Reading List: Sasquatch and Treason and Horror Novels, Oh My!
First off, I want to apologize profusely for omitting the promised photo of my healing dog in the previous Missive. As penance, here are photos of her looking ridiculous in her Suitical, the Single Ladies-like bodysuit that prevents her from getting to her healing scar. It’s delightful (and yes, in one she is wearing both the suit and the cone, but that was due to the energy of my post-surgery stoned Springer Spaniel / Poodle fighting anesthesia, and me adding literally anything to her outfit that might prevent her from running screaming zoomies in the apartment.)
ANYHOO, I consumed a great deal of content over my latest COVID odyssey, and continue to consume a great deal of content now, so why don’t we get into a few things for you to chow down on this weekend?
Grady Hendrix, The Final Girl Support Group - After being suggested by Cousin of the Missive Tannis, this was supposed to be the book I listened to on my way down to LA for my ill-fated vacation. The good news is, I was so excited about it, I started the audiobook a week before the trip and devoured it over long walks the weekend before. If you’re a horror movie fan, I’m sure you’ve already read this, and if you’re not… you should still read it.
Ben Jacobs, What if there had been no adults in the room on January 6? (Vox) - I think many of us have had this headline rattle around in our heads when considering just how close to the precipice we were (and, frankly, remain). So this overview of the January 6 committee hearings and of all of the ways that we came THISCLOSE to calamity is chilling. And while I abhor Mike Pence’s politics, we must profoundly respect anyone who stuck to their guns while 40 feet away from losing his life for merely following the constitution (before you say “he was doing his job”, tell me you’d do your job with a deranged crowd calling for your death. And I sure hope I am never stuck in a safe room with my family, with my spouse frantically closing curtains to prevent a mob from finding me.
Meg Walter, Sasq watching (The Deseret News) - So I guess I believe in Sasquatch now?!?! This piece is awesome and thoughtful and thought provoking and just all in all interesting. I’m not a huge believer in cryptids, but after listening to as much Last Podcast On The Left as I have and then reading this piece, I wouldn’t be opposed to getting on someone’s mailing list.
Brendan Pierson, Florida abortion ban violates Jews' religious freedom, lawsuit says (Reuters) - This isn’t a longread, but three cheers for Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor in Boynton Beach.
Katie Hunt, DNA analysis reveals source of Black Death (CNN) - NERD ALERT: history and archeology and epidemiology, oh my!
Allan Smith and Alex Seitz-Wald, The untold story of Ginni Thomas' anti-cult activism — after she was 'deprogrammed' (NBC News) - Bonkers. Just…. bonkers that SCOTUS Justice Thomas’s wife (and alleged apparent Jan 6 conspirator) Ginni Thomas was in a cult described as such: “Lifespring, like NXIVM and “Sweat Lodge Guru” James Arthur Ray’s course that led to three deaths in 2009, are what some experts call Large Group Awareness Trainings, New Age self-help programs that paradoxically promise to deliver almost superhuman mental abilities that can be achieved only through total submission.”
Rebecca Sun, ‘Fire Island’ and the Bechdel Test: Turning the Debacle Into a Learning Opportunity (The Hollywood Reporter) - If you don’t immediately know what this headline is referring to, you may want to skip this one, but if you’re interested in discussion of representation in film, this is a piece for you!
Have a great weekend, darlings! Drink some water, get outside, be kind to each other.
xoxo Amy