Three Things: Oh, the Humanity

I get political at the very end!

I’m in one of those modes in which I’m firing on all cylinders and, man I do not want it to end. You ever feel like that? So sharp and lasered-in that if someone asked you to split an atom you’d give it a try? I mean, I started writing a book this week, for chrissake. I hope this continues because I’m moving in a couple of months and it would be awful nice to feel on top of that particular adventure. (Just moving houses, not cities.)

You’d think, therefore, that this week’s theme would be people operating at their apex, but I am always a contrarian so we’re doing the opposite. Here are Three Things exploring the messy wonderful-ness of being a human being. We’re all so lucky to be here.

📺 Love Me (Hulu)
My girl Tina recommended this, and I binged 5 episodes in one night. It follows 3 adults - two siblings and their father - looking for love at different stages of life. That’s it. No explosions or zombies or futuristic dystopias. Just really great writing about how hilarious and heart-wrenching it can be to attempt connection with others. Also the guy Clara meets is hotttt.

📖 Hello Beautiful
I am prone to hyperbole at times - no no, don’t protest - but this is one of the best books I have ever read. Stop reading this email and go buy or borrow it right now. It's damn perfect. Its pacing, character development, the way the switching of narrative voices adds texture and layers to an already beautiful story - just wow. It made me examine my own truths about life and family, and I was legitimately sobbing through several moments at the end. The wonderful part is that I was crying for multiple reasons: what was happening to the characters in the book, what I was feeling about my own history, and the fact that I would have to stop reading this book.

🎥 Splendor in the Grass (Streaming rental)
Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. That might be all you need to hear, really. And goodness, is their chemistry white hot. It’s unfortunately a little too hot because Natalie gets burned by it in a pretty awful way. Based on the play by William Inge and directed flawlessly by the asshole Elia Kazan (he named names during the blacklist era), there’s possibly no movie that captures the hysteria of adolescence better. 

I hope the coming week gives you a big fat hug and a wet kiss.

Also, seriously when are we going to throw this guy out on his ass? Can we write some strongly worded emails to someone?