to be sorted later #9
in which I'm here to have fun, goddammit I swear I am
I started this draft about two weeks ago. Who is to even say what I was sorting through, then? Two weeks was so many moods ago! Just kidding. Not about the moods, of course. We’ve previously established here in this series that I am, indeed, extremely moody.
I’m kidding because I know exactly what I was up to two weeks ago: finishing season 4 of Killing Eve, listening to Garbage, and collaging my way through what I can best describe as an episode of pure, icy-hot feminist fury!
Exhibit A:
We could get into detail about the sources — yes, sources, plural! so, so many sources! — of all my feminist fury, but no, I’m not falling for it! We’re here to have fun on the internet again, after all.
Two weeks ago you’d be about to read several sentences about how Jodie Comer has the most exquisite face ever to grace a television screen, but alas, I’ve moved on from Killing Eve, so you only get the one.
What I’m Sorting Through, Currently …
Hacks is back!
If we’ve met, and of course we’ve met, because only my immediate family and friends read this, you likely know about my adoration of Jean Smart, star of Hacks and my favorite recurring star of Frasier! The first four episodes of season 3 are out as of today, and it’s funny as ever. I have cackled my way through every scene Meg Stalter graces as well, which is fitting as Jean Smart herself has one of my favorite cackles of all time. I’m in great company.
Hello Again, Tig
Speaking of cackling: last night I watched Tig Notaro: Hello Again and I laughed so hard I was tempted to send my neighbors apology flowers today. I don’t care one way or the other about the thing with the piano (no spoilers!). I had already laughed so hard by the time the piano came out that it didn’t matter. Now I can’t help but wonder: should I rewatch One Mississippi?!
Virginia Woolf & Michael Cunningham
I recently picked up this gorgeous combined edition of Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours while I was shopping at Exile in Bookville and casually eavesdropping on someone’s conversation. My plan was to buy Beautyland and nothing else, but … the cover was perfect, and I’d just been at the museum staring at Renoir’s flowers, so how could I resist?
I can’t pretend that I didn’t drop this book on my face many times trying to get through Mrs. Dalloway. Yes, I know, I know, it’s brilliant and important. It also made me really sleepy! Both things can be true! I loved The Hours. I loved Michael Cunningham’s love of Mrs. Dalloway. And Aunt Kerry, if you’re reading this, I did watch the movie adaptation — fantastic! Nicole Kidman’s nose looked really pretty. That was the point, right?
I did also buy and read Beautyland, and I adored it. I also have just finished The Talented Mr. Ripley and I’m still 38% of the way through War & Peace. Tonight, I’ll start Real Americans by Rachel Khong, with hopes extremely high, as I loved her previous novel, Goodbye, Vitamin as much as I love Jean Smart’s cackle.
In case you’re concerned about my nose, I’m reading War & Peace via Kindle, so when I get sleepy with that one it’s a lightweight bonk on my face.
Here’s a [non-Garbage] song I was listening to on repeat two weeks ago:
Here’s a song I’m listening to right now:
How I felt reading Mrs. Dalloway:
“She felt very young; at the same time unspeakably aged. She sliced like a knife through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on. She had a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out, far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day.”
— Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
previously:
to be sorted later #8
Well, I did it, everybody — I turned 40. Everything is fine! I feel the same as always, which is to say that I am still extremely moody and I don’t “feel” 40 just like I didn’t “feel” 30 and I didn’t “feel” 21 and I didn’t “feel” 16 or whatever. Tell me, how am I supposed to feel? (Seriously, tell me.)