Hey friends,
I’m sat writing this out in the sun and it’s bloody gorgeous. Got little Vernon on my lap, ready for his newsletter debut.
He’s the obvious highlight of my month - see below for a selection of the roughly 500 pictures I’ve taken of him in the last 3 weeks. Any compliments and offers of dog sitting welcome in the comments.
This month I read two books I’ve been really looking forward to which both left me feeling a bit conflicted. The first was Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik. I loved diving into 60s and 70s LA and the social web of writers, artists, actors and musicians that eventually made it big. The author enticed me with the allure of revealing secret letters between the two women (Joan Didion - world famous journalist and author - and Eve Babitz - artist and writer who only really gained recognition towards the end of her life prompted by a Vanity Fair profile written by Anolik). But what it really was was a takedown of Didion - mainly through gossip and rumour about her personal life and career ambition - in pursuit of establishing Babitz as the more authentic and superior voice of the LA scene they were a part of. Disappointing - but has made me want to read more from Didion and Babitz themselves.
The second was Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte. I’d seen brilliant reviews of this, and while it was unique and impressive, after the first couple of stories it felt like the author just wanted to show quite how clever he is. Would love to know your thoughts if you’ve read it!
I know we’ve all watched Adolescence by now - and if you’re anything like me you’ll want to know everything about how it was made, so I figured I’d share the BTS in case you’ve not seen it:
Would love to know any books I should put on my summer reading list - I’m going away in May so would love some inspo!
Lots of love,
Izz
Books
Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero
This novel follows a young trans girl growing up in Madrid during the 1980s. So beautifully written and quietly devastating. Must read.
The Persians by Sanam Mahloudj
An easy, entertaining read set against the backdrop of post-revolution Iran. There’s five narratives from different women across multiple generations of one family, half of whom flee Iran to resettle in the US. It felt slightly longer than it needed to be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright
This is the first Anne Enright book I’ve read - and it won’t be the last. Telling the stories of Carmel and her daughter Nell, it’s a wonderfully written exploration of how our family - and their past - can shape us into who we are.
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
Both my mum and Jo gave this a strong endorsement so I knew I has to read it. Absolutely loved it - couldn’t put it down. Based on an old poem about an Italian Duchess who mysteriously dies, it follow Lucrezia de’ Medici, daughter of the Grand Duke, from her childhood in Florence to her teenage marriage to Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara.
TV
The Studio, Apple TV
Seth Rogan’s new show is hilarious - and an incredibly stressful watch. Particularly in ep 2, they’re giving the Bear a run for its money on being the most anxiety inducing show on TV (in a good way?!)
Podcasts
Are we living through an overdiagnosis epidemic? The New Statesman
Courtesy of Dr Monique Keane, this was a really interesting listen. Particularly the cases mentioned about Huntington’s and Lyme.
Article
One for the pop culture girlies. I found this article thought provoking - not to say I agree with all of it, but it raises some valid challenges and observations.
Omg can’t wait to meet the pup!
I read Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion this week and loved it! Very bleak but so addictive. Finished in a day!
Vernon is so gorgeous!!