Less Interesting Times Please
Reading and writing through it all
Editor’s note: I’ve tried to complete and send this newsletter episode about 10 times off and on over the last couple of weeks, but I’ve been so depressed about the new state of the world and overwhelmed by my own work in it that I haven’t been successful until right about now. So, sorry about that!
I started this newsletter as a way to bring some order to my reading and create some sporadic, lighthearted joy around book recommendations. Occasionally, I’ll rant in the preamble about something political, but the focus has been generally more about where reading intersects with pop culture and less about the collapse of an empire.
If you’ll indulge me for a moment though, it does feel a little bit irresponsible and silly not to acknowledge all that’s happening in the world right now with a sentence or two. And then we’ll get back to business around here, since I know you don’t come here for doom and gloom. At least I hope you don’t. So, two quick things. (If you want to avoid politics, just skip past the numbered paragraphs.)
There are a lot of horrible things happening right now. I join so many in outrage and heartbreak about the initial slate of executive orders from this administration that directly target LGBTQ+ communities and undo the progress brought about by previous administrations, not to mention ones that challenge the very existence of trans people. Alongside those are proposals that deeply affect queer communities, whether they affect immigration through unconstitutional attacks on legal status or they are trying to make America sick again by targeting medicare, prescriptions, or life-saving HIV treatment and prevention drugs. Whether or not these orders are legally sound is unclear, but nonetheless they are strong indicators of this administration’s intentions. We have our work cut out for us. I can’t even get into the coup behavior of a billionaire treating government agencies like his personal playground.
I am trying to remain hopeful. More citizens oppose this administration than defend it. The harm caused by the administration is bound to render folks more hostile to the party in power - after all, the entire conservative project is only being upset when something is directly affecting you. in a viral clip the other day, Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde preached a sermon directly to the new President, Vice President, and their families, sitting in the front pew, imploring them for mercy in the broadest sense, and recounting to them about the very real fears and the immeasurable value of LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities – how we are just as much a part of the American story as anyone else. It was a brave and powerful moment, and it was the perfect example of not obeying fascism in advance. I believe we would be wise to follow her lead and do what we can, even small act of kindness, to remind us who we are and how we can fight.
Ok, actually 2.5 things. When fighting for gay rights decades ago, several high profile national organizations left trans folks behind as they tried to make community support more palatable to people who were never going to love us. I want to make clear that a fight for queer rights without centering the trans folks who are under the most scrutiny at this moment is unacceptable and a failure of an organizational strategy. We can and will do better in 2025.
Ok, let’s talk about some books.
THE LIBRARY IS OPEN
The Book of George
by Kate Greathead (2024)
When anyone asks me if I like men, I say no. I am unfortunately romantically and sexually attracted to them, but I do not generally like them. I don’t need to tell many of you how dating men is a difficult task, but just imagine a man dating a man and how much problematic energy enters that space. This is all relevant to The Book of George, a novel that focuses on one man and his unremarkable way of frustrating everyone around him just by virtue of being a man. We all know a George, and more terrifyingly many of us have at one point or another been a George.
We follow George over several decades from his childhood forward to closely observe the White Male F*ck Up of this particular White Male Fuck Up Novel (WMFUN), as coined by the creators of the Tournament of Books. We meet his mother who loves George distantly and lavishes his with praise and a privileged life. We get acquainted with his group of friends from college who love him because of and despite who he is. And we create a change.org petition to forcibly remove his long suffering girlfriend from the bland terror of dating George. Everyone, including George, is real, witty, and sharply observed. At any moment this book could have gone off the rails and created a monster, but it’s clear from the beginning that we’re in very good hands.
The miracle of this novel is that the writing is so good that we never stop rooting for George just a little bit. We find our selves manipulated into empathizing for this poor bastard. And the final chapter uses sleight of hand that puts the rest of the novel in perspective. I people I’ve dated in George. I saw my friends in him. I saw myself in him. It makes sense that the everyman of this moment would be a self-involved man child, and after you read this you’ll be wondering how collectively we might solve a problem like George.
Read it if you like: comedies of manners, straight relationships you can’t understand, following one character over many years, vignettes, WMFUNs.
All Fours
by Miranda July (2024)
This novel was a bit of a phenomenon last year, being passed around like a secret by so many women. Finally a novel had arrived that addressed menopause and aging and hitting sexual prime at an age where the rest of society believes you’re long past it. Naturally, I thought that was none of my business, but I was very happy for everyone who found value in it. Of course. I was one of those readers performatively carrying around one of the fluorescent, multi-colored copies of No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July back in 2007ish, but I thought my journey with her would have ended there. It wasn’t until the book started a ///discourse/// that I became interested in it in earnest. I love when people have OPINIONS of books almost as much as I love having OPINIONS.
Our (anti?) heroine in the novel is a just famous enough multi-media artist who the wife of an ostensibly supportive musical artist and the mother of a charming nonbinary nugget. When a professional opportunity (which also feels a bit like a challenge) arises to drive cross county, this artist who may or may not be based on the author decides to leave husband and daughter behind for two weeks and travel. However, as sometimes happens when you recognize a bit of freedom for the first time in years, she becomes sidetracked, checks into a motel 30 minutes away from the start of her journey, and becomes infatuated with a younger man who washes her windshield at a gas station. So, there were relatable parts after all. Chaos ensues. Interior decorators are called. Tampons are removed by committee. Her life is changed forever by this decision.
Now when I picked up the book, I expected something rather outrageous based on the reactions contained within the ///discourse///, but for better or worse, I was not outraged. Instead, I found the story tender and humorous. It ended up being a story about finding yourself and upending expectations. Was the main character over the top and ridiculous? Sure! Was I hoping to resent her seemingly super understanding husband a little bit more? Yes! But the story was original, and there should be more stories about this period, ahem, in women’s lives! Sometimes you’re just in the mood for a character who’s extreme in every way. Give me weird horniness. Give me books that are EVENTS. Give me something to TALK ABOUT.
Read it if you like: knowing what your girlfriends are talking about, twee mumblecore, learning a lot about menopause, like so much about menopause, sex scenes that are more awkward than sexy.
I’ll Have What He’s Having
by Adib Khorram (2025)
I usually read a lot of serious books in the beginning of the calendar year - the books that won awards or ones of the Best Of lists that I didn’t get to at the end of the last year. But with everything going on around us, I needed to read about men falling in love and having sex as an escape. The gay romance that seemed to be popping into my algorithms most vigorously as of late was this one. I was familiar with the author from some of his very earnest, chaste, and lovely young adult selections about Persian teens coming of age and coming out at the same time. But Mr. Khorram, I was not familiar with your game.
Farzan gets dumped in the very first chapter, a gesture emblematic of how his ne’er-do-well life is going lately. Can’t seem to hold down a job after he had to leaving a teaching gig for anxiety. To make things worse, his younger siblings are super successful and in fulfilling relationships. His parents - owners of the best Persian restaurant in town - love and accept him but wish he would get his act together. What’s going to happen when his parents announce that they’re ready to retire? Can Farzan be trusted to take over? Across town, David has moved back to town from Chicago and left his life in finance to study to be a sommelier. A bit of a wine savant, he’s studying in a small restaurant with the hopes of hitting the big time in LA or NY where he can make his name as a master som. Unlucky in love himself, he’s not looking for anything serious. In fact, he’s going to leave town as soon as he can.
But of all the wine joints in the world, Farzan had to walk into his…
Tension builds, friends with benefits relationship are established, and sexy scenes that don’t make you cringe are written. The book is great. I loved the characters and the gradual build of their relationship. I love that it takes place in Kansas City because queer people everywhere, not just in NY and LA. I love that the story takes place with Persian and Black characters and their complex families. Most of all, I needed to read right now about the power of love and attraction and how those things aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. And like I said before, hot sex scenes. Check it out.
Read it if you like: mm romance, learning about wine. super hot descriptions of food, fwb to bfs, gays without traumatic coming out stories.
LIGHTING ROUND
The Tournament of Books is right around the corner, and I’m the 18th of the 18 books. Are you playing along?
David Erlich’s video countdowns of the best movies of the year are not to be missed. 2024 is no different.
Thanks Zach ❤️