Mark My Words, I'll Show You. Where Are Ü Now?

This month Bieber dropped his apology album, and I forgave him. I forgave all the douchey things he's ever done, all the breakups and peen shots, because a) Purpose is full of jams, and b) he's a dork at heart, and I'm a dork at heart, and we dorks stick together. By coincidence I was also listening to "I'll Show You" on full volume in enormous headphones yesterday when I fell down the subway stairs.

It was less a graceful tumble and more a face-first-shin-crunching-boot-scraping flat-out fall. I'd been fighting back tears all day (my cat was throwing up everywhere, I hadn't slept, I was behind on at least two assignments), so when I hit the subway floor I heaved and sniffled there for a good 30 to 60 seconds. It was the most dramatic moment of my life, and also, strangely, one of the most liberating. It's hard to get lower than the bottom of the stairs of the Manhattan subway.

Bieber was still blaring when I stood up. He and I will get through this together.

My Stuff

I am actually fiercely proud of everything noteworthy I wrote this month, so bear with me as I bombard you with links. Tied to Carol's release (see it if you haven't already), Slate let me write 3,000 words on the history of lesbian romance film. Researching this (a.k.a. watching endless movies) was an actual treat. I also interviewed the set designer of Spotlight (another stellar film), binge-watched Jessica Jones (oh my god you guys it's so good), and hashed out the reasons His Dark Materials will make an excellent BBC miniseries.

Greta Weber and I are both Mizzou alums and both Slate interns, so we put together an exhaustive timeline about the events that led to UM system president Tim Wolfe's resignation. I also wrote about what happens when one of your limbs falls asleep and how disgusting your mattress is for Drift, Slate's pop-up sleep blog.

Over at Vulture, I finally got to see a wonderful Q&A I did with comics artist Tillie Walden published. She's fantastic, so once you're done reading that go buy her new book.

My mom also published her first essay in The Atlantic is month. It's about her experience teaching an autistic student, and it's fantastic.

Lit Nerd Stuff

On the Magical English Teacher in Life and Literature - Broadly - Three words: Dead Poets Society.

The Worst Game - The Paris Review - As my friend Annie said when I sent her this story, "started out hilarious then ended up being all deep and Paris review-y." Coincidentally, I am also reading Lolita for the first time.

Pleasures of the Literary Meal - The New Yorker - On why we love to read about other people eating.

Interview Stuff

Daisy Ridley - Interview - Carrie Fisher interviewed Star Wars' new leading lady, and it's a fascinating read.

Rooney Mara - Interview - St. Vincent interviewed Mara and they discussed Carol, meaning this one of my favorite conversations of all time.

Ermahgerddon: The Untold Story of the Ermahgerd Girl - Vanity Fair - Memes are people, too.

Meet the Woman at the Forefront of the Ink World's Artistic Movement - GQ - Her name is Roxx, and her work is unparalleled.

Cartoon Stuff

Masculinity - The Toast - Matt Lubchansky is a genius.

Having a Baby vs. Having a Cat - The Oatmeal - I laughed so hard at this that my roommate asked me what was wrong.

If You Want to Say Thank You, Don't Say Sorry - Autostraddle - It's important to know your worth.

I Endorse

Drugstore tights. Also Ted Hart's newsletter, Schlongreads. Sign up if you're a Mizzou journalism grad who wants to creep other Mizzou journalism grads, or if you like to read good writing.

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