Writer's Choice

Thank you to Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog Goop for introducing me to the New Yorker’s fantastic Fiction podcast series.

In these free weekly podcasts, writers look back into the New Yorker’s fiction archives and choose another writer's story to read and discuss with New Yorker Fiction editor, Deborah Treisman.

I have to admit that I don’t often read the magazine - in part I’m intimidated by the length of the articles - and the high quality of these podcasts may change my habits.

Each of the podcasts begins with Treisman learning why the story was chosen by the writer. The writer reads the story, which is surprisingly fun to hear. The discussion afterwards is about the story and the author, and I've heard some really fascinating insights into writing in general.

My two favorites so far:  

David Sedaris reading Miranda July

Richard Ford reading Harold Brodkey

Marina, Blondie & Carine

My mother’s birthday is in September, so it feels fitting that this month

I have been inspired by successful, powerful and attractive women.

I saw Marina Abramovic in conversation through City Arts and Lectures in San Francisco.

The film The Artist is Present documents her career retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It opened my eyes to the beauty and discipline of performance art. 

This is the trailer for the film: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcmcEZxdlv4

I watched ultra cool rocker Debbie Harry in concert with Blondie. Seeing her in person reminded me that she has been mixing genres and pushing limits for over 30 years. Awesome. 

The first rap video shown on MTV, Blondie’s 1981 Rapture. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCdS7O248g

I watched the former editor of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, in a film called Mademoiselle C.

She has been an inspiration to me since I read her 2011 book irreverent, which documents her career as a fashion stylist, muse and magazine editor.

When I learned that a film was documenting the launch of her personal magazine CR - I am a subscriber - I couldn’t wait to see it.

The film opened on Friday, September 20. This is the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGMdJVZUjFg

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

View of the Teton Mountains, Jackson, Wyoming

 

We spent a long weekend in Jackson Hole this July. 

I read a book of Wyoming resident E. Annie Proulx's short stories to learn more about the literature of the region. She is most famous for writing Brokeback Mountain, which is the final story in the collection called Close Range: Wyoming Stories.   

I thought the stories were beautifully written, challenging and memorable - probably a fitting description of living in this dramatic place year-round. 

The Rodeo's tagline: Where the West is still Wild!

We attended the very popular rodeo, 

which has been family-run in Jackson Hole since 1890. 

 

 

 With the help of a guide, we spent the morning fly fishing on the Snake River. 

I didn't catch anything and decided to stick to photographing the banks of the river. 

 

 

 

A Bald Eagle resting in a tree.

sixty+ minutes of sound: august 2013

Philadelphia, PA

August 2013 Playlist