SURROGATES, AFFAIRS, AND HOUSE TOURS

LIFE OF A BOOKMAN

Bookman: 1. a person who has a love of books and especially of reading. 2. a person who is involved in the writing, publishing, or selling of books. Oh, hi that's me!!

Not shy at all: I started this lovely book last week called Shy Creatures. It’s one of the final installments of my Daunt Book Subscription (which has been my favorite present EVER, shout out to my sister-in-law!!). It’s about what happens when a psychologist falls into a dramatic affair with one of the attending doctors at her ward. I’m only a little ways in, but I’m already like YUP, this author knows how to catch the ethereal experience of obsession on the page.

Writing: Love letters!! Lots and lots of letters this week. One specifically that I cried the whole time I attempted to pen what this human means to me, because this time is tender and sentimental and sweet :) And I’m working this week to fire up an Evangeline word-count writing plan. I’m excited to break down the book I have left to draft into manageable goals for each week, these next two months. LFG!!!

WOMEN’S STUDIES

What gets passed down becomes our history.

The Baby Died. Whose fault is it for Wired. Note that per the title, this is a long read about fertility and loss and the punishing of a surrogate for miscarriage. And it’s also one of the most unhinged and concerning and chaotic things I’ve read in quite some time. Once upon a time, my bestie and then-roommate did years of research on surrogacy, and the potential the field had as a business opportunity to solve some of the REAL issues that you’ll see noted in this story. So, some of the story context was familiar, but the story itself was really hard to comprehend. And I had no idea the risks that surrogates face, especially in a medical climate that’s already vulnerable for mothers.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Latest Epiphanies By Jia Tolentino [“Eat, Pray, Love” was a huge hit in part because readers imagined they could be like its author. Her new book, “All the Way to the River,” shows how dubious that notion was.] Well, I freaking devoured this piece. Jia is one of the more insightful, interesting writers about topics and people I care a lot about...and she did NOT let me down in this article about Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book. It’s a hard look at the economy of becoming, and as I was reading it, I thought two things: wow, I will not be reading Gilbert’s memoir. And also, wow, Tolentino gives Gilbert her credit (for being a special and talented writer) while also acknowledging we might have met the edge of where the format she created still works.

Everything I love at my friend Libbie's House by Pamela Berger. This is the best, most wonderful house tour of my dear, ridiculously talented and creative friend who is always a sage guide in my life...and who alwayssss makes me laugh. We went to see A Few Good Men at the Savannah Theatre over the weekend and laughed basically the entire way home (P.S. Locals, go see this production!! It’s SO good). I have spent MANY a dinner, cocktail, birthday celebration and mahjong at Libbie’s house, which I love so much for it’s color, it’s style, it’s humor, it’s comfort, it’s FUN, it being SO Libbie...but seeing her home through Pamela’s eyes was both totally spot on and full of gems I never knew about. Give it a read, then Read Libbie’s book, Love on Libbie's label, and Subscribe to Pamela's newsletter, all of which will delight you!!

Other stray links: I just started listening to Unicorn Girl on Apple Podcasts (major SCAMANDA adjacent if you ever listened to that one ), the best time to be in college was from 2006 to 2010 (what an accurate post!!). And this super interesting post about the setup of the work day on men’s rhythms versus women’s.

PASS IT ON

Stories are heirlooms. Here's one of mine:

Last week, I got to do a SUPER fun shoot for a Q&A that will be coming out in a few weeks. Which meant I got styled, and all gussied up, and made my pup Skye model with me. She did great...born for the camera that spotted, blue-eyed beauty! The most fun part was having two photographers who are both SO talented at what they do (Check out Emily (wardrobe, stylist, ultimate creative and her other half Alex's work) and having Libbie (from above!) there to make me laugh and catch some BTS content. I’m cheesing just thinking about how much fun it is to do cool things with really cool and wonderful people. Feeling lucky, feeling grateful! I’ll share more soon!!

Woman on xx