summer loving
things i can't stop talking about
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this week’s style inspo:
Sandy, the original good girl gone bad
what i’m clicking:
Are you guilty of the “millennial pause”? | Book twitter will always be at war with itself | Life lessons from the divorce lawyer to the stars | How Nantucket became an influencer paradise | My hometown is at the frontlines of the affordable housing crisis | Blue Hill at Stone Barns told a story too good to be true | The complicated world of TikTok's interracial couples
what i’m wanderlusting:
It’s that time of year when I’m itching for a weird afternoon in Coney Island
what i’m watching:
I finally watched Queen of Versailles: fascinating, eye-opening, cringeworthy, unintentionally hilarious, sickening, and deeply tragic. I loved it and can’t recommend it enough.
what i’m coveting:
Anything and everything from Porta NYC
what i’m listening to:
My niece and nephew have shown me the magic of “Jiggle Jiggle” by 52-year-old rap sensation Louis Theroux (yes, that Louis Theroux).
what i’m recommending:
I keep getting a lot of side-eye about my crochet bucket hat (the only souvenir I bought on my European adventures this summer!) but honestly I think everyone needs one.
what i’m reading:
Min Jin Lee
I really, really want to love this book, partially because it came so highly recommended by friends and partly because I count Pachinko as one of my top 100 favorite books of all time. But maybe *because* I had such high hopes for it, it was just a little disappointing. In theory, I really liked the idea of this book, but I just didn’t think any of the characters were interesting or memorable or sympathetic. When it ended I didn’t feel bereft, I just sort of felt nothing.
Did It Make Me Cry: No.
Would I Recommend It: This is objectively a good book, so if the premise sounds interesting just go for it!
Would It Be a Good Movie: I would watch the hell out of this movie.
Christopher J. Yates
This is one of those books that I had trouble putting down, but in the end, I hated it. I was totally entranced in the beginning and by halfway through I was like “holy shit I have no idea where this is going” but by the end I was like “that’s it? That’s what you made me read this whole thing for????”
Did It Make Me Cry: No, but I did feel sorry for these terrible people.
Would I Recommend It: Don’t waste your time on this one, but if you like dark, twisty, and suspenseful books, I highly recommend Black Chalk by the same author, which is sort of like The Secret History meets The Skulls.
Would It Be a Good Movie: No.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vuong
I have really mixed feelings about this book. I loved reading it and it was beautifully written and poignant, of course. But! But–I just felt like it was SO meticulously crafted. Every sentence was painstakingly wrought by an excellent writer who knows they’re an excellent writer and takes themselves incredibly seriously, which just got tiring at the end.
It also reminded me of a pet peeve I have with this kind of book–novels that have to be spelled out as “title: a novel” on the cover because the plot is nonexistent and the scenes are so autobiographical in nature that it must be a memoir, right? (Some other examples off the top of my head: The Folded Clock, The Friend, the Outline Trilogy, the Knausgaard books). But then it’s not and you’re just sort of confused and dejected at the end. I need these people to tell me what’s real!!!!
Did It Make Me Cry: Yes.
Would I Recommend It: If you haven’t already read this book, it’s probably not the book for you.
Would It Be a Good Movie: No.
Emma Bamford
One of my top-5 favorite genres of all time is “vacations gone wrong” and so when I heard about this book, I had to read it. I love a fictional paradise, I love a creepy cast of characters, and I had high hopes for this book, but I have to say it was pretty “meh”.
Did It Make Me Cry: No.
Would I Recommend It: Just read The Beach instead.
Would It Be a Good Movie: Yes, definitely.
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue
V. E. Schwab
Why, WHYYYYY was this book so highly recommended? It was such a struggle to get through that I can’t even remember how it ends. I really wish I had broken my personal rule of “never not finishing a book” with this one because it was just so *not* for me. My other issue with the book is that it’s frequently marketed as an LGBTQ book but it is a 100% hetero love story with like, five seconds of allusions to same-sex relationships.
Did It Make Me Cry: No, but I could see that it was DEFINITELY trying to.
Would I Recommend It: No.
Would It Be a Good Movie: TBH I would probably watch the miniseries if they made one.
Taylor Hahn
As I’ve said before, I love an Emma retelling. I also like romcoms about fancy people and books that remind me that absolutely anything can be behind any unmarked door in New York City, so I was well-primed to like this book. I am embarrassed to admit that I loved reading it, despite the corny humor, the predictable plot line, the lack of character development, and the crazy plot holes. Also, the cover art is the worst thing I have ever seen.
Did It Make Me Cry: No.
Would I Recommend It: If you like corny romcoms, go for it. Everyone else will probably think this is the stupidest book they’ve ever read.
Would It Be a Good Movie: It’s more like an episode of Friends where the gang tries swinging, but I would probably watch this movie if they made one.