I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL
apology note 2: electric boogaloo
I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT THE BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL LAST WEEK. WHAT THE FUUUUUCK (I’m saying this in a Tim Robinson voice as I type it)
Well, we can’t change the past. Enjoy!
the brooklyn book festival
Every year, I intend to go to the Brooklyn Book Festival, and every year, I fail to do so. Look, sometimes it’s raining. It rains every weekend now because god hates us and I guess hates reading. But this year, it was delightful and sunny and the perfect weather to wander about aimlessly for hours and (mostly) succeed in not buying anything. Also, look at that sick poster.
I got to the festival in the afternoon and intended to go to a talk about romance, but when I saw the sheer number of vendors in tents spread out for miles, I abandoned that plan and instead decided to prance around in delight through the rows and rows of booksellers and authors and publishers and other book-related things. Books Are Magic and Greenlight Bookstore were representing the Brooklyn booksellers in style. There were lots of indie publishers present, from names I recognized like Feminist Press to ones I’d never heard of like Ugly Duckling Press. The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, also rolled through with their shortlist, as did The New Republic’s 2023 Banned Books Tour (they literally rolled in on a whole ass truck), plus organizations representing freelance agents and writers. And there were plenty of authors hosting their own booths! I met a lovely romance novelist named Skye McDonald. There was also a booth specifically advertising books written by Nancy Grace. I’d love to know how one might fall into that job.
I also stopped to listen to some readings, many of which were happening outdoors. There was some nice-sounding poetry being recited at one point, and I stopped to watch part of one panel comprised of first-time authors reading their debut novels (hosted by Catherine Lacey, author of Biography of X, a book I am just now remembering I’ve owned for months and need to read before the end of the year).
The highlight of the festival for me was a talk I attended between author Roxane Gay and illustrator Oliver Jeffers (that I’m very lucky I got into because the line in the Brooklyn Courthouse was LONG. people ride for Roxane). The subject of their discussion was fluid, but focused on “the roles art and storytelling play in shaping human identities and communities.” A motif that kept coming up was the hope they have in humanity and the lack thereof and how this is reflected in their writing. They’re on opposite ends of the spectrum, so it was interesting to hear what each of their takes were on how to reconcile history and move forward through literature and beyond. I’m very excited to pick up Opinions, RG’s newest collection of essays, which came out just a few days ago.
I exercised some meager self-control and recognized that I could buy the books being sold here pretty much whenever I wanted from any of these stores’ physical locations. To compensate, I bought myself a couple of cute little prints from this Seattle-based shop, Expedition Press, that very lovingly prints not-as-cheesy quotes of poetry from authors like Ocean Vuong and Ada Limón in different sizes and styles. A tiny one that’ll be going in my new apartment says “I love you like salt,” which is kind of beautiful because 1) it’s simple and sweet (ironically) and 2) I love salt very much (a passion completely unrelated to my high cholesterol).
In conclusion: Go to the book fest next year! Go to any book-related events held by cool people in your neighborhood wherever you are! Support indie bookstores and authors and publishers! Also, if you’re looking for the largest gathering of New Yorker tote bag owners in the tri-state area, this is probably the best you’ll get!
reads
I’m deep into Candelaria right now, and it’s a funky one. I went in with no expectations because even after hearing Melissa Lozada-Olivia read the prologue at her book launch event, I didn’t have a single clue of what it might be about. That excited me all the more, and for good reason. I love Lozada-Olivia’s writing and I’m pretty engrossed in the plot so far. I have simply no idea what’s going to happen or what’s really going on and I’m freaked out, but it’s also quite funny and sharp, which balances out the foreboding, apocalyptic mood.
At the same time, I’m not totally feeling the narrative structure and the pacing. While it probably doesn’t help that I’m reading it a bit slowly and sporadically, I’m over halfway through and feel like the different threads are still pretty scattershot and haven’t come together in a particularly meaningful way yet. I’m going to reserve judgement until the very end of the book, which is, by my estimation, going to be nutty. Rest assured that I will be reviewing this as honestly as I can even though MLO is my Instagram mutual now. <3
ulysses corner
Before you ask, I am keeping this section in so I can hold myself accountable by experiencing the public shame of having made no progress on this whatsoever since starting this newsletter. But Hannah and I have set a date for ourselves to finish the next three chapters, which I’m sure will work this time hahaha aha yeah
other media
vanderpump rules corner
Sorry, I really can’t hold space for any other reality television right now (RHOSLC excluded — Mary Cosby + Ziwe on WWHL broke me). I’m on season four of VPR and my realization of the week is, oh my god, DJ James Kennedy, who was my hero at the season 10 reunion (which I watched, along with many people, when Scandoval broke though I had not watched any VPR prior to this) because he was iconically calling people “poo poo heads,” is actually (and ironically given his insult of choice) a huge piece of shit. The way he treats and speaks to and about women is absolutely appalling, and I guess there are some rumors floating out there that his behavior is probably even worse behind closed doors, which makes it more difficult to watch. I’ve also learned that he used to call himself “the White Kanye,” so, you know. Woefully, the show is all the more compelling for his absolutely evil presence. And SUE ME, but I’m always rooting for Kristen Doute, who is, in Caroline’s words, “one of the most insane, chaotic, iconic humans on this planet [and] we are so lucky to be alive at the same time as her.”
podcast!
Maintenance Phase just put out a great episode on the rise of Ozempic and its related discourse. I was particularly struck by the hosts’ framing of the paradox inherent in fatphobia relating to weight-loss drugs: if you don’t try to lose weight, you’re failing, but if you use something like Ozempic to lose weight, it’s a “shortcut,” and you didn’t really “earn it.” Plus, there’s a significant shortage right now because it’s gotten so popular (especially among the wealthy, who pay out of pocket for it because insurance won’t cover it for off-label uses), so people with Type 2 diabetes — who the medication is actually intended for — are having difficulty accessing it, which can be life-threatening. Highly recommend listening to this one if you have a chance.
this section isn’t fun and not what you subscribed for so don’t read it if you don’t want to
At risk of losing subscribers and being doxxed, I am going to briefly discuss Palestine. HOWEVER: If you do not want to read about this here, I completely understand. This is intended to be a fun newsletter. Stop reading right here and protect your peace. I won’t be offended. I just have to write through it for my own sanity.
We are witnessing a genocide in real time. The Israeli government already has complete control over Gaza, a city comprised almost entirely of refugees. They severely limit their access to clean water; more than 80% of the population lives in poverty and depend on aid to survive; and the blockade imposed in 2007 has significantly restricted necessary stocks of medications and necessary hospital equipment, which makes the health system ill-equipped to care for the sick and injured. Now, they’ve avowed a “complete siege” of Gaza and are cutting “fuel, electricity, and food supplies,” and because they control these things, the two million people in Gaza will be left without necessary resources for survival. This is a really fucking terrifying humanitarian disaster.
Al Jazeera has real-time sources who are actually on the ground in Gaza and its news reporting contains more nuanced takes than you’ll find in Western media. To donate to Palestinians affected by the decades of devastating violence and oppression by the Israeli government, there’s Islamic Relief US, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the American Friends Service Committee, to name a few. And Jewish Voice for Peace has created a dialer to call your representatives and senators and tell them to stop providing weapons to the Israeli government.
If you choose to respond to this with a different perspective, I only ask that you do not attempt to level me with the whole “if you’re anti-Israel, you’re anti-Semitic” argument. 1) That is rhetoric intended to deflect from the horrors that the Israeli government has leveled on Palestine over many, many decades, and has absolutely nothing to do with Jewish people, and 2) I’m Jewish, so it’s doubly insulting and a little hilarious.
Okay phew that’s it. Fun newsletter is back! Actually, there will be no newsletter next week because I can’t set up my new wifi until John sets up my new wifi. Also, I keep missing the router delivery because I don’t have an electronic buzzer anymore. Oh, the places you’ll go.