Friday Thoughts and Things to Share
Hello, dear readers!
I have been working feverishly on a huge research project for this space, one I hope you’ll thoroughly enjoy! I’ve been toiling almost around the clock on this behemoth, only to be rudely confronted with my own human limitations this week. My week began so optimistically with plans to knuckle down and bang out the last of this project, with the it-seemed-realistic-at-the-time goal of beginning publication next week. I blocked out time! I left my home and child for forty-eight hours! I bought a giant water bottle and snacks! Snacks, dammit! And then, my week derailed spectacularly with a two-night bout of awful insomnia, followed by melting down, spiraling, and my husband telling me that duh, this is burnout, and to TAKE A BREAK, for the love of God, and get back to this project after I’ve given myself a little space to rest. So next week, my phone is going away (for the most part). I can’t really travel anywhere (toddler), so I’m giving myself what wise author Anne Helen Petersen calls “an absorption staycation.” Basically, I plan to do little more than sleep and read non-dense books for five days straight. I’ll shower and eat because I must. Otherwise, you’ll find me lounging with my nose in a book!
My local independent bookstore, which is the most awesome place ever, hosted author Laurie Woolever for a Q&A and book signing last night, celebrating her new memoir Care and Feeding. For anyone who doesn’t know (I didn’t), Woolever is the former assistant to both Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. She’s got some stories to tell. Many thanks to my daughter for barely tolerating my absence, and my husband for cleaning up tantrum puke (if you know, you know; and if you don’t, stay ignorant, my friend) while I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Laurie - she’s absolutely delightful - and getting her to sign my book! I’m going to start my week diving into Care and Feeding come Monday morning.
In the meantime, here’s the usual Friday recs compiled for you!
Articles to Share:
“Chuck Schumer Should Resign to Spend More Time with His Imaginary Friends” by Jeet Heer, The Nation
Yes, this is a scathing critique of how badly Senate Minority Leader Schumer handled the recent government budget legislation - read the GOP Senators encapsulation, HOLY SHIT! But also, it’s understandable if you read that title and thought, this must be a snark article. Sadly, it is not. Senator Chuck Schumer really does have imaginary friends, and they really do literally influence policy. Whatever you are thinking, go read the article, I promise it’s way worse.
On a lighter note, sort of…
“Say ‘I Do’ to the Divorce Memoir” by Emma Alpern, Vulture
I’m happily married and have zero plans to change that, but I’m a little obsessed with divorce memoirs and their half-sibling, the divorce (thinly veiled!) autofiction novel. I’ll blame reading Eat, Pray, Love in my late twenties. Who knows! I think I’m attracted to the rawness and obsessiveness of the writing, and I don’t have to want to blow up my own life to find admiration in others’ courage. The article, almost more of a listicle, is a fun romp.
Podcasts:
I’m still working through the current season of You Must Remember This, entitled “The Old Man Is Still Alive.” I loved the Alfred Hitchcock episode, and just started on Otto Preminger.
I just started the six-part Oprah series from Behind the Bastards - riveting so far!
Ronan Farrow just dropped a new podcast on Audible, something of a true crime situation, I don’t know much about it, just that I’ll probably tune in since it’s Ronan Farrow.
Last but not at all least, not in the least: I love, love, LOVED the latest episode of Bandsplain - “Perfect Song: ‘A Girl Like You’ by Edwyn Collins”. Rob Harvilla, of 60 Songs That Explain the 90s, joins up to help Yasi Salek dissect this absolute banger from 1994. So fucking good!
Book Recommendations:
NONFICTION:
Since I recommended an article about divorce memoirs and thinly veiled autofiction novels about divorce, I’ll keep in the spirit and recommend one of my favorite divorce memoirs:
The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg. This short but incisive and uplifting memoir is also a coming-out tale, and everything about it is lovely.
If you’d like a breakup memoir that’s much more harrowing, please pick up:
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. Although I’m giving you the content warning right now: this is her memoir of escaping an emotionally abusive queer relationship, and it’s a gut punch!
FICTION:
Spring is finally officially here, although I haven’t felt it yet, weatherwise, and maybe you haven’t either. I just feel like we’re all wanting something a little escapist right now? In that vein, I offer you:
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Its television series adaptation on Prime (same title) is also truly excellent. I love this book so much, and if you’d love to disappear into a world of a fictional-although-loosely-based-on-Fleetwood-Mac 1970s dysfunctional rock band, you can’t ask for better!
Have a lovely weekend, take care of yourselves, and stop before you hit burnout! I won’t be in next week, but I’ll see you on the other side.