It’s Friday! Fri-YAY! This week has been so exciting, and I’m thrilled to say that the weekend will be no different. I was able to catch up with a dear friend, exploring Paris together and talking writing goals, big city life, and work-life balance. I saw a couple of my articles published, met George Saunders, and welcomed two bright, enthusiastic students from Sacramento to Paris! What a week! Here are some of the things I’ve been reading and enjoying in between all of the activity:
World Poetry Day
Tuesday, March 21st was World Poetry Day! I’m not a big poetry fan, but I definitely have my favorites. As a huge Fitzgerald fan, I particularly enjoyed this audio clip of F. Scott Fitzgerald reading Keats.
Cover Design in Dangerous Times
I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but let’s be real. We all do it. Peter Mendelsund, associate art director at Knopf, is the mastermind behind the eye-catching cover design of books like Emma Cline’s The Girls, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy, and Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, among others. I loved this article focusing on how Mendelsun got in the game, and thoughts on W.G. Sebald.
Casual Discrimination in California
On March 11th, Diana Carillo’s server requested “proof of residency” before he took her order. Grabbing drinks with friends, it’s pretty standard for servers to ask to see some ID. Getting carded for proof of legal residency? Not so much. It feels empowering to see my writing on TeenVogue.com, and to shine a light on the disturbing events cropping up in Trump’s America.
George Saunders
I attended Shakespeare & Company’s event honoring George Saunders and his new novel Lincoln in the Bardo. I loved hearing Saunders speak to us on the process of writing this novel, as well as his overall approach towards writing. Maybe someday I’ll be in one of his workshop classes at Syracuse, but for now I’m feeling pretty inspired.
French Counterculture at La Maison Rouge
Wow is this my week, or what?! My review of La Maison Rouge’s L’Espirit Français: Countercultures 1969-1989 was published on Les Lolos! While much of it was hard to access due to the language barrier and the highly specific context, it was really arresting. The colorful political pamphlets from the 60s, film clips, and bold art from the period command attention.
Belletrist Babes We Shall Be!
So it’s no secret that I am dying to start a book club here in Paris. In fact, if there are any fellow Parisians reading, please get in touch! Let’s make this dream a reality! But if I can’t have an in person book club, at least I can participate with one online. Emma Roberts has teamed up with Kara Preiss to launch Belletrist—an online club to “discover, read, and celebrate a new book every month.” The first book is Joan Didion’s South and West. While I’d normally turn up my nose at celebrity nonsense, she actually interviewed Queen Joan. Mad respect.
Love is back!
Netflix original series Love is back with season two. I’m obsessed. I found myself particularly drawn to Gillian Jacobs portrayal of Mickey Dobbs—alcoholic, sex & love addict, and overall sarcastic screw up. Interestingly, Jacobs is the polar opposite of her onscreen characters. I’m only on episode two, so I won’t be sharing any spoilers, but I loved reading Jacobs’ article Learning How To Act Like Myself on Lenny Letter.
La Vie Parisienne
“Order rosé in March like the brazen, untamable woman you are.”
This. All of this.
Up to anything fun tomorrow? I’ll be catching up with a musician pal and working on my novel! Bon week-end!
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