Welcome to my Open Tabs series. This is a way for me to share my internet brain with you: articles I’ve read, things I’ve watched, the random things I google, and maybe some other recommendations and interesting things for you.
I took a little break from this monthly series over the holiday season. I was so busy with work and trying to get into a new routine, so I had to let this slide. But I’m BACK and (fairly) committed to doing an Open Tabs every month for 2022.
So here’s what been on my mind (and in my browser) this month.
Reading
An Interview with Hanya Yanagihara (Electric Lit): I haven’t read any of Yanagihara’s work, but with her new novel out, there’s a lot of talk going on around the author. I recently read this old interview with her, and…wow. Her perspective feels so unique compared to what people typically put out there. I was on the verge of an existential crisis after reading this. That’s not a good or bad thing, but I found this interview very interesting and thought-provoking. What it says about her writing? I don’t know. I don’t see myself picking up any of her books, to be honest, but not necessarily because of any “controversy”.
Maid’s Bibliotherapy (Verso): This article talks about the “capitalist progress narrative” and how it’s represented in the Netflix series, Maid (which I really liked, for the record).
Men Explain Lolita to Me (Lit Hub): “Guys: censorship is when the authorities repress a work of art, not when someone dislikes it.”
The Case Against the Trauma Plot (New Yorker): “Trauma” has become a mainstay of popular culture and a mainstream talking point…I’m not sure a day goes by when trauma doesn’t come up in conversation somehow. And of course that’s reflected in the media we consume—it seems every popular book these days centers on trauma as an “explanation” for a character’s behavior, or simply as a plot device. This article explores the rise of the trauma plot (and what that means for storytelling).
Watching
An Appropriately Unhinged Recap of Pretty Little Liars: The title says it all. I cannot overstate the number of times I laughed. PLL was perhaps the most ridiculous show ever.
Shiva Baby: Very good movie. The slow build-up of anxiety, followed by release…perfection! Anyone who enjoys the chaotic stories about twenty-somethings who don’t know what they’re doing should give this a watch.
Does Depiction Equal Endorsement: This video essay from creator Broey Deschanel is a great exploration of a conversation I often see in the book community. The video focuses on films, but they talk a lot about Lolita and Call Me By Your Name, based on two books that often spark this conversation. I highly recommend giving it a watch!
Station Eleven: I read Station Eleven at the beginning of January (loved it), and started watching the HBO adaptation last week. It’s proving to be quite anxiety-inducing for me, and yet I don’t feel particularly engaged with it. I’m not sure I’ll finish it now; I might come back around to it later in the year.
Listening
Lolita Podcast: This limited podcast series goes in-depth on the story of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, and covers everything from what inspired the book, the film adaptations it spawned, and the continued misreading of it that has lasted until today. (As you can tell, Lolita has popped up in my media consumption a lot lately.)
Sad Bitch, Bad Bitch: My current playlist
Books on My Radar
The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk: I attempted to read Flights years ago, and I never made it very far through it. I have wanted to try another Tokarczuk though, and I have my eye on her latest release (although I’m not totally sure this will work for me either; I think it’s 900 pages!).
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou: A Taiwanese-American PhD student finds a strange note in the archives during her research. This book is described as a satire that explores white supremacy in academia. It’s checking lots of boxes for me! It’s out March 22 from PRH.
Vladimir by Julia May Jones: The cover would have made me skip over this one completely without reading the synopsis, but I’ve heard lots of people I trust give good reviews! Turns out the description sounds like something I’d really like. It’s actually a February Book of the Month pick, so it’s on its way to me now!
Note: Okay, I might as well plug my Book of the Month link here. If you’re interested in reading Vladimir, you can sign up and get it for $9.99 (or any book you want from their selections).
Googling (no context)
long covid
coppola family tree
degrassi
rose gold hair
how do viruses mutate
hainish cycle
anna delvey netflix
dorveille
praying mantis
dream spirit out of body
Other Things of Note
I’ve realized that my library has a vast digital archive of magazines, so I will now be reading New York Review of Books, Paris Review, and more (for free!). Aren’t libraries the best?
Wordle: I took the bait and starting playing this quick little word game every day. Sometimes it’s very frustrating (suddenly my brain can’t formulate words!), but it’s also kind of fun.
Thanks for reading this month’s issue of Open Tabs! Look for another one in February/March.
You can expect book notes and reviews on The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, Cultish by Amanda Montell, and hopefully some other books soon.
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