This week, I am thinking about lists. I cannot believe that the week that I went on summer hiatus was the same week the Times launched their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list. You would THINK my dear friend Gilbert would’ve said, hey Leonor given the fact that you love books and lists and book lists maybe you should wait a week, but no, he did not. When it launched that Monday and I realized I would not get to see the whole list at once, I sent him some texts with. . .choice language. My feeling about lists like these is that I cannot trust them if I cannot immediately see the number one book and determine the validity of the list as a whole. It should come to no one’s surprise that I spiraled about this all week. And in the end, I was displeased that Elena Ferrante1 took the top spot. When I had dinner with my friend Rox that Friday she said I should’ve sent out an emergency issue of LITL. At the time, I laughed, but also she was probably right.
Initially, I’d read 34 of the books on the list, there were about 11 that I wanted to read, and several books that I started but did not finish2 (which obviously I did not count towards my total). I was irritated by that number and decided I want to make it to 50 by the end of the year. Why? When I do not agree with the number one book? I don’t know! Why does anyone do anything?!? Why do I specifically do anything?! (I guess I have not yet worked through all of my feelings about this!) My library queue and existing TBR have really slowed down my progress on this goal, but I’ll get there.. .I think.
I also began putting together my own Top 10 list which was obviously very challenging. The Times wrote that they let the participants “each define “best” in their own way. For some, this simply meant “favorite.” For others, it meant books that would endure for generations.”
Not gonna lie: I melted down about it all summer. I sent in a top ten for their ballot, but immediately started second-guessing a few titles. There were a few obvious favorites, ones that were most impactful for me. Followed by books that I would reread or recommend often. I was surprised by how quickly and easily I was able to add non-fiction to the list. I struggled mightily with which romance to include on the list (does it need to be a “real” romance with a HEA or just something that has elements of romance?) I wanted some sort of short fiction, I wanted poetry, I wanted to include a graphic novel. I wanted it all! It was hard!
My list is not finalized. It might never be. But it has made me think a lot about how I track books. I have, of course, started some new spreadsheets, including a highly-specific, curated recommendation spreadsheet for my sister and a few friends. I’ve thought about making a space on my bookshelf for the Top 10 because maybe seeing the physical books will clarify some things. If you are less of a commitment-phobe and made your own list and want to share, please do!
Maybe I’ll commit to the list by the end of year issue. . .maybe.
This week in reading. . .
Despite it’s scintillating plot (a married artist has an affair - BDSM included - with an injured ballerina) Exhibit by R.O. Kwon was not for me. Piglet had some really wonderful food writing, but otherwise fell flat.
Book adjacent: an essay against rereading. Where do you fall?
This week in TV. . .
Messy and addictive Tell Me Lies is back and I am all in.
The Perfect Couple has all the right elements and cast and is just ridiculous. So fun.
Sooooo we’re all just making our way through Veep? (I’m on season 5)
This week in a gif. . .
actual footage of me after this summer
This week in movies. . .
I feel like I’m in a movie rut - what is a movie I should watch this fall? Ideally something I can stream at home. Things I love: comedies (rom or otherwise), angsty love stories, family dramas. Do not like: horror, biopics, anything too real/depressing (no dead dogs, ideally)
This week in a newsletter. . .
This essay on mom compliance hit waywaywayyyyyy too close to home (with some asterisks)
Laura Lippman wrote a beautiful tribute to her late mother.
This week in google searches. . .
karon vereen
why does maple syrup need to be refrigerated
nyc mayor line of succession
This week in one good thing. . .
The stretch of weather that we’ve had in NYC has been ridiculously perfect. I know it won’t last, so I am trying to really enjoy it while it does.
This week in a quote. . .
“I want to remind myself when I wax nostalgic about my former planners that it is okay to be a planner who maybe can’t always control the plan.” - Mary Mahoney
This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
This interview with Women Photograph’s Daniella Zalcman.
Drooooling over this color book from 1692.
Went to ICP’s Photobook Fest and got a signed copy of Hard Times are Fighting Times by my dear friend, Alice, Instructional Photography by Carmen Winant, and Sidonia the Sorceres by David LaSpina. Plus I took Zu - getting her take on any art is always so much fun. It makes me look at everything differently.
Hilton Als on Alice Neel.
This week on the internet. . .
I know it has been out for a week but may never be over Jazmine Hughes (rightfully) losing her mind over Usher and somehow still managing to write this excellent profile.
Loved this piece on staff meals for creative groups.
The Ashley C. Ford covering Dear Prudie while Jenée is on parental leave. Best idea ever!
Absolutely thrilled that the celebrity number six mystery is over, but it is very anti-climactic. Positive (?) effect: the /helpmefind reddit.
Chappell Roan on the cover of Rolling Stone with some I&V photos and a fun profile.
I, too, am fascinated by the way Brad Pitt’s reputation seems to be completely unblemished. The evidence is all there!
The dek of this Moleskine piece feels like such a direct attack. (h/t JR)
Related: there are historical reasons we (me) love and use notebooks!
Yes, the caesar salad is perfect, but even more so? The lede art for this piece about it.
Queen Ina!!!
me, every. single. day.
Leonor
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1 I don’t like those books! Sorry not sorry! Maybe there was too much hype when I read the first one, but I found it tedious and then the ending made it such that I felt forced to read the second one! I was not pleased.
2 There should’ve been a checkbox for this too.
