Try These: A Few Things I'm Gaga Over

A book, a podcast and new cards

While I’m ga ga for Ozzie, he didn’t make this list, but please—enjoy.

Dear Beautiful Friends,

I have three objects of delight and fascination to share with you.

BIG SWISS, a novel by Jen Beagin

Holy f*ck, what a trip.

My recommendation: DO NOT READ ANY REVIEWS OR SUMMARIES, which is why I’m not adding a link to the book. Go in blind, like I did to feel the wild thunderstorm hit your face full-on. It’s such an original, weird story, I wanted to call Jen Beagin and have her over for the weekend just to get into her head. It also has some of the best dialogue I’ve read, ranging from unexpected sparring delights, to deep philosophical discussions that get you thinking. For writers, it’s a master class in slowing down, world-building, and bringing the reader IN.

Here’s what I’ll tell you:

• The main character is a transcriptionist for a sex therapist in a tiny little arts-fartsy New York town.

• I thought about bailing bout a quarter of the way in because . . . I wasn’t sure about it. (The same has happened with some other favorites, like Lincoln in the Bardo which also 🤯)

• There’s a long scene where the main characters go into a little forest to look for their dogs and at one point I realize this tromping through trails & calling for dogs is lasting pages and I am RIVETED (the writers’ master class).

Also: It’s going to be an HBO series starring Jodie Comer (Killing Eve). Natch. So get to it!

THE SHIFT With Sam Baker, podcast

Like you, like many of us, I have come to love podcasts, even rely on them … and then not. This summer I wanted people to STOP TALKING INTO MY EAR ABOUT THINGS. But after a break, I’ve slowly returned, and have fallen SMACK DAB IN LOVE with The Shift. Such beauty and delight in these intimate conversations between woman post-40. Here’s a little description as written from The Shift:

. . . award-winning author and journalist Sam Baker asks a different woman how she got here, where she's going - and how it feels to be where she is right now. Expect intimate conversation, big laughs, occasional tears and an awful lot of ripping up the rule book and stamping on it

What I love about it
It’s like eavesdropping onto a really smart, fascinating conversation among friends, a conversation you want to join so badly that you almost butt in even though you are sitting at the next table.

Sam Baker is a gifted host, interviewer and conversationist. She asks the juicy, gritty, honest questions and integrates herself into the topic at hand which enriches the whole experience. I don’t know most of her guests, but I’ve loved every single conversation I’m listening to because

GIVE US MORE HONEST SMART FUNNY CONVOS WITH MATURE WOMEN ABOUT LIFE, WORK, GROWING OLDER, WHAT SUCKS, WHAT ROCKS, WHAT PEEVES, WHAT DELIGHTS

WOMEN ARE SO F-ING AMAZING AND COOL & WISE, NO B.S.

Also, I love listening to the speaking voices of Sam & co, their UK accents, the fun language, and lack of verbal crutches that we Americans brandish (me), strings of sentences that flow perfectly without any “you knows” or “likes”… it’s like listening to good music—great lyrics and addictive melodies. Dive in — pick any of these conversations, you can’t miss. I started with Miki Berenyi, and was swept away (Aug 14).

Making new (un-businesslike) cards

It’s been a few years since I’ve handed out a “business card” which sounds so UN-FUN. I was recently reminded of their existence and thought it was time to update mine, which got me thinking.

Years ago, before we spent loads of our time online, my friend Maria made herself “calling cards” which she gave out at parties and social events.

With places like Vista Print and Moo, any of us can make our own cards cheaply, using the art or photos of our choice, and break all the boring rules of business cards.

I just received mine, and here’s your invitation: Make some cards of your own, even (especially) if you have very proper impressive b-cards. Even if you don’t have a jobby-job or you’re retired. Make a card that is like a dream resume or a social calling card. Imagine a beautiful little glistening square with an image, a name and a phone number. Delight yourself with it; go to the edges of appropriateness. Challenge yourself and the cardholder to think differently.

Here are my latest. I already want to make some more.

I’ve always loved this saying, how it encapsulates the resistance and the override that lets us surprise ourselves.

If you’ve read Big Swiss, listen to The Shift, or have some new cards to share, drop your thoughts in comments.