ninety-third (2024-03-05)
“nothing is wholly obvious without becoming enigmatic. reality itself is too obvious to be true” ― jean baudrillard
photo by steph byce of me and hank on a boat last summer
martyr! by kaveh akbar, 2024
this novel generated a ton of buzz. i loved reading it even though the plot is completely improbable. because of the acclaim, i’m stuck in my post-read contrarian abyss in which i can’t determine my true feelings. was it successful in achieving its intentions? i think so - i’m always drawn to self-destructive protagonists who can’t get out of their own way. akbar’s writing is endlessly curious and lyrical with a touch of magical realism and modern comedy - i’m curious to read more from him though he’s on notice for an element of the too-neatly-tied up ending.
zero-sum by joyce carol oates, 2023
i saw JCO speak about this collection of shorts in the fall. they are dystopic, haunting short stories about technology, relationships, and the blurred lines of reality. many have a distinct yellow wallpaper-esque vibe in which we question a woman’s perceptions and the extent of her delusion. the standout was a story about a primordial twin attached to a young girl who grew out of her head like an amoeba to her horror and her family’s delight. the writing is meticulous and experimental and i desperately want her to write more short stories!
the guest by emma cline, 2023
i really liked cline’s shorts collection daddy and this was almost great. i love a sociopathic female antihero but the plot takes a detour from the sinister towards the salacious that left me disappointed. the most interesting bits of narrative were the dark, self-destructive desires driving the protagonist but those were so sparse as to seem symbolic of the avoidance of deeper work by the author. presenting a character as if she has no history could have been fascinating - i just wanted that to be intentional and not something that felt skipped over.
filterworld: how algorithms flattened culture by kyle chayka, 2024
this book is great and surprisingly light reading. the focus isn’t only on online social media but also regarding the offline spaces (like pristine, nordic-inspired coffee shops) that have been aesthetically homogenized due to algorithmic thinking. the answer to escaping this vicious cycle is boring (but not easy): spend less time online, more time curating your own taste, and seek inspiration outside of the algorithm.
the vulnerables by sigrid nunez, 2023
nunez stays weird! similar to the friend, this is a weird, meditative book on the solitary nature of modern life. in many ways, it’s a first-person account of filterworld: how do we live together when our 21st century norms are designed to keep us segmented and disenfranchised? how do we build authentic connections across differences? there are no easy answers but beautifully posed questions in lilting, melodic elegies.
organization
i’ve been a member of JVP for a few months and have found the organization to be such a meaningful place to connect with other jews who are advocating for an end to the israeli government destruction of gaza. the underpinning jewish values and the incredibly thoughtful organization of meetings and actions have been inspiring and affirming in such a desolate time.
thanks for reading - more to come -
bria