DISNEY, ADULTS, HARD LANDINGS, AND EXES

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!!

Tragedy: I finished The Other Side of Paradise by Vanessa Beaumont, a book about a passionate affair that has repercussions for the rest of our main character's life. Set in 1920s England, I had a feeling that it would take me into the era of WWII, which is where it ended. But I was not anticipating how heartbreaking it would be (even though it's all over the jacket copy and the blurbs). This book falls into the category of tragedy, to be certain, but that doesn't make it any less fulfilling to read. I have a VERY big question about the ending that I need to discuss this with, so if you're someone who has read this (or chooses to read this) please reach out!!! Seriously. My deepest rabbit holes on reddit and the wider internet of yielded nothing.

What I'm writing: I have been scribbling away at something new, and something FOR YOU, that I'll be sharing on Friday morning. If you're an ambitious creative you're going to want to watch your inbox for this upcoming gem. I'm a big believer that creation is liberation and working on this has made me feel very free from a lot of the things I've been b*tching about the last few years :)

WOMEN’S STUDIES

What gets passed down becomes our history.

Everyone has an Ex. My sister-in-law sent this podcast recommendation and it did not disappoint. Listening to new friends recall their most detailed and ridiculous story about a past love (and every woman has one) is one of my favorite female rituals. This is an entire podcast devoted to it. I started with Szn 6, Episode 4: Love me Two Times. (or better off, don't.)

The death of celebrity feminism: I built my career during the celebrity feminism era. And, all I can think about on the other side of this half-decade removed, is how real change requires us to be willing to sacrifice something. Willing to entertain the possibility that we could lose everything. So obvi this quote from the article hit: “For celebrity feminism to be even a little effective, powerful women would speak up for the powerless, even if it hurt their bottom line or damaged some of their high-flying relationships.”

Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves. oof, I need to read this book, but have made it as far as the Vogue interview with the author. I'm horrified, often, when I see the media diet I was raised on, and the inherent messages about body, sex, womanhood, agency, etc etc etc. And how fucked it all was. This book, it seems, is bringing that to light. This is a good reminder for what I tell my galpals often: don't self attack.

PASS IT ON

Stories are heirlooms. Here's one of mine:

When your dad calls you and asks if you want to go to Disney World with him...you raise your eyebrows in semi-confusion and say...yes?

I've long wondered what makes Disney Adults tick, and while I'm no closer to an answer (even after spending three full days as an “unattended adult” at the happiest place on earth)...I did feel the importance of storytelling at evert Disney character turn – of story's ability to unite wildly different groups of the general population. Of how one story about a princess finding her voice can span generations of young girls (The Little Mermaid as only an example, but please oh please listen to this Revisionist History podcast about the aged fairytale). It made me want to read more stories, and write more stories...because they allow us to understand each other. And they connect us to the best parts of humanity, instead of always doomscrolling through the worst.

Oh, and tramping around Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot with your parents is a way to make as many lasting memories as the the little girl who went with them (and my sibs) almost 30 years ago.

Woman on xx

PS, don't forget to RSVP to Daisy on May 16th at E. Shaver Books, located in the historic Gingerbread House in Savannah.