NonFiction – Page 7 – …on the B.L.

I Like to Watch by Emily Nussbaum

August 1, 2019 RaeAnna

Worth A Read Absolutely
Length 384
Quick Review Emily Nussbaum is a Pulitzer Prize winning critic. I’ve heard of her in passing, but I fell in love with her in I Like to Watch, a collection of new and published essays.

Reading *I Like to Watch* by Emily Nussbaum on Top Sail in North Carolina. | Bikini Bottoms | Bikini Top | Beach Towel |

I don’t read a lot of critiques because I don’t like to be influenced one way or the other, but maybe I should start reading Emily Nussbaum’s critiques because, damn, she’s spot on. After reading I Like to Watch, I am officially an Emily Nussbaum fan.

TV is seen, by many, as a waste of time. As the work-from-home, freelancer, hermit, stay-at-home dog mom type, I’m a huge fan of TV. Other than Beau, television is my constant companion. I don’t always broadcast my love of TV, but I have always defended shows I find smart and compelling, which others tend to throw away as “girly.” Idiots. I might like Nussbaum because she bolstered my opinions, but she’s very smart and has been published in a lot of the best publications. I have watched to completion almost every show reviewed and mentioned in I Like to Watch, so maybe I need to be more productive, or maybe I should go into TV criticism… But she has a Pulitzer, and I have a blog.

Nussbaum was on her way to a doctorate when her future changed during an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer turned her into a TV critic.

Nussbaum is an amazing writer with deep insights, a sense of humor, and a complete lack of herd mentality. Her opening and closing sentences to her essays are amazing. I aspire to those kinds of clinchers. Though I Like to Watch focuses on TV, Nussbaum dives into more like the Me Too movement, Weinstein, and the fall out. Television is more than just mindless entertainment. It is a way to show people other ways of life, open minds, sway opinions, and dive into the nitty gritty. There has been a decent amount of uproar about rape depictions on TV, but representing dark and gruesome is not a bad thing, “Well drawn characters …. may be rape survivors, but that’s not where their stories stop. They’re more than their worst days.”

I live in this world as a woman. There are some great parts about being a lady, but there are a ton of downsides. I am not represented in the media to my fullest complexity, and it is far worse for people and women of color. I have known this for awhile, but there are shows I couldn’t totally pinpoint why I didn’t like them until I read I Like to Watch. In several highly underrated shows, Nussbaum agreed with the things I’ve been saying for, well, since I saw the shows. Shows like True Detective and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were fun but lacking in my opinion because, as Nussbaum explains, they completely lack female characters of any depth or humor or qualities making women complex entities. I liked them, but they weren’t great. I guess I like my shows to have men and women with personalities. Shows poo-pooed by friends, critics, and randos like Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend are great. They are smart and funny but belittled because they’re shows for women. Fuck the patriarchy. I binged Sex and the City last year because I’d never had access to HBO, and all I’d ever heard was how girly it was. I was hooked because it showed flawed, complex women working at friendship, relationships, and their goals with really great clothes and shoes, “High-feminine instead of fetishistically masculine, glittery rather than gritty, and daring in its conception of character, Sex and the City was a brilliant, and, in certain ways, radical show.”

By the way, I fucking loved Nanette. I watched it the day it came out. Hannah Gadsby is a delight. It is a special I keep thinking about and recommending to anyone who has an interest in comedy, art history, feminism, LGBTQIA rights, or existing on this planet.

This is not a collection of glowing critiques, but it is an honest collection. There are good, pans, and some in between. I Like to Watch is an array of previously published and new essays from Nussbaum’s career as a critic. I seriously enjoyed this one, and I keep recommending it to people.

Memorable Quotes
“It was elitist screed, nostalgic for an America that never really existed…”
“Criticism isn’t memoir, but it’s certainly personal, so you dan consider these essays to be a portrait of me struggling to change my mind.”
“Jokes were a superior way to tell the truth – and that meant freedom for everyone.”
“…there’s a risk to Schumer’s rise: When you’re put on a pedestal, the whole world gets to upskirt you.”
“Bigotry is resilient, because rejecting it often means rejecting your own family.”

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Man interrupting my photo shoot on a public beach. How dare he!!!

Title: I Like to Watch; Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution
Author: Emily Nussbaum
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9780525508960

Books, NonFiction

Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick de Semlyen

July 20, 2019July 20, 2019 RaeAnna

Worth A Read Most Definitely
Length 336
Quick Review The 80s saw a comedic revolution, and there were several men at the center of that revolution.

Reading Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick de Semlyen on a gravel road in Old Town Spring, Texas| Skirt Set | Purse | Fringe | Shoes | Watch

I grew up on 80s comedies. Steve Martin’s SNL skits were performed by a twelve year old me in the hallways of my church for a captive audience of my peers who were less educated on comedy of years past. I was introduced to Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, The Jerk, Coming to America, National Lampoon’s Family Vacation, and a plethora of other classic comedies long before I understood most of the jokes. None-the-less, I grew up laughing to the humor of Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and the other comics gracing the pages of Nick de Semlyen’s Wild and Crazy Guys.

If you don’t know anything about the comedy scene or the people inhabiting it during the 80s, look no further than Wild and Crazy Guys. Nick de Semlyen peeks into the revolutionarily funny period that gave the world movies, like Stripes and Animal House.

I was literally laughing out loud reading this. It’s such a great look into the backstory of some of the most influential movies in my life. I don’t know if I should be proud how much these men and movies influenced me, but they did. Thanks, Dad.

Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick de Semlyen | Skirt Set | Purse | Fringe | Shoes | Watch

Wild and Crazy Guys starts with an iconic but not for laughs fight in the SNL dressing room between Murray and Chase. It sets the tone of how funny these men were while also reminding people how serious, driven, and a little crazy they were about comedy and their careers. de Semlyen goes into great detail about the things going on in the comics personal lives and the behind the scenes of the movies and shows. I appreciate how well researched the book was and included anecdotes, quotes, experiences, reviews, and more from contemporaries and historians.

For as funny as these men and their movies are, there is a dark side to fame and comedy. de Semlyen does not shy away from talking about drugs, alcohol, partying, and fame, including John Belushi’s overdose and Doug Kenney’s controversial death.

I can’t suggest Wild and Crazy Guys by Nick de Semlyen more. It is definitely not for everyone. If comedy is your jam, pick this one up. You won’t regret it. I promise.

Memorable Quotes
“…Candy argue passionately that it should be cut entirely, believing it was sexist and designed to make him look like a pig in a sty.” About the wrestling with topless women scene in Stripes.
“…since Murray believed all good things came from difficult conditions.”

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Title: Wild and Crazy Guys
Author: Nick de Semlyen
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9781984826640

Books, NonFiction

Death in the Air by Kate Winkler Dawson

July 13, 2019July 9, 2019 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 368
Quick Review A creepy and thoughtful researched look into a dark period in London’s history; Death in the Air is the story of a smog and a serial killer let loose on an already devastated city.

20190709139768568074792505 — Death in the Air by Kate Winkler Dawson in Old Town Spring, Texas | Shorts | Shirt | Shoes | Watch | Sunglasses

London did not recover quickly after World War II. The city had been devastated by the war. Thousands of people did not come home from the war, and many people died in the home front, especially in London during the raids. As the city was struggling to recapture their past glory, circumstances and poor decisions had something much darker in store for the city.

1952 was not a great year for London. Death in the Air is an apt title because the smog hanging over the city was literally killing people just for breathing.

Coal is a great fuel to keep homes warm, but it was and still is a valuable resource. England was in debt after WWII. Instead of keeping the much needed coal within the country, it was exported to create a reliable revenue stream. Londoners used nutty slack, which was a cheaper coal consisting of coal pieces and brown dust. It was the best most people could afford after the war, even though it was far inferior to coal. An anticyclone trapped pollution for five days, and London stopped functioning. Planes didn’t leave the ground. Cars were abandoned on the road. Public transportation ceased running. Boats on the Thames couldn’t move. The smog ended up killing 12,000 people from poisonous air. The smog enveloping the city was created by a deadly combination of weather and pollution.

The smog was not the only killer invading the streets of London. John Reginald Christie was a mild man living in Notting Hill with his wife during 1952. He would venture out in the foggy cover to lure women back to his home. These women were not missed because they were poor or already forgotten by the world. Christie almost got away with his killing spree.

20190709925659316359020992 — Death in the Air | Shorts | Shirt | Shoes | Watch | Sunglasses

I don’t usually like books about serial killers because I just don’t. I do, however, love London and history. I like nothing less than a book with sub par research, and this book does not disappoint. Kate Winkler Dawson is not just journalist but a scholar. Death in the Air is beautifully written and researched. She brings people’s lives and struggles to life on each page creating a compelling book difficult to put down.

Death in the Air explores two of the most interesting and deadly events in modern history. The 1952 smog is the most deadly pollution incident ever. John Reginald Christie was an almost forgotten yet completely terrifying serial killer. Kate Winkler Dawson brings these lives events to life.

Memorable Quotes
“This is the parallel story of two killers. As different as these murderers were, their similarities were striking. Both strangled their victims. Both eluded suspicion. And both nearly escaped justice. Each changed law in Britain and, in many ways, around the world.”

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Title: Death in the Air
Author: Kate Winkler Dawson
Publisher: Hachette Books
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780316506830

Books, NonFiction

Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko

July 6, 2019July 5, 2019 RaeAnna

Worth a Read Meh
Length 272
Quick Review Sugar is really yummy, but cutting it out of your diet doesn’t have to mean you feel like you’re eating cardboard.

DSC_0491-01 — Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko | Cast Iron Skillet | Paw Print Mug

When I was 25, I went through a few health ordeals, which made me completely change how I eat. Since then, I have had a very healthy diet. I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to change things up. Zero Sugar Cookbook by David Zinczenko is informative and inspirational.

I love cookbooks. I don’t actually follow recipes because I know what I like and what I don’t like. I love looking through cookbooks for inspiration. I take the recipes and add and adjust where I see fit.

Zinczenko gives a bunch of information about sugar and the health effects it has on the body and the mind in the beginning of the Zero Sugar Cookbook. Sugar is addictive. It is also added into so many foods. The book teaches how to read nutrition labels and ingredient lists. Food can be confusing, but it shouldn’t be. There are different kinds of sugars in food. Some sugars are added; some sugars are natural. There are good sugars and bad sugars. The book claims a person can lose up to a pound a day on the diet. I don’t know about that, but there are tons of great tips and information.

I love looking through recipes. There are some really good ones in Zero Sugar Cookbook ranging from appetizers to entrees to snacks to dessert. I’m kind of a child, so I love looking at the pictures in cookbooks. These pictures don’t disappoint. Being sugar free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy food. I took a recipe on page 44 and tweaked it, but it still sticks to the sugar free diet. It was delicious.

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Title: Zero Sugar Cookbook
Author: David Zinczenko
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9781984817334

Books, NonFiction

The Stonewall Reader

June 28, 2019June 25, 2019 RaeAnna

Worth A Read Definitely
Length 336
Quick Review A moving and brilliant collection of stories from before, during, and after Stonewall.

201906173013443396901779197 — The Stonewall Reader | White Jumpsuit | Striped Tote | Nude Heels | Pearl Bracelet | Sunglasses

I didn’t know much about the Stonewall riots before this month, but I have done some reading and researching to learn more about this event and others in American history. Today is the fiftieth anniversary of this monumental event. I love a good anthology, and The Stonewall Reader edited by The New York Public Library is inspiring.

The Stonewall Inn was a gay nightclub in Greenwich Village in New York City. It was owned by the Mafia and was home to some of the most marginalized among the LGBTQIA community. It was a popular haunt for drag queens, transgender people, lesbians, gays, and everything in between. The Stonewall Riot started in the early morning on June 28, 1969 and lasted until July 1. It was not the first incident nor was it the last. Stonewall was a turning point in American history for LGBTQIA’s fight for rights. The Stonewall Reader strives to capture the spirit and emotions of the times and people leading up to, during, and following the Stonewall Riots.

It’s hard to write reviews of anthologies because there are so many different writers, voices, opinions, and things to say. Looking at The Stonewall Reader in its entirety, it is wonderful. The book is a tapestry of opinions, feelings, insights, and vantage points. I absolutely loved reading it, and would highly suggest it to anyone wanting to know more about the Stonewall Riots, gay rights, or just American history.

Memorable Quotes
“Lesbians were probably the only Black and white women in New York City in the fifties who were making any real attempt to communicate with each other…” Audre Lorde Zami: A New Spelling of My Name
“The money which I got in exchange for sex was a token indication of one-way desire: that I was wanted enough to be paid for, on my own terms.” John Rechy City of Night

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Title: The Stonewall Reader
Edited: The New York Public Library
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 9780143133513

Books, NonFiction

Transgender History by Susan Stryker

June 23, 2019June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Worth a Read Yes
Length 320
Quick Review An overview of the transgender people’s history in the United States from about WWII to present day.

201906161373761393911192186 — Transgender History by Susan Stryker | Red Dress Dress | Straw Purse | Bracelets | Bow | Belt

I’m always hesitant about nonfiction books written by people who don’t personally understand what they are writing about, which is why I picked up Transgender History so enthusiastically. Susan Stryker is a scholar and a transsexual woman. The book is full of insight and history and emotional depth. At the root of this often politically charged topic are people. So often that fact is forgotten. Transgender PEOPLE live lives as full and complicated and emotional as anyone else.

It would be almost impossible to discuss trans* history and rights without having an understanding of key terms and phrases. Stryker takes 45 pages to define many important terms. This sounds super boring, but it was actually very interesting. Some terms are well known but many are not.

Transgender History by Susan Stryker | Red Dress Dress | Belt | Purse | Bow | Bracelets

There is so much information packed into 320 pages. Some of the highlights are the discussions about riots throughout American history and their impact on society and culture. Notably Cooper D-Nuts, Dewey’s, and Compton’s were huge points when several factors came together to create change on some level. The inclusion of excerpts from articles, letters, testimonies, research, and books helps to capture the spirit of the time, provide information from other experts, and give personal stories.

I had always wondered why I heard more about trans women than trans men. Transgender History gave me the answer. Trans men could often disappear into society living as they wanted to. Known as passing. Trans women did not share the same abilities and have been at a higher risk of violence. I also wondered where the unfortunate idea trans people are rapists came from. Sadly, that idea originated at a feminist convention with the trans woman Beth Elliott. As a feminist, this saddens me greatly. I still don’t understand why there are types of feminism which are exclusionary. (Mine is not.)

Transgender History by Susan Stryker | Dress | Purse | Belt | Bracelets | Bow

Fun facts I didn’t know but should have:

Ames was one of a handful of American cities and counties with trans anti-discrimination protections in 2016. Ames is my home town; so proud!
The DSM didn’t depathologize transgender people until the DSM V in 2013
HIV is common in poverty stricken trans communities because of sharing hormone needles.

So many notable trans people are mentioned throughout the pages. Sarah McBride, author of Tomorrow Will Be Different, is mentioned as the first trans person to speak at a televised national convention. Reed Erickson, a transgender male, did so much to further research and science for trans people.

Transgender History is misunderstood if it’s understood at all. There is so much I didn’t know and still don’t know. Stryker does an amazing job educating the reader without making them feel guilty or uneducated. If you are interested in learning about a deeply oppressed community, I highly suggest reading this book.

Memorable Quotes
“When people struggling against an injustice have no hope that anything will ever change, they use their strength to survive; when they think that their actions matter, that same strength becomes a force for positive change.”

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Title: Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution
Author: Susan Stryker
Publisher: Seal Press (Hachette Book Group)
Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 9781580056908