51

Or, Transactional Bro

Reader,

I promised the people talk of hotties when I started this and I haven't delivered regularly so let's fix that situation today: I listened to Jonathan Escoffery on the OtherPpl podcast and I went into that conversation with enthusiasm because I wanted to listen to a hottie whose book has received good reviews. Happy to say that it was a great conversation - I especially loved what he said about poverty being almost absent from (American) literature. Come for the hottie, stay for the littie.

And now, Z-Library:

I can't believe it's gone because I rarely go there these days (shout out to libraries!) but of course it went down on the one day I wanted to get a title. I know sites like Z Library can be contentious but one can't deny that they plugged a gap for a number of people. I'm curious about what comes next. Before then, I invite you once more to share library cards with the homie (me) - I'm available via DM on Twitter, Telegram, and email.

This last weekend featured lots of art, for which I'm grateful. First, a film (Abouna, part of the film club at Eastlands Library that Wanjeri Gakuru is curating) after which I had a lovely dinner with old and new friends. It has been a while since I had spontaneous meals with folks I've only just met and I was reminded of what a pleasure it is. The next day, I went to Too Early for Birds on a lark after someone offered free tickets. The less said about that, the better (I have a VN on deck if you're keen though, to be fair, I had been warned but still I persisted). The one highlight was that I remembered how much I enjoy my own company.

I finished 2 books last week: Indelicacy by Amina Cain (read by Lauren Ezzo) and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (read by Susan Bennett). I discuss them in the latest video. When I say "last week" I mean Sunday, because I struggled with reading all of last week. Yesterday, I resolved to go back to my previous discipline round reading for at least 45 minutes a day (excepting instances like the moment I was done writing this entry’s draft when I pulled out a magazine, that old pleasure) and I hope that helps me reclaim my usual pace.

As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading this week — it’s always a great time talking about books.

Enjoy the rest of the week and have a lovely time reading. Talk to you soon!