A few page-turners and Sophie Turner
A quick fire book review edition! Plus, a check-in with Hollywood.
It has been an unbelievable few weeks for our celebrities, hasn’t it? Scabbing, surprising divorce announcements and apology statements galore.
Drew Barrymore faced backlash for filming new episodes of her talk show amid the ongoing writers’ strike and, in doing so, was accused of scabbing. She posted a baffling explanation video, took it down a few hours later when it wasn’t received well, then issued an apology statement to Instagram backtracking and ultimately postponing the show. Phew! A few false starts but she got there in the end.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness shocked us all by announcing their separation after 27 years of marriage. An incredible innings, especially by Hollywood standards. I’m secretly hoping to see DLF have a brief dalliance with Pete Davidson next…
Finally, is there a term for when Taylor Swift takes you under her wing for a photo op?
Following her and Joe Jonas’s divorce announcement last week, Sophie Turner went out to dinner with Joe’s ex-girlfriend, Taylor Swift. You can’t put a price on the positive PR that Taylor Swift has given Sophie Turner with this picture. I feel a song coming on…
Now, please enjoy this quick fire book review edition!
📚 To Read
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
“This book is not a romance, but it is about love.”
Childhood friends Sam and Sadie reconnect as adults, drawn back together by their love of gaming. The book follows the friendship as they become game developers and collaborate on games of varying success. The push and pull of their relationship over many seasons is beautiful and devastating. As Sadie says, “Lovers are common… True collaborators in this life are rare.”
(Don’t be turned off by the gaming element, you’ll be surprised how quickly it makes you yearn for your Nintendo 64.)
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
“I was twenty and I needed two things: to be in love and to be taken seriously.”
Caroline O’Donoghue is the host of the much-loved podcast Sentimental Garbage, and has written this funny, gritty, pacy novel. Rachel and James meet while working in a bookshop in Cork, Ireland in 2010. The two immediately fall in platonic love and become roommates.
O’Donoghue is an expert at evoking the sounds, sights and smells of an early 20s share house; where the laundry never quite dries on the clothes horse, you know each other’s favourite mug for tea and things are always just a little bit damp. This book is about Rachel and James navigating their big dreams, and getting entangled with a university professor and his wife.
The Guest by Emma Cline
“It made Alex uncomfortable, someone demanding love so overtly, showing all her cards. As if it were that easy, as if love were something you deserved and didn't have to scramble to earn.”
Alex is kicked out of her lover’s house in Long Island. Convinced that the breakup is only temporary and with nowhere else to go, she deceives her way around the wealthy community, trying on different personalities like hats. She manipulates her way into country clubs, mansions and beach parties, trying desperately to avoid giving the game away.
While I thought The Guest was a good page-turner, it received mixed reviews amongst the smarties in my book club. Turns out, the dividing line was audio book vs hard copy. Those who listened to the audio version found the characters insufferable, so I recommend reading a hard copy of this one instead. (Check out this less than impressed review on The Saturday Book Review instagram account.)
Currently…
🍆 Looking forward to: the final series of Sex Education which came out yesterday on Netflix.
🧦 Can’t wait to read: Good Material by Dolly Alderton. This is her second fiction book and will be released in November. While I would buy anything Dolly is selling, the reviews so far are glowing.
⭐️ Re-watching: Little Miss Sunshine on Disney+. Highly recommend for an enjoyable rewatch. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry.
🎤Amused by: Strike Force Five, the podcast hosted by all five of the late-night talk show hosts (Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, Oliver and Meyers). While it could be said that there are too many cooks in this podcast kitchen, they get into more of a rhythm as the episodes go on, and it’s fun to hear them crack each other up. Best of all, the proceeds they make from sponsorship go to their out-of-work writers.
Speaking of the strike, this article from the New Yorker provides a fascinating insight into ‘Hollywood’s Hot Labor Summer’:
Studios are delaying movie releases; the 2023 Emmys have been bumped to 2024. The prolonged stasis has ricocheted through the L.A. ecosystem in strange ways: plastic surgeons’ offices have reportedly been overrun with stars trying to squeeze in procedures before they go back to work.
Out and about…
👩⚖️ The Sydney Theatre Company is bringing back the successful one-woman show, RBG: Of Many, One early next year. Tickets for STC’s 2024 season go on sale on 11 October (see here), so make sure you don’t miss out!
❤️ Elizabeth Day is coming to Sydney in February 2024 - book tickets here.
😮💨 A film of the West End stage production of A Little Life is screening at select cinemas over the next few weeks. For those of you who have read Hanya Yanagihara’s bestseller, you’ll know this is likely to be brilliant but draining. Brace yourself for a 3.5 hour emotional slog. (Book tickets here.)
See you next time!
Great edition!!
Love this!