Welcome to this week’s edition of Open Tabs, where I share my current reads, recent obsessions, and media consumptions every Sunday!
This week, I whittled down my open tabs from 67 to 34 (and then added a few new ones), and I feel strangely relieved. It’s funny what sites just sort of sit there—as if keeping the tab open helps me remember it better! I had open tabs from a solid 2 years ago…the bookmark feature exists for a reason. I’ve been doing a lot of digital decluttering since the start of the year actually, including my camera roll and inbox. It’s not the most important task by any means, but it feels infinitely more satisfying than doomscrolling.
“My whole life has been about a constant forward motion, a belief—swinging between vague hope and strong conviction—that things would get better, or if not better, then at least they would be different, and this difference had an intrinsic value, because the idea that everything would carry on as it had originally been was too depressing.”
— Therese Bohman, Andromeda
Reading [Books]
Andromeda by Therese Bohman
Under 200 pages and translated from Swedish, this novel follows the complex relationship between two editors at a major publishing house (a 20-something woman and a 60-something man); while asking questions about contemporary literature, human connection, and the narrative of progress. I’ll be thinking about this one more and getting my thoughts together for a review soon.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
I’ve been listening to this audiobook for a couple of months but finally finished it yesterday. It’s all about the Sackler Family, creators of OxyContin, and the role they played in the opioid crisis here in America. This one made a splash when it was published a few years ago, and I think it's deserving of the attention.
Reading [Online]
“There is No Safe Word” by Lila Shapiro (Vulture)
I read the Neil Gaiman article. Though I’ve never really consumed his work, he’s such a huge figure that I could easily name a ton of stuff he’s written/created. Keep in mind that the article does go into some more graphic details of the allegations, and it is a tough read. Here’s a no paywall/archive link.
Watching [Movie]
Cleo from 5 to 7 (1961)
Over the course of 2 hours (5-7 pm), we follow Cleo, a famous singer, as she awaits the results of a medical test. From a tarot reading that spells certain death, to a cafe, to a taxi ride across Paris, we meander with her through the day.
Watching [TV]
I’ve been in an expose docu-series kind of mood in recent months. I didn’t watch these all this week(!), but these 3-4 episode documentaries are quick to get through. They’re not easy viewing though, so be warned.
Quiet on Set
An Update on Our Family
Breath of Fire
Listening [Podcast]
A couple of podcast episodes about the LA fires, including this LARB episode and this fiction/non/fiction episode.
Plus re-listening to episodes of Better Read Than Dead, my fave book podcast that stopped updating over a year ago…
Googling
Leonora carrington
rosary
cherry chocolate chip cookies
Eva Hess diaries
Kalopsia
Last Week…
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