AUDACIOUS BOOKCLUB HAPPENINGS
Our February book club selection is Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. We will be in conversation with Kaveh on February 27th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. Registration is now open. I hope you can join us!
THE NEWSLETTER WEEK IN REVIEW
PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL NEWS
My essay series, Roxane Gay Presents, with Everand has launched. First up: Julia Turshen with Built For This: The Quiet Strength of Powerlifting. And on February 15th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm, we’re having a launch event at The Greene Space in NYC. There will be food! Drink! A surprise guest (someone hilarious and amazing) hosting the conversation with Julia and I! A limited number of tickets are available, so grab one while you can.
On February 13th, Debbie Millman and I will join Meg Wolitzer, Suzzy Roche, Lucy Wainright Roche, Evie Shockley, and Negin Farsad for an evening of “Everything But Dancing.” Think variety show! Tickets are still available! Use the code FRIENDS for a $15 ticket!
I’m looking for interesting questions for my Work Friend column. If you have a burning professional query, please do reach out to workfriend@nytimes.com.
READING MATERIAL
Netanyahu is ordering millions of Palestinians in the South of Gaza to evacuate but…. there is literally nowhere for them to go. Here is Haaretz, the Israeli paper of record, explaining the extent of the destruction in Gaza. This is not bias; this is factual information so remember that before you e-mail me any nonsense.
Eater talks to Palestinian restaurateurs about their food and the role it plays in their identities.
An interesting profile of music artist Tems. And a really wonderful profile of Thelma Golden.
Bluesky is now open to everyone. Come on through! Here is a TweetDeck-like app that includes Bluesky!
Indrani Sen writes on what actually caused the sriracha shortage a while back.
As the planet warms, and glaciers melt, it is important to bear witness to the very real repercussions of inertia.
Pro Publica is hiring an immigration reporter. Afar Magazine is hiring an editorial assistant. Defector is hiring a staff writer. Applications for the Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant are open.
Warner Brothers is again planning to shelve a completed movie for a tax writeoff—Coyote vs. Acme because no one would pay them the exorbitant amount of money they wanted for the film.
Fancy people are going to spend a lot of money at the Super Bowl.
An interview with Usher. An interview with Deesha Philyaw.
YA authors want you to know adults read their books, too.
New fiction from the one and only Brandon Taylor.
This is not a feel-good story. This is a fucking disgrace and yet another reminder of how inaccessible the subway system is.
Monique appeared on Club Shay Shay. She had A LOT to say.
In Los Angeles, street artists made art on massive skyscrapers that have been vacant and abandoned for years in a city with a large population of unhoused people. I think it’s beautiful and the city should be embarrassed that they haven’t done anything wiht these buildings SITTING RIGHT THERE.
An excerpt from Kara Swisher’s new memoir.
What do you remember about the movie theater of your youth? Isaac Fitzgerald reminisces about his.
My favorite thing about this image is the way Beyoncé is leaning back.
Another great review of Blake Butler’s Molly. It’s interesting to see the thoughtful criticism the book has inspired.
King Charles has cancer… zipped lips emoji.
Will you look at that? Where there is smoke there is, indeed, fire. More women allege abuse from Jonathan Majors.
In NY, the Guardian Angels did a racism against a man they said was a “migrant,” and, of course, he isn’t. He’s just not white. It’s all on camera. And it is assault.
Another guaranteed income pilot, another round of success.
A conversation with Davine Joy Randolph.
When Libs of TikTok posts, bomb threats often follow. She is a pox.
The Republicans in Congress are so, so embarrassing. They failed to impeach Andrew Mayorkas, had no evidence against him, and also miscounted thus failing spectacularly and publicly. And we pay their salaries.
Moms for Liberty is imploding which is a nice little treat.
As book bans continue and libraries are increasingly under attack, librarians are moving to defend themselves. AND BOOKS.
If you love crossword puzzles (one of my favorite activities), this Diane VonFurstenberg collection will really tickle your fancy.
Thanks for sharing my interview! ❤️
As a queer adult, some of my favourite books of all time are YA mostly because as a queer kid we did not have a lot of choice BUT NOW WE DO.
Also, good books are good books. I highly recommend 'The Black Flamingo' by Dean Atta, Everything ever written by Angie Thomas, Xiran Jay Zhao's 'Iron Widow', Margaret Owen's 'Little Thieves', and 'The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School' by Sonora Reyes, as some tasters of how excellent YA can be.