20+ Links That I Promise Are Worth The Click
By Stacy Lee Kong
Image: instagram.com/taylorswift
Ahead of the long weekend, I’m giving you the gift of… discourse! This week’s newsletter is an extra-long list of And Did You Hear About recommendations that touches on all the things I’ve been spamming my group chats with. From Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir, in which she confesses to attempted murder (at least, according to The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino), to Vanessa Friedman’s interesting analysis of Taylor’s engagement photo and its inherent stagecraft, to the Cutting Room Floor controversy that has taken over my TikTok feed, here are 20+ recommendations for entertaining, informative or just bonkers things to read.
The Atlantic on why everything is so spicy now. (And if this is the sound you thought of after reading the word spicy, I hope you did your stretches today.
This week’s Elizabeth Gilbert discourse. Basically, The Cut published an excerpt of the Eat, Pray, Love author’s new memoir, in which she reveals that in 2016, her best friend Rayya was diagnosed with terminal cancer, prompting Gilbert to realize that she was actually not straight and was in fact in love with Rayya. Cue: divorce proceedings, a whirlwind romance, Rayya relapsing into addiction, Gilbert realizing that she also has an addiction to love and sex, and a lot (A LOT) of questionable… um, stuff around end-of-life care. BUT AS IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH! The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentina reviewed Gilbert’s book, and revealed a tidbit that wasn’t in The Cut’s excerpt: apparently, Gilbert writes that at one point, she tried to switch Rayya’s morphine with sleeping pills and also covered her in fentanyl patches (????). Naturally, Twitter is having a field day.
Slate’s thoughtful essay on Finland’s status as the happiest country in the world.
This perfect take on the ‘how to pronounce charcuterie' TikTok.
New York Times chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement—or rather, the stagecraft around their announcement post. Bonus: some thoughts on relatability, and perhaps not directly related but definitely relevant, this fascinating thought by journalist and L.A. Times editor Suzy Esposito. I am definitely going to be thinking/writing more about stan behaviour as the new religious ecstasy, FYI.
All of the Cutting Room Floor controversy.
This excellent essay on “stomp clap hey” music, inspired by the intense but short-lived discourse on the worst song ever from earlier this month. (And which a lot of the internet thinks is “Home” by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, in case you were wondering.)
Vogue writer Emma Specter’s Shania Twain summer.
Taryn Delanie’s Heaven Receptionist series, and specifically all the ones featuring Tammy.
Vulture’s excellent interview with Spike Lee.
New Yorker staff writer Isaac Chotiner’s infuriating interview with Jacob Lew, a former Biden official who defends the administration’s policies around Gaza.
The TikToker who has been gently mocking the polyphonic perception girl since July.
This thought-provoking essay about fatphobia, weight loss and bodily autonomy, which isn’t about Serena Williams’ new GLP-1 brand ambassador gig, but adds some important context to that discourse.
The notion of cultural fossilization, which is a thing I know so many immigrants and children of immigrants have experienced.
Writer Ellen Cushing’s ode to Claire’s—and a type of girlhood that seems to have gone extinct.
The Daily Mail’s Club Chalamet profile. (Okay, actually, the thread of highlights posted by a generous X user who took one for the team and paid to access the article.)
(P.S., if you enjoy these recommendations, a reminder that paid subscribers get access to curated list of the most interesting things on the internet at the end of every newsletter. Upgrade here!)
Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter! Still looking for intersectional pop culture analysis? Here are a few ways to get more Friday:
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