Blind Item

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Two authors are going through a breakup. I think. They both write literary fiction and are married. I'm a big fan of the woman's work. LOVE her books. The dude? Don't know his stuff.

Anyways, I've been following the saga through their various social media feeds for a couple months. The man is definitely taking it harder. I think he got burned by what I'm assuming was an affair.

But maybe it's just distance, because from what I can gather, they've been living apart. She: in LA working on a screen adaptation of one of her amazing books. He: back home.

But I'd bet money on an affair. Or maybe worse... maybe she fell in love with someone else.

Why?

She seems ok. She's posting silly memes, showing no emotion, sharing nothing real.

But the guy? Not ok, not ok at all. Lots of sad selfies, lots of thanking his friends for their support during this difficult time, etc.

It doesn't take a genius to put these pieces together. Just a nosey asshole with too much time on her hands.

I hope COVID-19 brings them back together.

Perspective

Remembering 11 years ago when one of the things I was most afraid of was literary rejection. 

ha! ha!
ha ha ha ha ha!

Anyways, here's me yesterday washing a bag of lentil chips.

Supply Chain

My husband is an engineer. He is part of the supply chain.
So he must go to work.
If he doesn't go to work, and if his colleagues don't go to work, too
Men (and some women) will not be able to weld.
If they cannot weld, there will be no ship building.
That is all I imagine.
I'll tell him about this later,
That I picture the work he does supporting only huge creaky patchwork metal barges.
Not cargo ships. Not cruises.
But sci-fi steampunk ships.
Kevin Costner's Waterworld ships.

I get to work from home because I am not part of the supply chain.
I work in corporate communications.
I am mostly useless. Contribute mostly nothing.
And yet, I get to stay safe-ish at home.
Working on my work laptop that looks alien on my home desk.
Typing words about our year in review, etc.
When all people want to know is: will my partner die? will my parents die? will I lose my mind, my house, my retirement funds?
But I write about our year in review, etc.
From home, safe-ish.
Losing my mind. My retirement funds.
The beginnings of something in my throat.
Maybe Kevin Costner Waterworld gills.

Books for these COVID-19 times

If you're interested in grocery stores...
... read Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. A short book with arresting, concise prose about a woman who does not fit into life in Japan, except in the convenience store where she works. Her, um, "alternative" relationship with a co-worker will frustrate and delight you, and make you cheer out loud! One of my favourite books of the decade. I've never read anything like it.

If you never want to leave your house again...
... read My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. It's an Ottessa Moshfegh book -- need I say more? You should read it now because its central character is a woman who barely leaves her apartment except to get food at her local bodega. She's barely awake, for that matter! Sigh... remember sleep? But the best scenes are between the main character and her therapist. We could all use a therapist now, am I right? And drugs!

If you *always* thought cruise ships were a bad idea...
... read Not Being On A Boat by Esme Claire Keith, a darkly funny novel about a cruise gone horribly, disastrously wrong. You will love to hate Rutledge, the main character. His dialogue is perhaps my favorite dialogue ever. Also, given the the theme, it's the "I told you cruises were a fucking terrible idea!" book we need right now. I'm obsessed with this novel. I want everyone to read it. I will never ever ever shut up about it.

If you just want to turn off your brain...
... read celebrity memoirs of any kind, really. I'd like to recommend one that I found profoundly entertaining: Dirty Rocker Boys by Bobbi Brown, star of one of the greatest reality shows of all time, Ex-Wives of Rock. She gives up so much good gossip and names big names! Personally, I'm going to buy the Jessica Simpson memoir soon, too. All that kooky/kinky stuff about her relationship with John Mayer -- yes, please.

My social distancing books arrived!

Never thought I'd have to write that headline...

Stay home when you can, everyone! It's the only way to ensure that our health care system isn't overwhelmed and lots of us don't die. 

Many people in Toronto are posting on social about stocking up on books from their local indie bookseller. Great! But don't go to the store. Order your books online and keep your favourite booksellers safe. My personal favourite delivers, Ben McNally Books.

I'm really lucky that I can work from home for the next few weeks; at least I can avoid public transit. My husband can't right now. I hope that changes, but it may not. That worries me. 

Anyways, I hope you stay safe, think of others before yourself, and exercise common sense. Life, I believe, will never be the same, but I also believe that we'll get through this if we take it seriously. 


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