Welcome to this week’s edition of Open Tabs, where I share my current reads, recent obsessions, and media consumptions every Sunday!
Reading [Books]
Pruitt-Igoe by Bob Hansman — Over the last few years, I’ve had a nascent interest in the politics of our built environment (and the history of St. Louis). Since the former site of Pruitt-Igoe (a mid-century housing project) is just a few miles North of me, I keep returning to this touchpoint in search of more information.
Autism is Not a Disease: The Politics of Neurodiversity by Jodie Hare
And I finished listening to Committed by Suzanne Scanlon.
I’ve mostly been reading non-fiction lately, and while I’m eager to get pulled into a novel, I just don’t feel drawn to anything in particular at the moment. Or, I don’t have time to add fiction to the pile. I’d love to read just 1 more novel before the end of the year though. Hopefully I’ll find something to read this week.
Reading [Online]
Unraveling the 50-year Mystery of the Body in the Basement — Rolling Stone
This article and this article about the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield anesthesia limit.
And this Slate article about the 4B movement.
Watching [Movie]
Melancholia (2011)
Late last year, I read Elvia Wilk’s Death by Landscape, a collection of essays about climate, sci-fi, and “new weird” media. One of the films she wrote about is Melancholia, so it piqued my interest. I only made it half-way through…but I do intend to try again.
Watching [TV]
I can’t help it, I am always drawn to a cult doc. It’s so easy for us to watch this kind of thing with judgement and fascination (or even ridicule), telling ourselves it could never be us…but I think these cult stories actually show us what it really means to be human, what we’re all in search of.
Listening [Music]
Listening to this album on repeat. It’s been a good way to get energized in the morning.
Listening [Podcast]
Simon Critchley was the guest for this episode, talking about his book Mysticism. I’ve been meaning to read some of his work, and this one has especially caught my attention. They talked about a lot of things that have been on my mind lately, like the “Self” and love and overthinking…I’m trying to get outside of myself these days!
Books on my Radar [TBR]
Mysticism by Simon Critchley
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
The Broken Heart of America by Walter Johnson
Last Week…
Thanks for reading today’s issue of Empty Head! Subscribe to receive every Open Tabs in your inbox + new book reviews and essays, and other musings.
I loooove Melancholia it's one of the best pieces I've ever seen about a specific feeling