I cut my media/news consumption to zero beginning the am after the election. I was a news/political junkie. It is wonderfully freeing. Only get on the iPad for email and to read you and my other Substack book lovers. Non-fiction: Have you ever read The Swerve? I loved it. Just finished Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. Not sure what I think of it. Thinking maybe you mentioned reading it? Back to the Swerve—it includes the story of the book lover who saved the last copy of Lucretius’ The Nature of Things, which is also a fun read. Lucretius was a trip—very comforting for me.
Second this! I am thinking of going back to media, but pretending it is 1994 and I can only read the headlines after work, in a flat version (one source, no rabbit holes/clicking recommended links), time limited to 30 min before dinner. Maybe someday I will stream the TODAY show, just for nostalgia.
I do a Semafor newsletter that hits in the AM on weekdays and skim headlines on an AP app and maybe Apple News, again only in the AM. No video or audio yet. So far so good - I feel like I know what’s up but I’m def not gonna feast on it!
I have Creation Lake on kindle I just haven’t gotten to it yet, it seems so controversial and it sounds slightly like it suffers from Ministry of Time issues. Also have not read The Swerve I’m going to look this up…!!
Love this love you glad that Say Nothing is around to help distract you. Can’t wait to hear your final verdict on it - it’s been on my shelf forever!!!! I’m trying to resist watching the Disney adaptation until I’ve read this book!
Hi! I’ve also been “nesting” and planning holiday activities. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is next on my list - I usually go for longer books in winter. I’ve got a few nonfiction titles about mutual aid & abolition on my library holds list but have yet to read them!
I’m glad you liked it - I couldn’t get through The Historian it was one of my shameful DNFs (that and strangely DWJ’s more adult novels) but maybe we come back to books when the time is right
Small world moment - your Aunt and I are down in Felton (near Santa Cruz) with friends for some much needed live (LOUD) music and dranks and such. On the drive down yesterday we listened to the NYT review of Say Nothing. Stay with it. I could drop a spoiler but nah. Let’s chat when you’ve finished it.
There’s also a Say Nothing series coming out on Hulu soon - the author was an executive producer. He explained that he actually was very involved in the production as opposed to just getting paid.
Re election madness n such, I have been reading ‘American Nations, a History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America’ by Colin Woodard. He tries (with success imho) to trace our national differences way back to the settlers in the 1600’s and over time. Spoiler alert - we all still have pretty much the same values today. The book is helping me to at least kind of understand the WTF component of recent politics and elections. Highly recommend.
I am in a dig in/ connect local mood so I am enjoying a memoir by a Tucson writer (who grew up in a historic neighborhood that may be the longest inhabited community in the country) about growing up as the daughter of a tamale maker and the family’s experiences with gentrification. It is good, yes. Good to hear from you. Missed you, too!
It has been som hard to focus on reading lately. I’m about 50 pages into Hello Beautiful and have a feeling it will wreck me in a good way or I’ll need to take a break from it… we’ll see. I am also big on nesting lately, finally getting around to some minor projects to make my apartment more cozy especially going into the colder months.
I loved this post. I love all your posts, often for different reasons. The Bernie video was 🎯. I’ve often said that the other guys exist to block progress, while we try to keep making it. I guess we have a very different definition of progress. I do think that some conservatives genuinely believe that lining the pockets of the rich has a trickle down effect on the economy. Tell that to my disability-flavored credit card debt!
Ok, onto books! Thanks to you, I’m currently reading Demon Copperhead on my Kindle. It’s so tragic and so well written. I’m glad I gave it a chance because I hit a Kingsolver lull about 20 years ago and this one is so different from her others, I find. Also reading The Message, the newest by Ta-Nahisi Coates. It felt extremely relevant to our times so I allowed it to jump the line in my TBR pile. Too soon for any kind of review but if you catch his interview on Trevor Noah’s podcast, it may intrigue you like it did me.
I read probably 80% non-fiction lately and my hands-down recommendations for you are either of Isabel Wilkerson’s books: The Warmth of Other Sons and Caste. Eminently readable non-fiction that will make you think and hit you right in the heart.
I cut my media/news consumption to zero beginning the am after the election. I was a news/political junkie. It is wonderfully freeing. Only get on the iPad for email and to read you and my other Substack book lovers. Non-fiction: Have you ever read The Swerve? I loved it. Just finished Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. Not sure what I think of it. Thinking maybe you mentioned reading it? Back to the Swerve—it includes the story of the book lover who saved the last copy of Lucretius’ The Nature of Things, which is also a fun read. Lucretius was a trip—very comforting for me.
Second this! I am thinking of going back to media, but pretending it is 1994 and I can only read the headlines after work, in a flat version (one source, no rabbit holes/clicking recommended links), time limited to 30 min before dinner. Maybe someday I will stream the TODAY show, just for nostalgia.
I do a Semafor newsletter that hits in the AM on weekdays and skim headlines on an AP app and maybe Apple News, again only in the AM. No video or audio yet. So far so good - I feel like I know what’s up but I’m def not gonna feast on it!
And I really need to follow your lead and cut out the political emails I know I would feel so much relief it’s really an addiction
I have Creation Lake on kindle I just haven’t gotten to it yet, it seems so controversial and it sounds slightly like it suffers from Ministry of Time issues. Also have not read The Swerve I’m going to look this up…!!
Love this love you glad that Say Nothing is around to help distract you. Can’t wait to hear your final verdict on it - it’s been on my shelf forever!!!! I’m trying to resist watching the Disney adaptation until I’ve read this book!
Hi! I’ve also been “nesting” and planning holiday activities. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is next on my list - I usually go for longer books in winter. I’ve got a few nonfiction titles about mutual aid & abolition on my library holds list but have yet to read them!
I love digging into big books when it’s cold and dark out. Jonathan strange is one of the greatest novels ever written I hope you enjoy!!
I’m glad you liked it - I couldn’t get through The Historian it was one of my shameful DNFs (that and strangely DWJ’s more adult novels) but maybe we come back to books when the time is right
Ah not so shameful! It’s very niche and complicatedly slow, even tho I love it I can see it not being for everyone
Small world moment - your Aunt and I are down in Felton (near Santa Cruz) with friends for some much needed live (LOUD) music and dranks and such. On the drive down yesterday we listened to the NYT review of Say Nothing. Stay with it. I could drop a spoiler but nah. Let’s chat when you’ve finished it.
There’s also a Say Nothing series coming out on Hulu soon - the author was an executive producer. He explained that he actually was very involved in the production as opposed to just getting paid.
Re election madness n such, I have been reading ‘American Nations, a History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America’ by Colin Woodard. He tries (with success imho) to trace our national differences way back to the settlers in the 1600’s and over time. Spoiler alert - we all still have pretty much the same values today. The book is helping me to at least kind of understand the WTF component of recent politics and elections. Highly recommend.
Edit: Series released 11-14-2024 on Hulu.
That is wild!!!! I will text you when I finish. I’m so excited for the series because I know I’ve missed some, there’s so much info
I am in a dig in/ connect local mood so I am enjoying a memoir by a Tucson writer (who grew up in a historic neighborhood that may be the longest inhabited community in the country) about growing up as the daughter of a tamale maker and the family’s experiences with gentrification. It is good, yes. Good to hear from you. Missed you, too!
Connect local is a great response!! I think that might be the answer to the next four years and beyond. 🖤🖤
It has been som hard to focus on reading lately. I’m about 50 pages into Hello Beautiful and have a feeling it will wreck me in a good way or I’ll need to take a break from it… we’ll see. I am also big on nesting lately, finally getting around to some minor projects to make my apartment more cozy especially going into the colder months.
we do what we can! 🖤
Nesting has also been my coping mechanism for the past few weeks!
its a pretty good one 🖤
I loved this post. I love all your posts, often for different reasons. The Bernie video was 🎯. I’ve often said that the other guys exist to block progress, while we try to keep making it. I guess we have a very different definition of progress. I do think that some conservatives genuinely believe that lining the pockets of the rich has a trickle down effect on the economy. Tell that to my disability-flavored credit card debt!
Ok, onto books! Thanks to you, I’m currently reading Demon Copperhead on my Kindle. It’s so tragic and so well written. I’m glad I gave it a chance because I hit a Kingsolver lull about 20 years ago and this one is so different from her others, I find. Also reading The Message, the newest by Ta-Nahisi Coates. It felt extremely relevant to our times so I allowed it to jump the line in my TBR pile. Too soon for any kind of review but if you catch his interview on Trevor Noah’s podcast, it may intrigue you like it did me.
I read probably 80% non-fiction lately and my hands-down recommendations for you are either of Isabel Wilkerson’s books: The Warmth of Other Sons and Caste. Eminently readable non-fiction that will make you think and hit you right in the heart.
Trump was elected in 2016 not 2015.
thank you for the correction