Reading List: Long Weekend Edition
Darlings, I hope you have some extra time to yourselves this weekend, which means you may have some extra brain space in which to pour in that good, good #content! Here’s what’s on my Instapaper list going into Labor Day.
Deborah Lipstadt, Jeremy Corbyn’s Ironically Ahistorical Anti-Semitism (The Atlantic) - As I’ve mentioned before, Lipstadt is a must-read when it comes to the history of the Holocaust (go. read. Beyond Belief: The American Press and the Coming of the Holocaust, 1933–1945. NOW.) In this piece addressing recently unearthed comments by British Labor Party leader Corbyn, she masterfully weaves a commentary on Jewish humor and history persevering through darkness with sharp points on Corbyn’s history of eyebrow-raising comments on “Zionists.”
Jon Lovett, Mourning a Patriot Whose Politics You Hate (Crooked Media) - There’s been so much back and forth about the death of John McCain, and I haven’t found words to describe my mixed emotions of genuine sadness at the passing of a true statesman, and discomfort with the hagiographic obituaries that omit the egregious political choices he made that may have accelerated our descent into our current dystopic state. So instead, I’m going to direct you to Jon Lovett’s take, because he’s a better writer than I am.
Christine Kenneally, We Saw Nuns Kill Children: The Ghosts of St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage (BuzzFeed) - This is brutal, I haven’t been able to get through this one, but with the continuing revelations of systemic abuse mean I should. And you should too.
Cailey Hall, The Consolation of Genre: On Reading Romance Novels (LA Review of Books) - As you peruse that kindle store to stock up on Labor Day reading, I hope you enjoy Hall’s deep dive on the creative and cathartic functions of bodice-rippers and similar titillating literature aimed at us ladies. You lit snobs will come for the history of the genre, and stick around for the exploration of historical anxieties within and around these novels. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to load up my e-reader. You know, for very serious intellectual purposes.
Sharon J. Riley, ‘The lost summer’: the emotional and spiritual toll of the smoke apocalypse (The Narwhal) - This description of the emotional toil of 2018’s smoke-filled air in Western Canada is well-researched and thorough, but also deftly emotional in its sourcing and quoting. A sadly beautiful - and ominous - piece.
And finally, Victoria Edel enumerates the Things Romantic Comedies Gave Me Unrealistic Expectations About in McSweeney’s.
I may Missive tomorrow, I may not, and I am out on Friday and Monday. But know I love you all a great deal, and I’m thinking of you, and I’m grateful for your attention most weekday mornings.
xoxo Amy