Fran Magazine: Sunday Dispatch, July 30-Aug. 5

A break in the heat, revisiting Gone Girl, Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai, and three ears of corn in the CSA

This is the Fran Magazine Sunday Dispatch, a weekly culture diary by Fran Hoepfner, who is me. This feature is currently only for paid subscribers. Consider an upgrade, or just hang tight til Wednesday. Thank you for reading!

Vibe Check

Something about the transition from July to August has worked in the favor of most people I know, or at least it feels just promising enough to not give way to depression. School starts soon: I have the overwhelming desire to buy a new backpack, even though every time I buy a backpack and wear it out of the house I feel like I look like a child who is running away from home. My shoulders and neck can only tolerate so much tote bag going further.

June had the longest week, and July was the longest month, and though I am an infamous August hater, I am trying to be optimistic. The weather cooled and my mood settled. I started getting seven or more hours of sleep again. For all of three seconds last weekend, I bore witness to a butterfly landing on a dog’s forehead (both butterfly and dog totally okay in the aftermath, lest you fear an unfortunate chomp). We got corn in the CSA, and I can’t wait to make ice cream with it.