A couple of weeks ago, my husband shared a hysterical YouTube video by a couple that regularly makes us laugh with their silly songs. This time they were singing about Gen X Summers (see link below). It was such a hit of hilarious nostalgia that it got me thinking about recreating our own Gex X Summer. So… I started planning.
First, I decided on certain loose “rules.” We would try to avoid tech as much as possible (read: stash the phones and laptops). We’d listen to music on cd (luckily we have a huge stack to choose from). We’d watch movies on dvd (luckily, again, we still have many left in our collection). We’d get outside more (for sprinkler hopping, bubble blowing, s’mores). We’d indulge in summer treats from our childhoods (see aforementioned s’mores).
Next, I tried to create Gex X Summer themes for each day. Retro Movie Mondays, Making It Tuesdays, Bookish Wednesdays, Chore Thursdays (I know, I know, but they’ve always had to be done), Outside Fridays, and Adventuring Weekends. We’ve given ourselves permission to pivot if necessary, but this would give us a loose frame to work within.
Finally, I made a LONG LIST of activities that harkened us back to our own Gexn X Summers. Afternoons at the lake/pool. Arcades. HORSE. Drive-in movies. Ice Cream trucks. Board games. Libraries. Otter Pops. Nintendo. Hand written letters. Saturday morning cartoons (accompanied by sugar cereal). Bike Riding. Dance parties. And, of course, a "Book-It" style reading challenge (personal pizza prizes included).
There have been some added stressors in our lives lately (a knee injury that won’t heal, a house that keeps throwing unwelcome surprises, a novel query process that has been a bit disappointing – and that is to say nothing of the broader issues in the world), so we were needing an infusion of simple joy.
I was also finding that I needed a break from writing (and querying) to allow my creative brain to rest and recover. So... GEN X SUMMER TO THE RESCUE!
Please feel free to join us in creating your own RAD summer plans (and drop me a line to let me know if you do).
P.S. Our totally tubular Swatch watches (mentioned in the previous newsletter) definitely fit right in with all of the Gen X vibes.
What I’m Reading
Shark Heart: A Love Story
By Emily Habeck
Warning: Big Spoilers Ahead.
I was completely enamored with this book... for the first 1/3. I LOVED the storyline related to Wren and Lewis. Their love story. His devastating diagnosis and transformation. Their heartbreaking goodbye. I even told my husband, "This is going to be in my TOP TEN reads of all-time." I felt confident of it. But then... Lewis swam away, and I still had over 200 pages left. The story went off the rails for me after that... never to return. The style got more wonky. The story got less coherent. And I just could not get the myriad of pieces to fit together in a satisfying way. Even my final hope of a meaningful ending was thwarted when there was no brand of reunion with Lewis in the ocean. Also, how did Wren get pregnant when Lewis was a shark? One of many confounding questions I was left with at the end of this novel. All of that to say... FIVE STARS for the start. TWO STARS for the rest. Could have been magic! [Still 100% worth a read.]
https://bookshop.org/a/120532/9781668006504
If you haven’t already read The Midnight Train, Matt Haig is one of my favorite authors (and humans), and I enjoyed his newest offering - even if it didn't quite compare to his earlier novel, The Midnight Library.
https://bookshop.org/a/120532/9780593833377
https://bookshop.org/a/120532/9780525559498
[Also read this month: Oona Out of Order and The Extraordinaries]
For more book reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/88169319-gina-ma?ref=nav_mybooks&shelf=read
[Please note: The links for purchasing books are affiliate links and will offer me a small percentage of the purchase price if you choose to grab your copy of recommended books through their site. If you choose to utilize, thanks for the support!]
What I’m Watching
There are a handful of shows that we regularly revisit in our home (our “comfort watches” - email me for a complete list). The last couple of months this has had us indulging in reruns of Parks and Recreation. If you haven’t seen it, and love a silly, endearing cast of characters working alongside each other for the greater good (while engaging in ridiculous shenanigans and making hilarious missteps), I would highly recommend it. It would make a perfect summer binge.
Also, I don't want to be overly pushy, but I really must insist that you all watch Steve Carell's new series, Rooster. Perhaps especially if you are a writer or work in academia or both. It is SO well written (and STEVE CARELL)!
Anything you’ve seen lately that I need to add to my queue?
What I’m Writing
This month I am revisiting a memoir piece (done in a modular style). It seeks to offer some insight into the seizures I started having just months shy of my 40th birthday, the PNES diagnosis that ensued, and the painful dismantling of my life as I knew it. It is an experience that I have shared with those in my intimate circle, but something I would like to share with a broader audience, as I have found that few people (even those in the medical field) know much about PNES (I certainly did not before my own seizure episodes).
So, I hope I can be brave enough to offer this story to the world - when it - and I - am ready.
For those following along with my novel news, there is not much to share this month. I am feeling a little burned out with the query process, so I am hopeful Gen X Summer will give me the break I need to hop back in following the summer months with some fresh perceptive and enthusiasm (fingers crossed).
What’s Making Me Smile
My husband and I get quite a kick out of these silly songs by the Holderness Family. They often take every day struggles and frame them in a way that brings a much needed laugh. Sometimes when you can’t fix it, laughing helps.
https://youtu.be/IlwA6xuYwLU?si=1ulG9gFlYkPX11Ac
If you have stumbled upon anything extra delightful lately, I always love a good laugh!
A Little Unsolicited Writing Advice
If you are serious about writing, I encourage you to find/create a writing group. I cannot tell you how much I adore the three ladies that make up mine. They offer support, care, critique, resources, and reliable hilarity.
While we try to meet once or twice a month for "official" story critiques, we also offer each other help on an almost daily basis.
Recently, I reached out to them to ask for some ideas to propel me from the 1,000 words I had on the page to the 2,000 words required - for a contest submission where I'd found myself stuck. Immediately I had options: more sensory details? add a scene? setting details? flaneur? [If you don’t know what flaneur is, I can’t recommend breaking your brain on this one]. But, bottom line, having a quality writing group can make you a better writer. And in my case, a better human.
Oh, quick PSA: Make sure you choose your group wisely. Invite people who you like as humans AND respect as creatives. I think that’s the secret sauce. One, without the other, usually doesn’t lead to a satisfying (and thus, sustainable) situation.
Here's to us all finding our people!
BONUS: A Random Fact About Me (For Fun?)
I got married on a pier in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (and almost died of a collection of infections a few days later). But we salsa danced with friends and family on the beach first!
And for those of you who asked for photo evidence of my Powell’s debut (mentioned in the May newsletter), I give you these.
In case you were curious, yes, I did almost bolt at the last minute due to anxiety.
Thank you, friends, for joining me on this leg of my journey. If you have other bookish friends who might enjoy my newsletter content, please feel free to share.
And don’t forget to hit me up with some of your responses to posed questions. I really love hearing from you!
Gina