The Bookhive List: Joan Didion

Normally the Bookhive List posts are about specific books that I love, but I refuse to choose a Joan Didion book I like best. They are all good and they are all short, so you really have no excuse for not reading all of it. But I suppose if you must limit yourself, please read A Year of Magical Thinking, Play it as it Lays, and The White Album. If you, like me, are already a major Joan Didion fan, you should check out this new biography of her, coming this month.

Also, for more of the same, go here. And here.

The Bookhive List is a weekly recommendation of my all-time favorite, must-read books.

The Better Father's Day Gift Guide

Don't waste a day of celebrating your father with garbage books like Erik Larson and Doris Kearns Goodwin. That is perhaps unnecessarily harsh -- both are great writers -- but show a little creativity this Father's Day. Every other Father's Day gift guide I've seen lists the same old sports and non-fiction stuff, which is fine and predictable and lame. Here are the superior choices to celebrate your dad:

Missoula by Jon Krakauer -- This one is actually a trick because Krakauer is totally in the realm of Erik Larson and Doris Kearns Goodwin in terms of non-fiction bestsellers, but hey, dad's love Krakauer. Plus, this one has a bit of sports and a heaping dose of feminism, so it's the perfect thing.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood -- In my own dad's words "It's one of the best books I've read...AND it's by a woman!"

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald -- I've got a longer review of this coming up, but it's a really terrific book about grief and falconry, and is totally something your dad would like, if your dad is awesome.

The White Album by Joan Didion -- Baby-boomer dad's like books about their cultural "moment" which is why every list of dad books includes some kind of rock bio, but give your dad this instead. Didion's counter-culture essays are smarter and more nuanced than anything else out there.

Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace -- Another book of essays, although these are a lot more contemporary. Dads love books upon which movies are based (Seabiscuit, Unbreakable, all the Lincoln  biographies), so buy your dad this funny, touching book and remind him about 'End of the Tour.'

The Son by Philipp Meyer -- If your dad is like my dad, or my father-in-law, he likes Westerns, even if he doesn't know it. More likely he just finds himself watching whatever is on AMC on a Saturday afternoon, and thus a lot of 'Lonesome Dove' type stuff. The Son is a really recent, really great novel, although I will admit the brutal violence was too much for me. 

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -- If your dad dabbles in PBS programming, he probably caught at least an hour or two of the miniseries, so get him hooked on the original, which is better and less confusing; also, if he's like my grandpa, he can't figure out how to watch the rest of the episodes, so he needs to get caught up anyway.

Summer Reading...

"Summer reading" isn't really a thing for me because I read all year long and don't make much of a distinction between seasons -- I just read what I'm in the mood to read. But I will happily acknowledge that there are definitely certain books that are just more pleasurable to read at certain times of year, and I have a well-documented history of reading more Southern and L.A.-oriented authors when it's hot outside. I have no specific titles in mind this summer, but I am looking forward to reading some Faulkner this year, and he is both a Southern writer and a man (something I was not allowed to read last summer). Here are some of my recommendations for your summer reading, if you're into that kind of thing:

-The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides: There is a Bookhive List post on this forthcoming, but it's good enough to warrant multiple mentions. An especially relevant novel if your summer will involve any proximity to fish flies or dying trees.

-Anything by Joan Didion (except A Year of Magical Thinking): Her essays on the American West and late 20th century counterculture are spare, essential and sizzling. I recommend her constantly for every occasion and will continue to do so, unapologetically.

-Any of the major contemporary women writers who are writing excellent literary fiction that is often mis-characterized as women's/genre fiction: Megan Abbott, Meg Wolitzer, Sarah Waters, and Tana French, for a start.

-Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee: Not because it will be good, but because it will be the literary event of the year.

-Re:Jane by Patricia Park; I have Roxane Gay's recommendation to thank for this, but Park's debut novel is a contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre, with the protagonist as a Korean-American woman. I already got a copy of this, so expect a longer review soon.

-The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins; I haven't read this yet but it's definitely on my list, as it was recently endorsed by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, which has never steered me wrong. It's been described as Gone Girl-esque, and it has already made a big splash this year.

-Missoula by Jon Krakauer; I love to read Krakauer in the summer, because it's very intelligent non-fiction that is actually quite easy and quick to read. Granted, this one is about rape at colleges, so not exactly light, but I also read his book on murder in the Mormon community during the summer, perched in a patio chair, so take that as you will...

-Loving Day by Mat Johnson; This was one of 2015 most anticipated works of literary fiction, and while I haven't read any of Mat Johnson's novels yet, I religiously follow him on Twitter and I try to read his essays and nonfiction online whenever I can. He is smart and funny and works issues of race and identity into his writing so seamlessly and effectively.

What I'm Reading: 'Girl in a Band' by Kim Gordon

Girl in a Band: A Memoir

By Kim Gordon

My inability to connect with the music of Sonic Youth is one of my life's greatest embarrassments. When I think about it now, it conjures up a lot of "missed connection"-type feelings, as if I just barely missed out on being a huge fan. On paper, they were the perfect band for me -- I worshipped Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola and Chloe Sevigny as a teen and any band fronted by a woman was of interest to me. I got really into a lot of bands peripheral to and clearly inspired by Sonic Youth, and even listened to Hole. But somehow I missed the boat, and as an adult I have always had a hard time listening to their music, which is so dissonant, and tends to conjure up memories and emotions from adolescence that I'd rather not indulge in.

I'm really hopeful that reading Kim Gordon's exceptional memoir Girl in a Band will change that for me. This has always been my experience with music memoirs -- when I lack an entry-point into the band's catalog, I have used literary connections to forge my own path, which comes so much more naturally. Kim Gordon is someone I greatly admire and even though I didn't listen to her music, she served as a major style and feminist icon in my coming-of-age. Her memoir is really great, with just enough dirt on the 90s music scene, and a really intense description of her Joan Didion-era California upbringing.

This Week in Books Kim Gordon Talks to Carrie Brownstein

I haven't done a 'This Week in Books' post in a few weeks; it's one part apathy, one part late-winter depression, but March is here and it's 50 degrees out and my snowdrop bulbs started popping up, so I'm back and ready to round up.

The folks working on the Joan Didion document 'We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live' have made a nice pseudo-trailer/fundraiser video. If you've already donated, it gives you a better idea of what the finished product will look like.

The National Book Critics Circle Awards were handed out this week, with top prizes going to Marilynne Robinson and Roz Chast. I don't know why, but I feel a sense of accomplishment when a book or author I've read wins a major award. It's validating of how I spent that time, I guess.

My post on Kim Gordon's memoir Girl in a Band is forthcoming, but in the meantime you can watch this terrific interview between Kim Gordon and Sleater Kinney/Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein.

Books to Escape the Cold

My official Theory of Winter is that January is the worst because it's the darkest and longest winter month; 31 days is God's idea of a hilarious joke. February on the other hand, is nice and short and even includes a very indulgent holiday (I know a lot of people will bristle at this because it is NOT cool to like Valentine's Day. And those people don't have my husband, who historically knocks it out of the park for this holiday, probably because he knows how insane I go in winter). So you've survived the worst of it! Now you just have to coast through this short, terrible month. and the following list of books will help you forget the weather:

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster - Prolonged engagements! Unrequited love! Colonialism! And false accusations of sexual assault! All under the hot, Indian sun. I read this a few years ago in January. It helped a little.

The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner - This novel jumps between the steamy, gritty New York art scene of the 1970s, the sizzling streets of Rome amid political and civic turmoil, and the white hot salt flats of Utah. There is a lot of talk of engines and burning metal and motorcycles. It's also just a good book that you should probably read, regardless of the weather.

Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion - If you trend toward Season Affective Disorder, then stay away from this one. I wouldn't go so far as to say this novel will help you forget your cares, but it will certainly put your weather problems in perspective. Plus there's a lot of Los Angeles freeway cruising in a convertible.

The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene - Literally every page of this novel includes some reference to humidity or sweat. A bit more colonialism, if that's your thing, this time in Sierra Leone. There's also a juicy affair (because it's a Graham Greene novel) and a Catholic crisis of faith (because it's a Graham Greene novel).

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys - A really inventive and cool response to Jane Eyre, this novel tells the pseudo-prequel story of Rochester's first wife, a Caribbean heiress who later goes insane and ends up locked up in his attic. There is a 1993 film adaptation with an NC-17 rating, in which a young Naomi Watts plays a small role...You're welcome.

This Week in Books the Apotheosis of Joan Didion

Huraki Murakami's publisher has announced that the until now reclusive and shy author has deicded to answer questions from readers on his site "Mr. Murakami's Place." Naturally, questions will be answered in multiple languages and fans can submit questions on any subject, including solicitations for advice.

Mark Zuckerberg crowdsourced his 2015 New Years Resolution and has committed to reading a new book selected by someone else every two weeks. He even made a Facebook community page to track his progress and encourage other to join. Sounds like a lot of basic bullshit, but that's just me.

Notorious RBG is getting a biography, which is as it should be.

Finally, and most profoundly and importantly, Beacon of Human Perfection Phoebe Philo secured Joan Didion as the model for Celine's newest ad campaign. The results are everything, and my latest computer screen background.

This Week in Books Almost Nothing Happens

What can I say, it's been a slow week in the world of books and book-adjacent news.

Tom Hanks is releasing a book of short stories, and no one cares.

There are lots of Joan Didion think pieces because of the successful Kickstarter campaign to fund a documentary on her, but I won't even link to them because you should just use your time to read Joan Didion, not about Joan Didion.

Lena Dunham is a lightning rod for controversy again. She is never as bad as anyone says, but that doesn't mean I'm defending every single decision she has ever made. I'm just getting tired of feeling the need to have an opinion on her anymore.

Finally, I'm sketching out the blog schedule for 2015 and would love feedback and suggestions. What kind of posts would you like to see? What books do you want me to read? Let me know in the comments section.

This Week in Books Dickon is the First to Heroically Perish and Joan Didion Gets a Documentary

The Toast has delighted me even further with their Inevitable Fates of Beloved Children's Book Characters, of course. The Toast is my delight on a daily basis.

Joan Didion's nephew created a Kickstarter fund for a documentary on his famous and literary aunt. While someone who has made a career of writing very frankly about herself seems like an odd choice for a documentary (her life is quite literally an open book, or many open books), I love her and therefore am in favor of this.

Nothing else happened in books this week, or if it did, I didn't hear about it because I was really sick, huddled up in bed with Gilmore Girls.

What I'm Reading: 'Play it as it Lays' by Joan Didion

My summer of Joan Didion has turned into my autumn of Joan Didion as I tucked into Play it as it Lays, the first work of fiction of hers I've read to date. I was able to get through it in one or two sittings, which is something I really love about all her writing. The prose is sparse and the page count low, but that does not in any way diminish its impact; if anything its economy only enhances the emotional impact, especially in this case.

Play it as it Lays gave me visions of the most recent season of 'Mad Men,' with so many characters out in Los Angeles, and the action of the novel and the series are only separated by about six years. Maria is an aging-at-30 actress, a mild sociopath and a barbiturates addict, who seems to powerlessly drift from one unfortunate sexual encounter to another. Her love for her hospitalized 4-year old Kate seems to be her only purpose in life, and yet is never enough to force her to act in her own best interest, and we learn from the first page that Maria is in a neuropsychiactric hospital

I read this book immediately following a tense and disappointing visit with my own doctor, which sounds like a terrible idea, but I found it oddly cathartic. 

This Week in Books, Portland Catch-Up Version: Zadie Smith is a reading addict...

A Prayer Journal

By Flannery O'Connor

Apologies all around for missing the last two "This Week in Books" posts. I know you live for them. It was hard to keep track of what was going on in the world of books while prepping to travel, doing the travelling itself, and then recovering from travelling, but I'm finally back to normal, for a day, and then I prep for a weeked Up North. At the very least I did my best to accumulate some good links the past two weeks, and here they are:

Oprah! Zadie Smith! What they want you to read this summer! Her comments about reading and prison are particularly chilling because that was my primary takeaway from reading Orange is the New Black-- she got to read so many books in prison!

If you, like me, have Joan Didion fever this summer, check out this essay on Play It As It Lays  from Alice Bolin and The Believer. There is a short write-up on it over at The Millions as well, and they recommended it as one of this summer's "Burnt Out Reads."

Hilton Als reviewed the posthumously published Flannery O'Connor book A Prayer Journal. It's behind a pay wall but you can read the intro and if you're a NYT subscriber, you  can enjoy the whole thing (and maybe share some quotes in the comments? Just a thought). This combines one of my favorite contemporary essayists with one of my favorite female authors, so I might even consider paying to read it.

Here's a brief piece on book hoarding from the LA Times. I found it to be abysmally depressing, but that's just me. Also, I tend to read the books I won, so that might disqualify me.

Finally, the thing I am most excited about -- Matter and MSNBC.com are doing a public book club reading of Susan Faludi's recent feminist classic Backlash: the Undeclared War Against American Women, and have invited plenty of intelligent and inspiring female writers and thinkers to contribute (Roxane Gay, Lena Dunham, etc.). You can read along, tweet along, and read their lively discussions of each chapter.