Open Tabs [Weekly] #7
07.07.24
Welcome to this week’s edition of Open Tabs, where I share my current reads, recent media obsessions, and unimportant life updates every Sunday!
All I can think about this week is my upcoming move, and apartment hunting, and decorating imaginary apartments in my head. I’ve also been writing a lot, which always feels soooo soooo good. And I’m trying this thing where I don’t obsess over the worst possible outcomes of every situation—but I fear optimism!
I sent a new book reflection this week, about Angel (the character at the center of the novel) and writerly delusion.
Reading [Books]
Here’s what I’m currently reading:
I’m halfway through Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott, following a woman in her twenties in the years after her marriage ends. This may have been written in the 1920s, but it feels just as fresh as any contemporary work. I am absolutely loving it!
I became a little bit curious about All Fours by Miranda July, so decided to listen to the audiobook (narrated by the author). Thus far, it is so, so funny and absurd and unique.
Reading [Online]
I enjoyed this profile of Fitzcarraldo Editions and its founder, even though it’s a bit of a puff piece and has some eye-rolling quotes. It did remind me that I want to actually read Tokarczuk.
Reading [Short Story]
An excerpt from Rooney’s forthcoming novel, Intermezzo, is in this year’s fiction issue of The New Yorker. I read it—rather, I listened to Sally Rooney read it as I followed along. It’s hard to make any kind of assessment about the novel based on this piece out of context…I am interested though!
Watching [Movie]
I had a Parker Posey Triple Header this week!
Party Girl (1995): Irresponsible party girl becomes a librarian. A classic. One of my favorite fun movies. Phenomenal outfits.
Broken English (2007): Desperate Single Woman goes on a string of bad dates, has a brief romantic fling, then goes to Paris. Not great, but charming and enjoyable nonetheless!
Clockwatchers (1997): ~temp girlies~ at a thankless office job trying to figure out life—while wearing killer outfits. Also staring Toni Colette & Lisa Kudrow.
Listening [Music]
Lover - The Knocks (with Dolores Forever)
Last year, my most played song (by like, a lot) was Slow Song. It’s the perfect mix of danceable and melancholic, and I can’t really explain the calm that overcomes me (still!) when I hear it. Lover, also produced by The Knocks, has a similar vibe and certainly hits near the same neurons, making it the perfect bop for summer.
And I remembered to update my Open Tabs playlist, so a few more songs are now in the rotation.
Listening [Podcast]
A new season of Rehash has begun, and the first episode is all about the Rupi-Kaur-ification of poetry. An interesting discussion about the accessibility of art, “democratization” of poetry, anti-intellectualism, etc.
Books [TBR]
Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum
You may have picked up on the fact that I consume a lot of reality TV. Prior to 2020, this wasn’t the case. But in the last year especially, it’s all I really want to watch—this might be because the only streaming service I currently pay for is Peacock, home of Bravo, and what else is there to watch on Peacock? Anyways, I’m overwhelmingly fascinated with the construction of reality TV, and the way it represents the inherent falsity of narrative storytelling. Anyways anyways, I listened to an interview with the author on LARB this week, and now I’m feeling quite desperate to read this.
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Headed to listen to Sally Rooney read her work now!
I loved the Fitzcarraldo piece you shared - thank you! You absolutely have to read Tokarczuk, I have the ARC of ‘Euphemism’ and I am insanely excited to read it. ‘Drive Your Plow’ is a lot of fun!