WEEKLY R.E.P.O.R.T.

Don’t read a book about eating people and also make hot dogs in the same week. It will fuck you up, man.

Reading: I started and finished Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica in 3 days. It was the grossest, most repulsive, most nauseating book I have ever read. And I think I loved it? It is a dystopian story where animal meat becomes unsafe to eat and very quickly the government initiated the ‘Transition’, which made the consumption of human meat legal. The story is told from the perspective of a man who runs a meat processing plant. It sounds graphic, but it is even more graphic than you could possibly imagine. Unlike the other book I finished this week, Klara and the Sun, where I felt like there were many well done themes that I didn’t connect to, this book has so many interesting themes that I do really find interesting. I am always in the shower thinking about what makes a person worthy of life and what excuses do we make to ourselves to justify our wrongdoings. As I am sure you are too.

I need someone to read this book so I can talk about it with you! I do feel bad making people in my life read in detail about the process of butchering a bred human for consumption, but pleaseeeeee for meeeeeeee!!!!!!

Eating: I am very reluctant to play into this narrative that I am hearing everywhere about summer being over. I am seeing pumpkin spice and I am revolting by making as many BBQs as I can. I will grill you anything you want as long as you don’t mention the winter. I am still in the hotdog mindset and will be for a while longer.

Playing: I am playing Chuck Timely & The Hourglass ON REPEAT this week. I am loving it. I think it’s interesting, I think it’s funky and I think Role Model sounds like Rex Orange County. My current favourite songs are Good Thing and Honeydew! And The Wedding!

Obsessing over: BOOK BAR! Book Bar at Bathurst and Bloor is just the ideal place to be on a rainy day, which this week has had lots of. I went two days in a row where I read, worked on my lessons, and contemplated getting a beer at 11am- all great things! It’s a bookstore and a bar and a cafe and it’s cool and cute. Obsession is a great way to put how I feel about this place.

Recommending: I am recommending An Uncomplicated Man because I actually did recommend it to multiple people in my real life this week, even though it may be a little past its relevancy. If you saw The Odyssey, I would recommend reading the article by the classicist whose translation of the story was used for Christopher Nolan’s film. I especially agree with her critique of Nolan’s Calypso as “never angry, never funny, not skilled in rhetoric, and never consumed by lust for her scraggly mortal victim. She’s an unpaid therapist” — during the movie I kept asking Dani who Odysseus’ night nurse with iPhone face is supposed to be.

Trying: This week I have been trying to decide whether or not vegetarianism is something I want to pursue. The aforementioned book really got to me, and put very bluntly the horrors of factory farming and eating living beings. I will let you know where this thought process takes me. I know you’re on the edge of your seat right now, but these things take time and consideration.

Can’t wait to R.E.P.O.R.T. back after I begin working this upcoming week!