This post contains spoilers for Dani Shapiro’s memoir Inheritance. “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." — Leo Tolstoy My father filled my childhood with music. An accomplished guitar player, he performed during church worship services and parties, led his brothers in singing around campfires, provided an instrumental constant throughout evenings at … Continue reading Inescapable Inheritance: On Dani Shapiro and Complicated Fathers
Month: July 2019
Going off Book: Midsommar
There are a couple of different ways to do smart horror movies. The first explores a specific topic, what the film is “about,” and the plot serves as scaffolding to unpack that theme. Ari Aster’s first feature, Hereditary, falls into this camp. It’s a movie about grief and how our parents’ worst traits can be … Continue reading Going off Book: Midsommar
Summertime Slump
Into every reading life, a slump will come. Maybe you're just not in the mood for what's in the stack. Maybe the line-up of blockbuster movies and bingeable shows is too much to resist. Maybe there's simply a lot going on. Regardless of the reasons, dry spells are inevitable. My recent slump seemed like it … Continue reading Summertime Slump
Odds and Ends
Short post this week as I’m noodling on a couple of more substantive pieces that are not yet ready for public sharing. Here are some snapshot reviews of a few things I’ve read recently. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot – This slim memoir lays bare a woman’s issues with love, motherhood, and mental health, … Continue reading Odds and Ends
Dogs, Coffee, & Books 