Published in Sloth Book Reviews·4 hours agoMember-onlyTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow—Read it TodayI can’t remember the last time I got so sucked into a novel — Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow crashed over me like The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic woodblock print that’s featured not only on the cover art of the novel, but within the story itself. On its surface, Gabrielle Zevin’s 10th novel (5th for adults) is about the relationship between…Creative Writing4 min readCreative Writing4 min read
Published in Age of Empathy·Mar 10Member-onlyTaking My Own Advice: The Surprising Lesson I Learned in a Creative Writing ClassOne person’s trash is another’s “Oh, I like what you’ve done there” — The other day, someone I know was all stressed out and said, “Give me some advice, Bob.” I thought for a bit and the best think I could come up with at time was … What’s going on in your head right now probably isn’t the reality, and it’s even…Nonfiction3 min readNonfiction3 min read
Published in Redemption·Mar 2Member-onlyThe Calm of a Mother’s Love№ 62 of 💯: With a little babysitting help from Auntie Histamine — I adore babies when they’re sound asleep in their strollers, so peaceful and secure. They haven’t a care in the world and pay no heed to the bustling city streets they’re being pushed through. I couldn’t help but notice one next to me at the bus stop this morning. He…Transgressive Thursday2 min readTransgressive Thursday2 min read
Published in Fuck Niches·Feb 27Member-onlyWhatever You Do, Don’t Think About BananasIt’s a slippery slope that will leave you peeling unwell — Sometimes I go into the grocery store, look at all the bananas, and then I start thinking. For example, I was in Sainsbury’s in London. Bananas don’t grow anywhere near there. And yet look how many there are. And this is just one small grocery store in an enormous city…Creative Writing2 min readCreative Writing2 min read
Published in The Pub·Feb 26Member-onlyMy Other Half Thought “Cocaine Bear” Was Awful — We Might Be OverThere are just some things a relationship cannot withstand — I’m up way too late. I’ve been waiting to hear my partner Larry’s review of Cocaine Bear, a cinematic gem which I fully expect to be the next camp masterpice. On a cold, snowy Cape Cod afternoon, he decided to warm up at the movies. I’m relatively toasty in Barcelona…Creative Writing3 min readCreative Writing3 min read
Published in The Pub·Feb 25Member-onlyKeeping it Classy in the ClassroomWas he always the class clown? — We were doing telephone role plays in my Business English class. Student B (flirty Italian male, late 30s) had to take a phone message from Student A (attractive Spanish female, same age). B: Hello, this is B, how can I help? A: Yes, I’d like to rent a flat in London…Creative Writing2 min readCreative Writing2 min read
Published in Counter Arts·Feb 24Member-onlyThe Magic of Novels Taking Us to Places We’ve Already Lived InWhen the Venn diagram of fiction and non-fiction works, it’s alchemy; but can you trust a story that gets it wrong? — We were ambling alongside Regent’s Canal one afternoon, heading towards Little Venice. The conversation flowed into talking about what it would be like to live on the long narrow boats moored along its edges. “One of the characters in my novel lives in a boat like this,” I said. “The…Creative Writing5 min readCreative Writing5 min read
Published in Redemption·Feb 23Member-onlyThe Things Men Will Do To Avoid A Conversation№ 61 of 💯: One wanted space, the other wanted closure — You say it’s about closure. Your therapist says the restraining order against you is closure enough. You remind Miss Smarty Pants that bit of judicial jestering was merely one of his passive aggressive taunts. Besides, it expired weeks ago. You’re not stalking him. Who were you to question fate when…Transgressive Thursday2 min readTransgressive Thursday2 min read
Published in Microcosm·Feb 23Member-onlyIs Mr. Moustache Gonna Blow Out My Candle?№ 60 of 💯 — A promenade, a playlist, and a proposal — I’m not-so-speed walking along the seafront promenade, trying to get some extra steps in. Just enough to hit my 10k for the day. It had been a long, but productive, afternoon and I’m shattered. I’d cued up Spotify’s “Daily Lift” playlist and Betty Who was preaching … That bird you…100 Story Challenge4 min read100 Story Challenge4 min read
Published in The Memoirist·Feb 19Member-onlyHow I Learned to Love Not RacingMy “long distances” relationships are, for now, just somebody that I used to know — I woke up to fanfare and applause this morning. Was the city applauding me for not going out to celebrate Carnival last night? Was there an early morning post-Saint Eulalia / pre-Mardi Gras parade going on? Was this a continuation of last night’s inexplicable fireworks celebration? I sauntered over to…Nonfiction9 min readNonfiction9 min read
