-amazing TV.
What I’m hanging on my wall:
My friend Isabel Bacon has launched her website. I have a nice framed original from her first show and I was lucky enough to get some prints too!
What I’m reading:
Here are the books I read this week, in order from least best to best.
The Most Dangerous Place on Earth
Lindsey Lee Johnson
I think there’s a matrix to being a successful writer. You don’t necessarily have to meet every requirement (even ¾ will get your pretty far) but there are 4 main qualities you need to have in a standard successful book:
(Great writing | Interesting story | Unique perspective | Great editing). This book did not meet a single requirement. It’s a dumbed-down, sexed-up and totally unbelievable version of The Breakfast Club (but I almost feel bad making that comparison. John Hughes, you do not deserve that). This book is completely unremarkable in every way. Who cares that this woman used to be a teacher in Marin County? I'm sorry that she wrote this and I'm sorry that at some point somebody told her it was good enough to publish. It's garbage. Also the name is ridiculous.
Did it make me cry: No.
Did it make me laugh: No.
Did it make me miss a subways stop: No.
Would I recommend it: No.
Would I read it again: No.
Would it be a good movie: No.
Han Kang
This book is creee-eeepy but in the best way. I decided to read it after I interviewed Helen Ellis for the L.A. Review of Books and she said it was her favorite book of the year.
Did it make me cry: No.
Did it make me laugh: No.
Did it make me miss a subways stop: Almost!
Would I recommend it: Yes. It’s short, it’s weird, it’s easy to get into, and it costs less than $10 on Amazon.
Would I read it again: Yes.
Would it be a good movie: YES.YES.YES. It would definitely be an arthouse indie film but this story would translate so well to film.
Yaa Gyasi
I think this is probably the most important book I've read this year and one that I've learned a lot from. It's also the untold story of racism and the slave trade and one that I don't think is taught it school (at least, I never learned about it). It's fascinating and its history, but it's told in such a frankly beautiful and personal way. It's one of those books that I can’t stop thinking about.
Did it make me cry: You don't get to read about how characters feel, you have to read the facts and create your own emotions around it. It’s more devastating than sad - you’re not deep in the psyche of the characters but you’re watching horrific things happen.
Did it make me laugh: No, definitely not.
Did it make me miss a subways stop: No, but it was a close call.
Would I recommend it: YES.
Would I read it again: Yes. The book moves so quickly through history that I would like to read it again and get to know the characters better.
Would it be a good movie: No, but it would be a really excellent HBO miniseries. I would LOVE to see this happen. It would be so beautiful and heartbreaking.
What I’m reading right now: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I thought it sounded too boring for me (some rich guy is locked in a hotel?) BUT the writing is really great and the main character is very loveable and fun.
What’s on my nightstand:
The rest of those damn Neapolitan books
Also I read this article and I remembered that I bought The Beautiful Forevers a while ago, so I’m moving it up in the queue.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
This One is Mine by Maria Semple
The House of God by Samuel Shem
Eileen by Otessa Moshfegh
Should I read The Bone Clocks? I found a paperback at work…
What books are on my list to buy (this will take me months to actually do):
Now that I have established myself as a Miriam Toews fan, I want to see what else she has up her sleeve: A Boy of Good Breeding, A Complicated Kindness, Irma Voth, and her memoir, which sounds like it was inspiration for AMPS.
Since I read this article, I added a few more books to my list. This list is growing faster than I can keep up.
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
The new Bernadette book
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
M Train by Patti Smith
That new Patty Hearst book
H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
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. Or just text me)
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