happy new year everyone!! I started Birnam Wood on Christmas and had a very pleasant NYE weekend reading about 200 pages and let me just say it FUCKS. I dream of writing characters with the effortless details Eleanor Catton writes hers with -- in fact, Birnam Wood is so good that I'm going to end up picking up my copy of The Luminaries sometime this year!!
wow! please let me know how you wind up liking Luminaries. I have tried to start and petered out a few times - one day I will have the motivation but it just hasn't struck yet. I really want to read her first novel though.
I’m sorry I know it’s been weeks but back in December I randomly picked up Bleak House cause my insomnia has gotten so bad that I need to charge my phone across the room (farewell, ASMR videos on TikTok!) and pick up a paper book before I attempt to sleep and I needed something boring. So I can’t stop thinking of Emma Kearney saying that maybe she shouldn’t have gone to law school, she should’ve just read Bleak House.
Also I’m a slow reader (bad for a librarian) and I’ve lost confidence in myself as a reader (wait actually I’ve never had any confidence in myself about anything but I’m working on that) so I might just attempt to read one chapter a week, like audiences did back in Charles Dickens’ time. A newspaper article can’t hurt me right? Bleak House can’t hurt me.
Caroline im so jealous of your bird sightings | Marion im totally gonna check out the prison letter thing that seems awesome | Michael Mann Facts yes the Joe Beef prime rib is the bomb | happy new year!
Thank you for sharing the freedom bull story this is service journalism! My favorite kind of news story, much like Chicago’s own Chance the Snapper, the alligator that was rescued from the Humboldt Park pond a couple years ago
Need clarification about this coffee shop - are laptops banned?? What is going on in NY
You inspired me to spend part of my NYE rewatching Bob Mortimer on Would I Lie To You – the best. Then I watched the new Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Hogmanay Fishing special (excellent – made me tear up!)
A night of Mortimerian joy to end a year I couldn't wait to see the back of. Thank you Fran Magazine!!
Making my way through this slowly so I can take notes and make sure I return to the recs! Fran did you also happen to see Mike Faist at the Challengers showing? (He’s my crush.) Also, NJ Transit made a stuffed animal of the bull that made it to freedom. It’s currently sold out but come January 4th I will be placing an order!!
Biggest takeaway is that I really gotta watch showing up!!
well, yes!
Another great year from Fran Mag. Thank you, Fran Mag!!
we love you!
happy new year everyone!! I started Birnam Wood on Christmas and had a very pleasant NYE weekend reading about 200 pages and let me just say it FUCKS. I dream of writing characters with the effortless details Eleanor Catton writes hers with -- in fact, Birnam Wood is so good that I'm going to end up picking up my copy of The Luminaries sometime this year!!
wow! please let me know how you wind up liking Luminaries. I have tried to start and petered out a few times - one day I will have the motivation but it just hasn't struck yet. I really want to read her first novel though.
same, non-zero chance i read that before Luminaries. this WILL be a year of reading. might set a very achievable fiction goal
Howard's End is soooo good I finished it on 29 December!! very exciting other top ten range also
Happy new year fran! Heres my best of list:
Best hot dog: Superdawg in Chicago
Best cigarette: one im smoking rn
Best phish show: 08-26 SPAC
Best film: Oppenheimer
Best magazine: Fran
I met Jordan Hoffman at Phish show this weekend!
Jordan Hoffman LEGEND
I’m sorry I know it’s been weeks but back in December I randomly picked up Bleak House cause my insomnia has gotten so bad that I need to charge my phone across the room (farewell, ASMR videos on TikTok!) and pick up a paper book before I attempt to sleep and I needed something boring. So I can’t stop thinking of Emma Kearney saying that maybe she shouldn’t have gone to law school, she should’ve just read Bleak House.
Also I’m a slow reader (bad for a librarian) and I’ve lost confidence in myself as a reader (wait actually I’ve never had any confidence in myself about anything but I’m working on that) so I might just attempt to read one chapter a week, like audiences did back in Charles Dickens’ time. A newspaper article can’t hurt me right? Bleak House can’t hurt me.
Bleak House can't hurt you!!! It's amazing!
Bob Mortimer is a delight! I had not seen that Travel Man video before and immediately watched it twice.
I have watched this clip so many times... it's always crazy to see Richard break, he's so stoic!
Caroline im so jealous of your bird sightings | Marion im totally gonna check out the prison letter thing that seems awesome | Michael Mann Facts yes the Joe Beef prime rib is the bomb | happy new year!
Thank you for sharing the freedom bull story this is service journalism! My favorite kind of news story, much like Chicago’s own Chance the Snapper, the alligator that was rescued from the Humboldt Park pond a couple years ago
Need clarification about this coffee shop - are laptops banned?? What is going on in NY
a lot of NYC coffee shops have banned laptops so people don’t use it as an office/take up space
You inspired me to spend part of my NYE rewatching Bob Mortimer on Would I Lie To You – the best. Then I watched the new Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Hogmanay Fishing special (excellent – made me tear up!)
A night of Mortimerian joy to end a year I couldn't wait to see the back of. Thank you Fran Magazine!!
I need to watch the fishing special in full! I've only seen bits and bobs here and there. Every year needs more BOB!! Happy new year!
Making my way through this slowly so I can take notes and make sure I return to the recs! Fran did you also happen to see Mike Faist at the Challengers showing? (He’s my crush.) Also, NJ Transit made a stuffed animal of the bull that made it to freedom. It’s currently sold out but come January 4th I will be placing an order!!
OMG i did not know NJ transit is capitalizing on the bull... frankly, I have to hand it to them (and will probably also order)
It was a La Chimera showing at NYFF!! So just Mr. O'Connor and Ms. Rossellini. But I wish!