GATEWAY DRUGS, HACKS, AND ANNE HATHAWAY

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!!

My first time: I recently spoke to a galpal who just got into Kristin Hannah, author superstar and the writer of some of my favorite historical fiction books. It got me thinking about the first historical novel I fell in love with, which was Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (which I've recommended to you before about three women during WWII). A fast follow was All the Light We Cannot See, which bares the colliding story of a blind French girl, Marie Laure, and an orphan boy Werner during WWII. Every sentence in this book is beautiful. And even ten years after its publication, I think of the scenes often. If you've ever been timid about historical fiction or WWII novels, consider these your gateway drugs.

WOMEN’S STUDIES

What gets passed down becomes our history. A few for the canon:

What happens to women in Hollywood as they age? Especially comedians. And why aren't they known for their greatest work instead of the small space the world allowed them by the end of their careers? Well, woven into this profile of the indomitable Jean Smart, is a stab at flipping the script on those answers, one Hacks episode at a time. If you're new to Hacks on HBO, you're welcome. It's one of my favorite shows – which follows the dwindling career of fabulously rich and once successful boomer Deborah Vance and the woke Gen Z aspiring comedian and TV writer, Ava. Neither of the women thinks they have anything to learn from the other until they do. The show is dialed, hilarious, and heartfelt, and I'm so excited for szn 3 which just aired this month.

PASS IT ON

Stories are heirlooms. Here's one of mine:

My group chats have been dominated by Anne Hathaway chatter, thanks to the movie The Idea of You, based on the book of the same name by Robinne Lee (which I'm told is pretty different than the movie). I've always been Anne-Hathaway neutral, but then I listened to her interview on The Conversation and I had an entirely new respect for her craft, her relationship to Hollywood, and her wisdom. I cannot say it's the best conversation I've ever listened to (it's stilted, to say the least. The interviewer wants her “to go there” and she “absolutely will not go there.” Seems like NYT should have known that was her style before using her as the debut talent for their new pod centered on conversations). However, there's a line she shares in that episode that I can't stop thinking about: I will not die stressed.

It inspired some writing that's coming your way soon, but until then watch this completely not stressful rom-com and delight in how utterly sexy Anne Hathaway and the smoke show that is her co-star are. I watched it for the second time on my bestie's couch after getting stuck in my connecting city due to flight delays. The country I was trying to get to could wait because Anne Hathaway (and 16 years of friendship) were there to fill in the gaps.

Woman on xx