this newsletter is short
reading is hard sometimes
reads
event!
On Monday, I had the great pleasure of attending the book launch of Melissa Lozada-Olivia’s new novel Candelaria, hosted by Books are Magic. She’s the author of Dreaming of You, which I loved the minute I opened it last year. Dreaming is a “a novel in verse” (she’s originally a poet by trade), and the style is just incredible and so fun as a result. So I’m very excited for this new book — which is being billed as her technical first novel — and, after hearing an excerpt at the reading, my eagerness is justified. It’s about an apocalypse and our impending doom and lots of other crazy things that were just incredible to hear being read in a church (Books Are Magic often uses St. Ann’s church in Brooklyn as their venue for larger events and it’s a fantastic spot).
Also, the the event itself was amazing — it incorporated musical performances and comedy, and there was an original soundtrack accompanying the actual reading that Lozada-Olivia and the Canteen Killa (who was really fucking good) collaborated on. This is really the way that all readings should go because, to be honest, it’s usually in one ear and out the other with me because I have some problems with ~listening~ and ~attention.~ Plus, Melissa (can I call her that? probably not, though she DID follow my bookstagram so maybe someday heheheh) signed my copy and personalized it to reflect our mutually strange experiences as former Massachusetts residents:
currently
I promise I can still read but honestly I’m just going through one of those phases right now where when I get home the only thing I want to do is watch television. My brain can’t handle much else. This is my explanation for why it’s taking me fifteen years to read Either/Or. However! Every time I have a chance to dive into it, usually on the subway, it’s fantastic. The writing is phenomenal and Selin is such a good fucking narrator. There are sections where I just sort of chortle to myself.
At the same time, I fear this is a bit more theoretical than it needs to be — I don’t know if that’s the right way to put it, but it feels more about Selin’s musings on various books and concepts and less about the plot itself. I think that’s partially why it’s been a bit slow going. It’s a testament to the writing that I’m still incredibly absorbed and enjoying it, but it’s a bit of a different journey. I could also be a bit harsher on it than I should be because I loved The Idiot so much, but, look, that’s hard to stand up to. That being said, I still have the second half to go, and I know if anyone can get me absolutely foaming at the mouth for a third book, it’s Elif Batuman.
ulysses corner
You know, after writing the newsletter last week, I thought to myself, well, I have a week to read another chapter so I can keep this schtick going. Weeks go by fast!
other media
reality tv corner
We’re soooo back, baby. After having to take a serious break from Bravo after my Below Deck: Sailing Yacht hangover, I have finally, FINALLY started in on Vanderpump Rules. Like many others, I did not know a lick about the show until #Scandoval, and was told by numerous parties that I had to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the chaos. I’m watching the second season as I write this and really the only thing I have to say right now is Jax is a sociopath and will refrain from commenting on anyone else in case I’m wrong after watching ten years of episodes (I mean, Tom seems like only sort of a major douchebag right now and I’m going to guess that that changes and he becomes an extreme major douchebag pretty soon). However, I do feel very comfortable with my Jax assumption. And I’m going to guess Stassi stays at least a little mean and terrible forever.
music AGAIN?!
I went to a Ryan Beatty concert last night and it was simply divine. Former (or current, I guess, I won’t judge though it’s probably creepy of you) Radio Disney listeners might remember Ryan from his Bieber-esque childhood stardom days and Brooklyn fuckboys have certainly heard his vocals on Brockhampton songs. I absolutely adore Ryan and he always disappears for a few years before popping up with a new record, so I knew I had to catch him on this cycle. He performed his newest album Calico and peppered in a few of his old hits along the way and basically I’m telling you that if you want a gentle acoustic-pop record about being lonely in California, this is for you. As an added bonus, I ran into my friend Jared while waiting in line to get in, which was perfect, since we’ve bonded over our penchant for attending concerts alone, and solo concertgoers are some of the best people to go to concerts with since we take things seriously.
comedy!!!!
Second City is opening a new branch in New York and the incomparable Alan Kliffer (formerly at Asylum, my beloved old workplace, but I’m not biased) is now the artistic director there. I got the chance to see their mainstage cast perform improv and sketch comedy last night at Joe’s Pub and laughed a lot. I’m very excited to see this new place off the ground and probably spend a lot more money on improv classes (they’re fun and totally not culty).
non-book reads
Darya Farivar, the youngest state representative in Washington and the first-ever Iranian-American woman elected there, and is, incidentally, is my freaking cousin, wrote a great article reflecting on Iran’s Women, Life, Freedom movement. There’s a lot of interesting and poignant stuff there about her personal experiences, good and bad, in her new role and factions within the Iranian-American community. If you want to learn more about the situation in Iran (especially after the successful hostage exchange, which I feel very passionately about), I’d highly recommend NIAC as a resource.
A coupla quick plugs for those of you based in Lazlo Cravensworth’s Neeewww York Citaaaay …
My dear friends and natural wine experts Paráic and Sean, aka the Glou Glou Gays, are hosting their first ever pop-up event tonight! It starts at 7:00 PM at Lighthouse in Brooklyn. My hope is this leads to the world’s long-awaited book-wine collab between GG + RWM. Catch me behind the bar trying to convince someone that if they’re enjoying their chilled red, they might want to give the Crescent City sequel a shot.
I am performing at We Love a Theme, a storytelling show, next Tuesday at 7:00 at Pete’s Candy Bar. The theme is “fresh start,” and I can’t reveal any details of my saga here for the drama and suspense and also it’s not finished, so I suppose you’ll have to come witness me being WAY too candid in public yourself.
this is my deux moi
highlight of my week