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Reader,
This is another “How did I read?” week so you know what’s coming. I watched The Office and Succession when I wasn’t engaged in wage work or taming the fever(s) I ran thanks to a cold. Let’s see what we can rustle up this week in a Pomodoro (OGs remember this).
This week saw the start of the latest season of the Wednesday Movie Club hosted by Rachel Syme. It was a great opportunity for me to bring out my film journal and think about a film as a break from the sniffles and all of that. In the process, I decided to bring books into the mix in a format that features an A5 page, an image of the poster or cover and my hand-written thoughts. I’ll keep posting on Letterboxd (even if it’s just updating my diary) and Goodreads for the community it has led me to but there’s also something to be said about writing away from the public gaze. I didn’t realise how much I’d missed writing about art in a notebook until I sat after we were done watching The Menu (2022) and wrote lines upon lines. Plus, paper seems to be the most stable archival form yet, in case someone’s interested in my thoughts on these forms of art years after my passing.
A writer whose work I’ve enjoyed for decades - Missy Elliott - will become the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I’m surprised it took so long, and also feel a strange pride (yes, I know about parasocial relationships!) because her music has made for great memories over the years.
Quick news/ things that may be of interest:
Dracula Daily, which I mentioned in a past entry, has started. Jump on if you’re keen
If writing postcards is something you enjoy, check out this website I found out about via Rachel Syme. Related: you can send me books, postcards, letters, and assorted gifts via PO Box 102439, Jamia Posta 00101, Nairobi, Kenya
I have finished three books since I last wrote, some reviews forthcoming. I read the ebook edition of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb, did a hybrid read of The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr (narrated by Chris McPherson) and read the hardback edition of The Last Chapter by Leila Abouzeid.
I put out a video on Labour Day (you can watch it here) and this week’s toughness has meant I haven’t made much subtitling progress so there’s just the one. To catch the ones I’m working on when they’re done, subscribe to the channel if you haven’t yet!
As ever, please write back to me and tell me what books you’re reading or looking forward to reading — 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!