weekly digest #21
may 18-24, 2026: the king of video poker, 8114, i can fix her, spirit, ragtime, two strangers (carry a cake across new york)
My sister Nora was visiting this week, which was nice. We always tell each other the same stories and laugh like we haven’t heard them before. And why is gossiping (already good) so much better when you do it with your sister?
reading
I read two short novels and one novella all published by CLASH books. The first one I read, The King of Video Poker by Paolo Iacovelli (published 2024), was my favorite of the bunch. The unnamed narrator, an accomplished video poker player, is shocked out of the numbing mindlessness of his daily routine by the death of Arnold Palmer. He realizes his relationships with his wife and son are beyond repair – a state he cannot imagine is his own fault. At one point they drive away from him in a cab and he realizes, “the driver doesn’t think Natalia is a gold digger or Tim is a shitty son, but that I’m the guilty one in all this, that I’m the bad father.” Though obvious, the narrator cannot accept this as true.
The closest thing he has to a friend is the manager of his favorite casino, who frankly tells him “you’re not good with people.” Realizing he’s become the best at something no one cares about (who can name a single video poker player?), and realizing no one he knows will remember him well, the narrator is determined to become the best at something that cannot be ignored and delves into a disturbing, violent quest for greatness. Iacovelli’s matter-of-fact writing style is in perfect contrast to the narrator’s misinterpretation of everything and everyone around him. It is through other characters’ reactions and statements that we realize we are getting a very skewed sense of events. This was a rare book where I truly had no idea what was going to happen next or if what I had just read was even true; I left it feeling unsettled in a way that was thoroughly unpleasant – which was great.
I then read 8114 by Joshua Hull (published 2025). Paul hosts a true crime podcast investigating his childhood friend’s disappearance until he very publicly discovers that his friend was not actually kidnapped, but fled an abusive father; in hiding for decades, he and his mother are now in danger again because of the sudden spotlight Paul shined on them. Paul wants to escape his past and all potential responsibility, but is instead summoned back to his hometown when another old friend, Kyle, kills himself in Paul’s childhood home. Kyle’s death awakens memories of that house and all the strange, evil things that happened there. There are a lot of interesting ideas here but the novel didn’t really work for me. There was a strong tonal clash between Paul’s bro-y, sarcastic narration and the near-constant supernatural gore that I think was intentional but just undermined any suspense or horror. Despite being in imminent danger, Paul didn’t seem to take any ghostly threats seriously, so why should I? I also found it frustrating that Paul’s new podcast, an investigation into the history of his haunted childhood home, which had the potential to be both a compelling commentary on the ethics of true crime and a useful narrative tool, as it could have framed his investigation, was only an immediate hindrance, as no one wanted to talk to him as soon as they found out what he was up to. Every page was also drowning in pop culture references, a helpful reminder that these are never as interesting to the reader as they are to the writer. (I’m going to delete a few things from my manuscript.) I mainly think this book needed to be longer, though, in order to fully handle the many strands of its plot.
Then I read I Can Fix Her by Rae Wilde (published 2025). Johnny runs into her ex Alice and becomes obsessed with restoring and improving their relationship, even as several inches of Alice’s hair disappear overnight, her dog doubles in size, and it begins snowing in the middle of summer. The world becomes increasingly bizarre as Johnny blinds herself to everything but Alice, missing desperate attempts from a mysterious first person narrator to contact her. I wish this had been longer, too, in order to develop Alice and Johnny, who frequently feel a little two-dimensional, more deeply. Wilde’s an interesting stylist, though, and I’m curious to see what else she writes. I found Write My Eulogy on the Gloryhole Bathroom Stall, an additional short story included at the end of the book, incredibly compelling.
watching
Nora and I watched Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) for the millionth time. We were obsessed with Spirit as kids – we would rent it from the movie store, return it, and immediately rent it again. It’s more ambitious than I remembered – a children’s movie trying to tackle the white supremacy and environmental harm of American westward expansion. The U.S. military is explicitly the villain. I can’t imagine this movie being made today – I can barely believe it was made by a major studio at all. Not that it’s at all perfect, but it is both earnest and principled.
listening
It’s almost time for the Tony’s, the only awards show I watch. I don’t really care about the awards themselves, but I like watching the performances, and it’s nice to have a designated time of year to see what’s been going on on Broadway. I’ve started listening to the nominated musicals.
I generally like the revival of Ragtime. It’s a show with a lot (too much?) going on that I’ve never been that interested in before, but the music really grew on me as I listened to it more. I particularly like New Music (Sarah come down to MEEEEEE). The whole cast is strong, but Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr. is the standout imo. What a voice!!
I was disappointed by Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a dull, generic new musical. I don’t know why this show takes place in New York when it was written by a couple of English people who clearly know nothing about the city. This Is The Place, a song ostensibly about the Brooklyn neighborhood where one main character grew up, is so generic it could be about anywhere. (This is the place/This is the preschool where we used to go/These are the streets/These are the dollar vans and delis that I used to know/This is the church/Where everyone knew me by name/This is the place/Where nothing changes and where nothing is ever the same.) On The App, a duet about swiping through tinder, pissed me off so much I sent the song to a friend so I wouldn’t be mad alone. And I’m sure it was a marketing decision, but the title Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is one of the worst I’ve ever heard.
eating & drinking
Nora brought up some coffee from one of her favorite cafes in New York that was delicious. And businesses are slowly starting to open up around here for the season, meaning we were able to have lunch one day on the patio of the gift shop/restaurant adjacent to the lighthouse. I ordered a blueberry brie panini (delicious) and horrible coffee. The gift shop coffee is horrible the way diner coffee is horrible – it’s the kind of thing you order every time anyway. The ice cream stand opened too, and we went on Saturday night, where there was a long line even though it was only 53 degrees out. I got chocolate lover’s chocolate, a flavor I haven’t had in a long time, though I don’t know why since it’s delicious and I frequently wish my desserts were chocolatey-er.
making
I’m back to knitting on my scrappy sweater. I’ve gotten to the part of the back panel where I need to start shaping the shoulders and armscye. It’s looking good!
shopping
I’ve finally found a rug I really like on ebay. There are five days left on the auction, so everyone pray it stays a reasonable price. I’ll share more when the bidding is over.
kitsch corner
I adore these hideous-beautiful flats from Enzo of Roma. Other internet sleuths speculate that they’re from the 80’s, but there’s not much information about this brand available online, just a lot of other admirers on pinterest.
See you next week.
xoxo,
Franny 💋👞