California is getting hit with another heatwave, but I will be flying out on the day that's supposed to see the worst of it. I'll be in Atlanta shooting a project, with plans to enjoy wine and hopefully squeeze in a visit to a vintage store before I fly back out.
High of the week: getting to an art museum this past weekend
Low of the week: procrastination. so much procrastination.
Thoughts & Things:
are you getting divorcey?
currently debating whether to add more books to my TBR or make a real effort to finish the growing pile that i have. i’m leaning towards adding more books
okay, am i the only one who thinks that it’s way too early for pumpkin spice anything?
there’s been a fly in my place for the last two days with ninja skills, it’s driving me bananas
since i’m nearly all caught up with ACOTAR, i need suggestions for similar books. please and thank you
Blink Twice: Imagine this - you're working at an event where the guest of honor is not only one of the wealthiest men in the country but also your crush. As the night progresses, you and your best friend ditch your catering uniforms for dresses and end up mingling with the guest of honor. Before you know it, you've agreed to join him and his friends on his secluded private island. Once there, things take a turn for the strange, which you chalk up to the all-night partying. But, of course, that's not the real story, and to avoid any spoilers, I'll leave it at that.
Blink Twice marks Zoe Kravitz's debut as a director. While it wasn't my top pick, I appreciate the story that she aimed to tell. At its core, the film explores the complexities of trauma and the ways we rationalize things to ourselves. I gotta say, Channing Tatum was great in this, especially in the scene where he tells the lead that he's sorry. Honestly, I'm still thinking about it. Although it's not essential to watch this movie in theaters, it's definitely worth watching.
What do I do?: I used to think my hesitation to fully identify with being an actress stemmed from not taking my craft seriously enough, but I've started to see it differently. While getting my nails done, the manicurist asked if I was an actress, which I confirmed, but then felt compelled to mention that I also do other work. I wanted to say that I run the social media accounts for three different businesses, I write scripts every now and then, I'm obsessed with my fur babies, and the heat makes me cranky. For the first time, I saw that my response had nothing to do with believing in myself but rather reflects a deeper resistance to being defined by one label. Plus, being defined by what you do places the emphasis of self-worth on what we have or haven't accomplished. I've come to realize that I don't want to feel beholden to any single identity. Instead, I want to embrace and honor all the facets of myself without feeling the pressure to limit myself to just one.
On a completely different note, while we're on the topic of labels, I just remembered a date I went on years ago. I won't delve into the whole story, even though it was under an hour, it was packed with awkward moments. To give you a sense of it, he chose a noisy venue and whispered everything, and got annoyed when I asked him to repeat himself. He judged everyone around us ("this place is just filled with pseudo-intellectual hipsters"), questioned if my acting career meant I was a professional liar, and finally he asked if I was liberal. I confirmed, and he said nothing. When I asked if he was conservative, he almost lost it. He launched into a tirade about how labels didn't apply to him and never would, because he sees all sides of everything. That’s not even close to the worst date that I went on when I was still flying solo.
Beach Read by Emily Henry: I finally managed to pull myself away from listening to A Court of Silver Flames long enough to finish reading Beach Read by Emily Henry. The is about two writers, January Andrews and Augustus "Gus" Everett, who on the surface appear to be polar opposites. Both are published writers, but January likes to write happy endings, while Gus leans towards more somber, realistic tales. They're both stuck with writer's block and coincidentally find themselves living next door to each other. To shake things up, they agree to a challenge: Gus will tackle a romance novel, and January will try her hand at a serious literary work. As they dive into each other's genres, they start to develop a deeper connection.
The book was sweet, featuring clever dialogue, touching moments, and a deep dive into themes of grief and personal growth. If you're new to Emily Henry's work, I'd recommend starting with Book Lovers. While I appreciated Beach Reads, I found that the gradual romance and banter in Book Lovers made for a more exciting ride.
Robert Frank Photography: I finally made it to MOCA in downtown this past weekend. Due to something someone told me years ago, my expectations weren't very high. Lo and behold, I loved the museum. One of the highlights was all of the framed photographs by Robert Frank. While I had previously seen some of his work, I didn't know his name or really anything about him.
Robert Frank, a Swiss-American photographer, is widely considered as one of the pioneers of street photography. He is best known for his influential book The Americans (1958), which challenged the idealized vision of post-war America. The book is filled with pictures that Frank took while on a cross-country road trip in the 1950s. Frank captured candid and unfiltered images that portrayed everyday people, loneliness, and societal contradictions. His black-and-white photographs offered a raw and often stark contrast to the mainstream photography of the time. Frank preferred to focus on mood and emotion over technical precision.
Frank's work was considered controversial at the time because it challenged the norms of 1950s American culture. By highlighting the racial divide, loneliness, and disillusionment felt during the post-war era, Robert Frank's work served as proof that prosperity and happiness were not universal experiences. This led to controversy and his work being labeled as "unpatriotic" and "pessimistic." His work is truly stunning, so if you get the chance to go to MOCA, check out the three walls filled with rows of his work.
Happy first week of September, friend! Keep cool (in every sense), and take a look at my September essay. Just a quick note: there won't be a newsletter next week since I'll still be out of town, probably drinking all of the wine. But don't worry, I'll be back in your inbox the following week. Take care!
In case you missed it:
September’s Essay: Story Spells: The Magic of Words
June’s Essay: On Grieving