The Reading List: July 5, 2020
Elizabeth
Yes, I was really excited to watch the #Hamilfilm (check out Vulture’s exhaustive coverage here, if you want a primer), but I was also pumped to watch the new Babysitter’s Club on Netflix. You know we are big fans of the BSC around here, and honestly, this adaptation is close to perfect. If you haven’t watched it yet, a few fun things to read in the lead up:
An Oral History of the Babysitters Club Movie (spoiler: I hated this movie — it had none of the spirit of the books)
The Baby Sitters Club Taught Me Everything I Needed to Know about Literary Fiction
We’ve talked about it here before, but we are prioritizing both anti-racist non-fiction and ruction by Black authors. Jasmine Guillory perfectly sums up why. (and if you haven’t read Jasmine’s newest release, what are you waiting for?)
I knew Stone Mountain was extremely problematic, but I had no idea about Mount Rushmore.
I am a self-proclaimed grammar snob (I can’t help it, I admit that I am extremely judgmental), but I had no idea that this was so oppressive. It’s going to be hard to get over my insistence that an Oxford comma is necessary (and my law school journal editor training), but I can learn to be less exclusionary.
And something fun: read the comments section here (I am still not going to restaurants in person, but I am tipping big on my takeout orders.)
Shannon
Very important read: As a Black Trans Woman, Celebrating my 36th birthday felt like a milestone.
If you aren’t watching Ziwe Fumudoh’s interviews on Instagram Live (every Thursday at 8 p.m. EDT!), what are you doing?
The hair of Issa Rae’s “Insecure” is excellent. (And it’s important to see Black hair in as many natural styles as possible, just being.)
I read all of Kevin Kwan’s “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy (more than once), and upon publication of his newest novel this week, realized I didn’t know much about the author himself. This Guardian profile changed that.
I, for one, am not thrilled that public health is now a matter of “individual liberty.” Wear a damn mask, y’all.
Moira
An important but difficult read on Clint Lorance, the war criminal Trump has been touting as a hero, and the lives of his platoon.
The perfect social distancing time-killing experiment: dressing like Catherine the Great for a week.
I can’t wait for this to be made into a horror film.
I love Cup of Jo’s beauty features, and Samantha Irby’s Beauty Routine was a perfect treat this week.
A short but lovely article about four different same-sex parent couples.
Katie and John Sturino on the early days of their relationship, adorable as usual.
