A Round-Up, Finally
Dear Friends,
I’m sorry I’ve been quiet for a couple of weeks. I needed to consume some content so that I’d have something to talk about, and I finally have. Two books, a movie, a short story, some new hobbies, and few call backs to my pet peeves. I also heard someone making New Year’s resolutions last week, which I thought was funny, and it occurred to me that I should check in on mine, since the year is one-third over. It’s a mixed bag but I’ve still got 67% of the year to get to them all, right?
First, the books. Last week, I was on a lovely vacation at The White Stallion Ranch, and I gave myself the time to read Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and James by Percival Everett. On the face of it, these books have very little in common, other than being written in English, but in fact, they are very similar in that they are fast-paced, approachable, and exceedingly well-written. Like I’m-envious-to-the-point-of-wanting-to-give-up-writing well-written.
That happens to me sometimes: I read something so good, I think, what’s the point of trying? Other times, I read a book, and think, meh, I can do that. From the perspective of craft, though, these two books are a reminder that the best books are straightforward tales with action and description that keeps you firmly in the world the writer has created. In recent years, I’ve thought that a lot of the “best” books were boring affairs, enamored with their own meandering sentences and plot conceits, that needed firmer editing. Percival Everett could probably get away with not being edited too, if he wanted, but he is such a fine writer that he wants to polish every sentence, and it shows.
Like all really strong-minded women, one whom everybody flops, she adored being bossed around. It was so restful - Stella Gibbons, Cold Comfort Farm
If you need other book recommendations, you can peruse my book shop. In any case, please only buy books from indie bookstores. Thanks.
Okay, movies. I have now seen more movies in the theater this year than I did in the prior ten years put together, I think. At five, I am ahead of the 12 movie goal I set in my New Year’s resolutions. A couple of weeks ago, I went to see The Wedding Banquet, which was a remake of a 1993 movie that I never saw (so I don’t know why I’m mentioning it). It was very sweet and fun. I’m not sure it rose to “see it in the theater” good but with a little canned cocktail and a good friend at my side, it was a good way to spend an evening. The most unbelievable part of it was Bowen Yang as an ambivalent grad student/birding tour guide who is slightly depressed. Not that he wasn’t good in the role. Just why would anyone want to cork that much personality if they paid him to be in a comedy?
Next up, the short story. Anyone who knows me for more than six months knows that I do not like short stories. I don’t hate them, I just don’t like them. (They’ve been featured in several Pet Peeves editions over the years). How then, did I come to read Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff? Because Brook has the habit of quoting it any time someone has a minor service complaint: “If they’re not chopping off the wrong leg, or bombing your ancestral village, they’re closing their positions.” Now you need to go read it, because, dammit, it’s so good. It might be the perfect short story, in that I am not left wanting more. It’s exactly as long and as short as it needs to be and it nails the ending like a Olympic athlete.
New hobbies? Yes, please. While we were on vacation, kicking it with my extended in-law family at Happy Hour, we had to assign one another Guiness records (as in, what would put this person in the Guiness book of world records) and my sister-in-law (or maybe my mother-in law; again, it was Happy Hour so who knows) said that I would win Most Hobbies. This is unfortunately accurate. While I was at the ranch, I took up archery, and went to three archery lessons, hoping to master the ancient art of bowmanship. I didn’t really succeed but I didn’t fail either, so that was a win. I’ve decided not to buy my own bow and arrows for the time being but I’ll let you know if I change my mind.
Also while at the ranch I was introduced to cowboy mounted shooting, which you can check out here:
I will not be taking this up as a hobby, but I might start watching videos of it as a hobby? We’ll see.
Awhile ago, I did a long post about Predictions of Disappointment, and I have one that I feel has come to fruition. The time for Internet of Things Regret has arrived. Ten years ago, we did a remodel and installed a Ring doorbell (with camera) and a Nest smart thermostat. They worked well enough along the way, but they really were just a doorbell and a thermostat. But now, they are both albatrosses. Their manufacturers have informed me that they will no longer be providing software updates, so that if I’d like to have functional service in the foreseeable future, I must upgrade to the newest versions. But don’t worry! They’ll give me 25% off the new product! Because of course, that is the point of the software-enabled products we’ve all bought: planned obsolescence, now and forever.
Both Ring and Nest are owned by Google at this point, so I could righteously be mad at our Alphabet overlords, but really I’m annoyed with myself. I know intellectually that disconnecting is the right way to go, but I fear the “old” non-internet products no longer exist and I know that replacing them will require time and expense that I don’t feel like expending.
One of my Powerball dreams is to use my vast millions to counteract the environmental damage of shell collectors with a Seashell Renaturation Society, so I was thrilled to read about the efforts of these gentlemen in Connecticut who are recycling oyster shells. When I win the Mega Millions, I will grant them a lot of money to expand their efforts nationwide.