Lonesome Dove could be awesome and you could easily get away with “McMurtry May”… putting hats in for Moby Dick (Melville/Moby May), one of the non-Smiley Le Carre novels (A Perfect Spy, ie Magnus May, or Little Drummer Girl, Mossad May (maybe not that one)) or one of the big Russian classics (Moscow May?) or… hear me out… Gravity’s Rainbow….. Roger Mexico May???? Can’t think of a single good “M” GR thing…
Endorse all these … have previously recommended Lonesome Dove as a great “normal” book. LDG is a good entry for JLC, I think Perfect Spy works better having read some more of his fiction first
Full-Time Fran! (Fran-Time Job?) Congrats on the new gig! I do hope the Sunday Dispatch sticks around. Participating makes me feel like I'm in some glamorous literary salon even when I'm usually just at work.
i like doing my own plagiarized version of sunday dispatch bc it makes me for responsible for doing stuff and reflecting it on it every week, rather than just looking at my computer and feeling bad. i love SDs and don't want them to entirely disappear for selfish reasons but i also think they just give personal "blogging" a shape that other kinds of criticism etc. can't take. maybe MDs (monthly dispatch) (dr. fran md [doctor of having job])
and does the may book have to have an m related name? you won't bite this but i want to do a wicked bookclub and don't want to be the one to do it. and like, i've never read lotr. mordor may. morrible may
OK so maybe the SD stays though "Fran MD" really does have a good ring... when will you start watchign Doctor Odyssey? I think it could give you an aneurysm watching them explain polyamory to Don Johnson every week
May book club does not need an M name.... I cannot reread Wicked (read in high school) but I never finished LOTR (only read first two). Blythe also suggested Lonesome Dove which has long been on my month. Western May (imagine I am doing an upside M for Western..... maybe)
Congratulations Fran! I have never left a comment (too shy), but I have really enjoyed reading your newsletter for the past two years. Thank you very much for introducing me to Topsy-Turvy - what a brilliant film, I haven't stopped thinking about it.
Congratulations, Fran! Gonna miss the inspiring regular mag which I read religiously and never commented on, but it did the thing, so I guess it's smile that it happened vs. cry that it's over times
fran mag getting lonesome dove pilled is very very exciting. I haven’t participated in book club before but I’m reading again so we will see! seeing that gmail tag sent me into FIGHT OR FLIGHT mode though I hope you’re ok 😂
congraaaats on the job omg wishing you all the best…being a member of this comment section is one of my only indulgences, like an old sailor’s prized cask of port or something…i hope your 2025 has been good so far!!!
Failing Fran Magazine (complimentary)
this
FRAN SUPREMACY
Lonesome Dove could be awesome and you could easily get away with “McMurtry May”… putting hats in for Moby Dick (Melville/Moby May), one of the non-Smiley Le Carre novels (A Perfect Spy, ie Magnus May, or Little Drummer Girl, Mossad May (maybe not that one)) or one of the big Russian classics (Moscow May?) or… hear me out… Gravity’s Rainbow….. Roger Mexico May???? Can’t think of a single good “M” GR thing…
The Russia House isn't not Moscow May. Plus: romance.
oooo
Gravity’s Maynbow???
Don't even joke about this im serious DO NOT DO THIS FRAN
*holds a rocket in front of u mockingly like a kids movie bully might do with a small lizard*
ijbol
Endorse all these … have previously recommended Lonesome Dove as a great “normal” book. LDG is a good entry for JLC, I think Perfect Spy works better having read some more of his fiction first
Vulture more like eagle the way they're snatching up live talent (this simile is bad. Congrats anyway!
thank you lol!!
Full-Time Fran! (Fran-Time Job?) Congrats on the new gig! I do hope the Sunday Dispatch sticks around. Participating makes me feel like I'm in some glamorous literary salon even when I'm usually just at work.
most importantly, will you make any of the Cinematrixes?
I don't think so but never say never...
highest praise!!!
i like doing my own plagiarized version of sunday dispatch bc it makes me for responsible for doing stuff and reflecting it on it every week, rather than just looking at my computer and feeling bad. i love SDs and don't want them to entirely disappear for selfish reasons but i also think they just give personal "blogging" a shape that other kinds of criticism etc. can't take. maybe MDs (monthly dispatch) (dr. fran md [doctor of having job])
and does the may book have to have an m related name? you won't bite this but i want to do a wicked bookclub and don't want to be the one to do it. and like, i've never read lotr. mordor may. morrible may
OK so maybe the SD stays though "Fran MD" really does have a good ring... when will you start watchign Doctor Odyssey? I think it could give you an aneurysm watching them explain polyamory to Don Johnson every week
May book club does not need an M name.... I cannot reread Wicked (read in high school) but I never finished LOTR (only read first two). Blythe also suggested Lonesome Dove which has long been on my month. Western May (imagine I am doing an upside M for Western..... maybe)
would love to read Lonesome Dove. this rave in Defector is persuasive: https://defector.com/its-time-for-you-to-read-lonesome-dove
my parents would be so proud of me also
s/o Mr. and Mrs. H fr
i'm totally bol at upside m for western. this
i'll consider doc odd...
Congratulations Fran! I have never left a comment (too shy), but I have really enjoyed reading your newsletter for the past two years. Thank you very much for introducing me to Topsy-Turvy - what a brilliant film, I haven't stopped thinking about it.
Thank you for reading!!!! And welcome to commenting!
Fran if you go to grad. school I will ban you from Chicago('s formerly cool neighborhoods).
Congrats to you Fran! Is Timothee Chalamet having a Maestro Moment?
Not quite but it seems possible one day
congrats fran!! world domination is right around the corner
thank you crissy!!!! I agree
Congratulations, Fran! Gonna miss the inspiring regular mag which I read religiously and never commented on, but it did the thing, so I guess it's smile that it happened vs. cry that it's over times
omg thank you Tom!!!! I hope you are well!!!
Yeah!!!!!
fran mag getting lonesome dove pilled is very very exciting. I haven’t participated in book club before but I’m reading again so we will see! seeing that gmail tag sent me into FIGHT OR FLIGHT mode though I hope you’re ok 😂
I was really spiraling…
Loving your work on Vulture. Keep crushing it.
Re a future book club:
- 2nding whoever says Magic Mountain
- 2nding whoever says Lonesome Dove
- Bleak House? You've probably done that already, though.
Thank you!!! I read Bleak House in college and LOVED. It's probably on the reread list regardless of whether it's a May pic but it's a great option!
congraaaats on the job omg wishing you all the best…being a member of this comment section is one of my only indulgences, like an old sailor’s prized cask of port or something…i hope your 2025 has been good so far!!!
bless!!!! tysm
magic mountain may…
tempting af
congratulations fran! (cannot in good conscience recommend a phd)
VALID!!! and thank you!