Recently, someone asked me what my favourite books were. “Inherent Vice and The Player,” I responded, misreading the text—for some reason, I thought they were asking what my favourite movies were—but it does work as an answer to the original question. I think THE PLAYER (the movie) is much better than the novel by Michael Tolkin, but while Inherent Vice (the book) is up there for me, the film adaptation is perfect. Anyway, all this is to say that Paul Thomas Anderson may be adapting another Thomas Pynchon novel, Vineland, so of course I am now reading Vineland:
Simply incredible. Read it in a park, on a balcony, or at Bota-Bota (like I did).
Some more recommendations:
Reading
So many novels … The Guest by Emma Cline. Steamy and stressful. Should be mandatory to read this only on vacation and only in one sitting … Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. Part of a specific genre of politically-minded millennial writing from New Zealand/Australia that I adore (see also: The Inland Sea by Madeleine Watts and Friends & Dark Shapes by Kavita Bedford). So well-plotted and immersive and smart … The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty. Fully picked this up because of the cover and it lived up to it. RIYL Mona Awad … Biography of X by Catherine Lacey. Maybe my favourite book this year, so far? It’s like I Love Dick written by David Foster Wallace so of course I love it. A must … Quality Time by Susanna Showler. Few books have made me love and miss Toronto like this one did. Hit VERY close to home many times, emotionally-speaking. (If you liked this, read Next Year, For Sure by Zoey Leigh Peterson).
This short story from Madeleine ffitch in Harper’s. ffitch’s Stay and Fight has stuck with me for years (there’s one particular scene that still makes me shudder to think of), so I was delighted by this new writing from her. This is why I can’t quit Harper’s!
“Where does the library go from here? Because it’s clear that being “the last public space” isn’t a privilege. It’s a sign that something has gone terribly wrong.”
I too had an emotionally-difficult Monday this week, so I really appreciated Brandon Taylor’s most recent newsletter.
Watching
If you liked HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE (or just like the idea of blowing up pipelines), may I suggest NIGHT MOVES, Kelly Reichardt’s 2013 film about radical environmental activism that I watched in anticipation of her latest film, SHOWING UP (one of my favs of the year so far, also strongly recommend). Reichardt forever!
Not to quote my own Instagram, but: “happy Pride Month to everyone but especially to Gregg Araki.” I’m furious that I went all these years thinking that Harmony Korine had made the ultimate disaffected-youth-hanging-out movie (one of my very favourite genres), when TOTALLY FUCKED UP is a far superior west-coast version of KIDS.
PAST LIVES completely cracked my heart open. See it on a big screen with a full crowd if you can.
Listening to
My dear friend Dane’s podcast, Resurrection, in which he reveals the life of playwright Daryl Allen, using love letters and scripts and talking to those who knew Allen before he passed away of AIDS. It’s an incredible feat of narrative journalism, put together with such care and grace, and has made me tear up in public more than once.
“Hard to Love” off Lucky For You, by Bully. Every year I need one (1) perfect album to play when visiting my hometown and driving really fast down the country roads. This year, this is it.
I love every single episode of “This Had Oscar Buzz,” and their May miniseries paying homage to AFI’s “100 Years, 100 Movies,” counting down the 100 biggest Oscar snubs of all time, was pure genius.
Drinking
Cold-brewed green tea with maple syrup. Carajillos (espresso mixed with Licor 43, either hot or over ice). These coffee lemonades (which can also be made by combining espresso, lemon juice, simple syrup, and tonic water). Passionfruit La Croix with lots of lime and a bit of agua de jamaica powder (add tequila and a Tajín rim if you want).
Cheers!
so much good stuff here -- can't wait to read Birnam Wood because I have heard many comps to Night Moves and How To Blow Up A Pipeline! I saw Past Lives Friday night and it completely wrecked me as well...already want to see it again