Postcard

Things resonating this week:

Can We Put an End to America’s Most Dangerous Myth? There’s some pretty stiff competition for the title of “America’s Most Dangerous Myth,” but this one is surely a contender. I think my life’s biggest regret is moving away from my extended family. My greatest hope is to build a retirement life within a web of familial interdependence (with “family” being any who, when you have to go them, have to take you in)

All True at Once (TW: suicide) A poem of an essay, with a question that I am now, like the writer, carrying inside my chest: What if it’s all true at once?

My Author Photo Brought Me Face to Face with the Body I Hated I love how honest this piece is. I have things to say about how I struggle to accept my body as it is, but I’m not ready to say them today.

Cocaine Bear Kerry Russell’s portrayal of a mother in this gross, hilarious (I laughed out loud when a teenager got his head shot off, and I’m not really sure how they made that funny, but it was) romp of a movie is what I needed to see this weekend.

False Witness Not your typical violent crime thriller. I mean, she’s got a blurb from Stacey Abrams. Had a creepy encounter with a creepy man this week, and I wish I had more Leigh Collier in me.

Unlikely Animals Gilmore Girlsesque vibes with so much more important things to say. (Haven’t finished it yet, but it kept me good company on a day with nearly 8 hours of driving this week.)

We’re Book Nerds… Maybe someday. And if not me, I’m glad for these other women.

8 thoughts on “Postcard

  1. Marian says:

    I think the Most Dangerous Myth article is bang on, and I applaud the author for writing it. Sending you love, Rita, for what I read earlier.

  2. Kate says:

    I was just talking to friends about Cocaine Bear. It sounds 100% not my thing but your description is making me question my knee jerk reaction.

    All True At Once was so beautiful, and made me cry.

    I have a lot of feelings and thoughts about American’s Greatest Myth. More than I can write into a comment late at night the day Daylight Saving kicks off. Maybe I’ll make it into a blog post. I’ve been feeling it’s time for a soap box one!

    I’ll come back to some of the other links hopefully tomorrow. Was good to see you here. Don’t like the sounds of your creepy encounter but I want to read about Leigh Collier now. (Or don’t.) Hope you are well!!

    • Rita says:

      Your knee jerk reaction to Cocaine Bear was mine, but in the moment it worked for me. You’d probably have to be in the right mood. It’s super-campy and spoofed the kind of movies I remember from the 80s (the setting for the story). Although it never felt real, I did turn away multiple times, and I ended up caring about several of the characters.

      You know I love your soapbox posts. 🙂 I’d love to hear your extended thoughts on the topic.

      Karin Slaughter books are the opposite of cozy mysteries. I really dislike gratuitous violence. These books contain violence–often disturbing violence–but it never feel gratuitous to me, somehow. Only one, and I didn’t finish that one. So, be warned and know that I’m not blanket-recommending her work or even the books I’ve liked for everyone. This particular book is pretty horrific. I don’t know why I’m OK with it, tbh.

  3. Ally Bean says:

    “I would have to be a brand. A trap and a lie, of course, but enough to awaken the voice that lived to hijack milestones and turn them into diet countdowns. I started to believe that people wouldn’t buy books with my face on the jacket.”

    The topic of author photos is interesting. It’s something I’ve pondered for a few years, since selfies made their debut in our world. Are there authors who refuse to put their photos out there? I mean, 100 years ago a book was hailed successful without anyone knowing what the author looked like and that makes sense to me. A book is about the words and thoughts, not the perfect image of the writer. At least that’s how I figure it.

    • Rita says:

      Wish that the selling of books were only about the quality of the word-strings, but that sure isn’t the world we are living in now, is it? Same with music, I think. But the key word is “selling.” It’s pretty hard these days to even get a book deal if you don’t have a platform with a significant following, so the concern is not without validity. If you don’t care a lot about selling, you can probably do it differently. Maybe.

  4. Kari says:

    For my birthday next month, I’m requesting a subscription to the New York Times. I should just give in and buy one for myself. There are so many wonderful articles (and recipes) that are behind a paywall. Sigh.

    Someone mentioned Cocaine Bear to me last weekend. I can’t believe I’ve heard it twice this week. Does the Universe really want me to watch it? 🤣

    I read the article about friends opening a bookstore. LOVE.

    These types of posts are my favorite. Thank you for sharing. Now I’m off to read…

    • Rita says:

      I know there’s a paywall 🙁 I do have a subscription, and I use it every day. It’s a much better way for me to get news than other options. I can control the flow of information easily. You can usually get beyond a paywall by opening an incognito window, I think.

      I don’t know if the universe wants you to watch Cocaine Bear. Although I do think you would appreciate the character of the mother. Cocaine Bear is no match for a mama bear. Even one in a pink jumpsuit and mid-80’s Reeboks. 🙂

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